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Agree completely that it is difficult to believe that Alexander's death was anything but natural causes, because if it was a coup, nobody appears to have been ready to take over but rather they were thrown into complete confusion, and if he was murdered for purely personal reasons, it is also diffic...

Funny how there's always an excuse for every atrocity Alexander ever committed. Somehow, nothing was never really his fault. I think it would be nice if, for once, people would give some thought to Alexander's victims, and commemorate them, rather than their glamorous killer. The men who never retu...

True. A robber, too, and a murderer. An alcoholic. An incompetent administrator and a failed empire builder. Not to mention a delusional madman. Undoubtedly far more than a simple conqueror. Apologies to Paralus, I misquoted By our standards, maybe not his. Robber = spoils of war Murderer = Cleitus...

Thank you, Ruthaki. Any idea what date that unidentified tomb is? Or what date they are likely to have re-interred Olympias?

Would Roxane even have spoken Persian, or did the Sogdians have a different language? Darius's daughters were taught Greek while they remained at Susa, so it is likely Roxane was taught Greek, probably by Barsine who, although Persian, was the widow of two Greeks.

Is this of interest to anybody? A friend recently gave me a copy of an article in Hesperia 1949 in which Charles Edson argues for the identification of Pydna with the modern village of Makriyialos (5 kilometres north-east of Kitros which I believe is the modern identification of Pydna). He discusses...

Frustrating, yes! I'm glad you didn't find my comments offensive - I wasn't sure if JR's views were considered sacred. I never did understand the 'eminence grise' - it sounds like Hephaestion was some grey, mysterious, Machiavellian cardinal. Now there would be a novel! I shall go and begin reading ...

Dear Fiona, Thank you very much for this review. You certainly make it seem a very vibrant and interesting read, and the book is next on my list to read. I have so far only read Jeanne Reames chapter - which a found a rather negative view of Hephaestion, a re-working of her doctoral thesis and not r...

I've deleted this post.

A couple of points: 1. Robin Lane Fox says that couriers on the Royal Road could reach Sardis from Susa in 7 days (it took 90 days on foot, presumably less on horseback or chariot (if used)). So I think you might be looking at 2-3 weeks for letters to reach Alexander or Antipater, not months. 2. The...

I've just finished reading Dr Jeanne Reames chapter 'The Cult of Hephaestion' in 'Responses to Oliver Stone's Alexander' in which she suggests that as part of Alexander's 'recorganisation' on his return from India, Hephaestion was appointed chiliarch at the weddings at Susa (March 324). She also imp...

Would you mind posting a review of 'Responses' when you've read it please? I didn't know if it would be worth getting.

Persian royal women seem to have been players in their own right during the Achaemenid times. If not Roxanne, then Strateira/Barsine and Drypetis would have likely had influence in the happenings after Aleaxander's death had they been not murdered (pure speculation here :) ). Thank you, yes, it's i...

As for the girls staying in Susa - they were to be educated in the "Greek" way, and they couldn't be expected to travel around with the army while Alexander was still chasing after their father. Better to have kept them safe and protected/guarded in an area that had already submitted. Com...

athenas owl wrote: he didn't foresee getting bogged down in upper Iran as long as he did. Six years or so until he returned to Susa.

Yes, I think Cleitus' murder had a lot to do with sheer frustration. Alexander, I suspect, got impatient when things didn't happen quickly.