Aelian - Varia Historia
Book 12.51
The doctor Menecrates became so arrogant that he called himself Zeus. One day he sent Philip of Macedon a letter in the following terms: “Menecrates Zeus greets Philip.” Philip replied: “Philip wishes Menecrates good health. I advise you to take yourself off to the region of Anticyra.”* By this he hinted that the man was mad.
Philip was giving a grand banquet, and he invited this man to the feast. He ordered a separate couch for him, and when Menecrates had settled in his place Philip put an incense burner close to him, and lit the incense for him. Everyone else was feasting, and it was a splendid occasion. At first Menecrates was able to hold out and he enjoyed the honor paid to him; but when hunger gradually overcame him and he was shown up to be the mortal he was, and a naïve one at that, he got up and walked away, saying he had been insulted. Philip had very artfully brought his insanity into the open.
Book 12.53
It has not escaped my notice that the causes of the greatest wars somehow seem trivial. The Persian war is said to have had its origin in the disagreement between Maeandrius of Samos and the Athenians, the Peloponnesian War because of the small tablet about the Megarians, the so-called Sacred War as a result of enforcing a verdict given by the Amphictyones, and the Chaeronean War because the Athenians were at odds with Philip and did not wish to accept .
Book 12.54
When Aristotle (fr. 659 R.) wished to soothe Alexander’s anger and check his annoyance with many people, he wrote to him as follows: “Temper and anger are not displayed to inferiors but to superiors; and no one is equal to you.”
Aristotle gave essential advice to Alexander and benefited many people. Among other things he resettled his home town, which had been razed by Philip.
Book 12.57
When Alexander the son of Philip led his forces against Thebes the gods sent them signs and portents presaging their imminent fate; but the Thebans thought Alexander had died in Illyria and they made many rude remarks about him. The marsh at Onchestus made a continuous frightening noise which seemed like a bull roaring. The spring called Dirce, running parallel to the Ismenus and the walls themselves, which had always previously had clear and pure water, was suddenly and unexpectedly filled with blood. The Thebans were sure the gods threatened the Macedonians. In the city at the temple of Demeter a spider began to cover the face of the cult statue with its handiwork and weave its usual product. The statue of Athena known as Alalcomeneis caught fire spontaneously, though no light was set to it; and much else.
Book 12.58
Dioxippus the Athenian athlete victorious at Olympia was driving into Athens as the athletes used to. A crowd collected from all directions and watched him intently. In it was a woman of great beauty who came to enjoy the spectacle. On seeing her Dioxippus was immediately struck by her beauty; he could not keep his eyes off her, turning to look at her and changing colour, so that many people realized he was not gazing idly at the woman. First to detect his feelings was Diogenes of Sinope, who said to his neighbours; “Look at your great athlete held in the grip of a little girl.”
Book 12.60
Dionysius II and Philip son of Amyntas met one day. Naturally there was a long and flowing conversation, and it included the following exchange. Philip asked Dionysius how it was that having inherited such a powerful state from his father he had not maintained it. The other replied, not without point: “My father left me everything else, but not the luck by which he obtained those possessions and kept them.”
Book 12.64
Alexander, son of Philip and Olympias, lay dead in Babylon – the man who said he was the son of Zeus. While his followers argued about the succession he lay waiting for burial, which even the very poor achieve, since the nature common to all mankind requires a funeral for those no longer living. But he was left unburied for thirty days, until Aristander of Telmissus, whether by divine inspiration or for some other reason, entered the Macedonian assembly and said that of all kings in recorded history Alexander was the most fortunate, both in his life and in his death; the gods had told him that the land which received his body, the earlier habitation of his soul, would enjoy the greatest good fortune and be unconquered through the ages.
On hearing this they began to quarrel seriously, each man wishing to carry off the prize to his own kingdom, so as to have a relic guaranteeing safety and permanence for his realm. But Ptolemy, if we are to believe the story, stole the body and hurriedly made off with it to Alexandria in Egypt. The other Macedonians did nothing, whereas Perdiccas tried to give chase. He was no so much interested in consideration for Alexander and due respect for his body as fired and incited by Artistander’s prediction. When he caught up with Ptolemy there was quite a violent struggle over the corpses, in some ways akin to the one over the phantom at Troy, which Homer (Iliad 5.449) celebrates in his tale, where Apollo puts it down among the heroes to protect Aeneas. Ptolemy checked Perdiccas’ attack. He made a likeness of Alexander clad in royal robes and a shroud of enviable quality. Then he laid it on one of the Persian carriages, and arranged the bier sumptuously with silver, gold, and ivory. Alexander’s real body was sent ahead without fuss and formality by a secret and little used route. Perdiccas found the imitation corpse with the elaborate carriage, and halted his advance, thinking he had laid hands on the prize. Too late he realized he had been deceived; it was not possible to go in pursuit.
Book 13.7
When Alexander captured Thebes, he sold into slavery all free citizens except priests. He also exempted from sale his father’s hosts – Philip as a boy had been a hostage there – and released their relatives. He paid honour to the descendants of Pindar, and allowed his house alone to stand. He executed about 6,000 Thebans, and 30,000 were taken prisoner.
Book 13.11
A story has reached me according to which Isocrates the orator was the cause of the enslavement which the Persians suffered at the hands of the Macedonians. The Panegyricus, which he delivered before the Greeks, became known in Macedonia, and first inspired Philip to attack Asia.* When he died, it caused his son Alexander, as heir to his father’s estate, to continue Philip’s enterprise.
*Isocrates published the Panegyricus in 380 B.C. Aelian speaks as if he delivered it in person, attempting to rally panhellenic sentiment at the Olympic festival, but this is not correct.
Book 13.13
Ptolemy son of Lagus (they say) took great pleasure in enriching his friends. He said it was better to make others rich than be rich oneself.
Book 13.30
When Alexander’s mother Olympias learned that her son lay unburied for a long time, she groaned deeply and cried in a high-pitched voice: “My child,” she said, ‘you wanted to reach heaven and made it your aim, but now you do not enjoy even what are surely common rights shared by all men, the right to earth and to burial.” Thus she lamented her own fate and criticised her son’s arrogance.
Book 13.36
Olympias sent Philip’s daughter Eurydice – she was the child of Philip and an Illyrian woman – hemlock, a noose and a dagger. Eurydice chose the noose.
Book 14.1
Aristotle, son of Nicomachus, a wise man in reality as well as by repute, was deprived of the privileges he had been granted at Delphi,* and wrote to Antipater on the subject as follows (fr. 666 R.): “About the privileges voted to me at Delphi and now taken away from me, my feeling is that I neither care about them very much nor disregard them entirely.” This is not the remark of a man anxious to be well known, and I would not accuse Aristotle of such sentiments; on the contrary, he sensibly thought there was a difference between not receiving in the first place and being stripped of what one had acquired. Not to receive was no great blow; but to acquire and then be deprived was painful.
Book 14.11
Philiscus once said to Alexander: “Take care of your reputation; don’t become a plague , bring health.” By plague he meant violent and savage rule, the capture of cities, the destruction of populations; by health, care for safety of subjects; that is the benefit of peace.
Book 14.12
Note that when traveling the Persian king took with him, in order not to be bored, a small block of lime wood and a little knife to scrape it. This was the activity of the royal hands. He certainly did not take with him a book or serious thoughts, in order to be able to read something important and improving or meditate on a noble and worthwhile subject.
Book 14.47a
Alexander son of Philip is said to have been very jealous of his friends and envious of them all, though not for identical reasons. He disliked Perdiccas for being a born soldier, Lysimachus because he had a good reputation as a general, and Seleucus for his bravery. Antigonus’ ambition pained him, he disliked Antipater’s quality of leadership, was suspicious of Ptolemy’s adroitness, and feared Atarrius’ insubordination, not to mention Pithon’s revolutionary instinct.
Book 14.48
Note that Philip took the sons of leading Macedonian families into his personal service, not intending (so they say) to insult or demean them, but on the contrary training them to be fit and ensuring that they would be ready for action. He took a hostile view (they say) of any who were self-indulgent and slack in obeying orders. So he whipped Aphthonetus for breaking ranks, leaving the road because he was thirsty, and entering an inn. And he executed Archedamus because when he personally ordered the man to stay in his armour, he took it off. Archedamus was unable to resist thoughts of gain and had hoped to win over the king by flattery and wheedling.