pothos.org

Too add to all of those horrors, the modern propensity to bomb civilian population centres including densely populated cities, towns and villages adds a unique degree of savagery to wars. For example, during Italian colonial rule of Libya, Spanish Civil war and of course Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Of c...

Am posting this response rather late because I was reminded of your post whilst reading another recent BMCR review – this time on Spartacus: Film and History The part that caught my attention is this: Tatum's article ('The character of Marcus Licinius Crassus') is a refreshing shift from the focus ...

But even in China you have bloggers talking about their oppressed lives and wouldn’t be surprised if there were also blogs from women in Islamic countries that expressed their suffering. I guess another issue we have to face with the information explosion is that people tend to find the information...

I think what kick-started the negative outlook on war began with the Enlightenment. Although I'm sure the people of that time consciously didn't know what they were doing, because warfare certainly continued to be glorified even long after the Enlightenment, but they definitely sewed the seeds of d...

At the same time, they didn't have access to tv or internet, so they may have been just ill-informed. Alejandro, Excellent post again. I know that TV and internet are keeping me well-informed on Paris Hilton's hangnail, but not so sure about the ongoing wars. I thought the following quotes could be...

Hehe.. I will .. I will see 300 when it's out in my neck of the woods... Absolutely LOVED the Alexander movie. Never really expect too much historical accuracy from Hollywood, so whatever's there is usually a pleasant surprise. Both these movies had slightly unfortunate timing though. Alexander with...

I would wager when this little object of derision started mopping up Asia Minor and Persian Armies i would gues the images got a bit more sinister and monstrous images. Hi Kenny, IMHO,You wager correctly. Sounds like the ''Alexander the Accursed" of Zoroastrian texts. An honorific title previo...

Paralus wrote:They cast Brad Pitt as Achilles didn't they? How many flaws can one movie-goer stand?!

They wanted Brad Pitt as Hephaistion too but apparently that role wasn't too good for Brad's image. Did anyone else laugh out loud when Helen said to Paris in Troy "Last night was a mistake."?

Derek, Excellent summary. Curtius also mentions Euxennipus - a young Greek male. Although, I disagree with the conclusion that the relationship with Barsine was more "motherly" than "sexual". It may have been, but age alone can't be used to draw that conclusion. Not to mention th...

Maybe Greek sculptors just had this "ideal youth" look? So Alexander ended up with it, as did Alcibiades... Perhaps if they did a likeness of you rocktopuc, it'd look pretty similar to Alexander and Alcibiades?

before i started reading 'fire from heaven' i read about Mary Renault. I read about her sexual orientation and passions too. I wanted to believe that i am not about to read a gay pride novel but unfortunately i was wrong. Many of you said that this novel is probably the best about Alexander's child...

Indeed, Alexander's "prayer" for brotherhood, democracy for the oikoumene all over, et al is ahistorical. Much is made of Cyrus - his cylinder especially - and his treatment of subject peoples, the Jews especially. I have this inkling that Cyrus - like George W - had his ancient "Fox...

At the same time, it is interesting to notice that the same kind of policy would have been employed by the Persians. We know that Alexander may have been despised for being short (for Persians, it seems that the taller the better), ruddy (or at least that is what Mary Renault suggests, especially w...

It goes without saying the Hoplite Demonstration in 300 is about the best scene of battle Ive seen. Hi Kenny, OK! Sold! Paralus mentioned something about a bottle of wine to go with the DVD. Who am I to ignore the advice of one so wise? :) You make a very good and valid point about good guys bad gu...

I have no idea what makes anyone caled Great as I have problems with. From my understanding, Alexander was the first to be called the Great (I've read that he was called the Invincible while he was alive). Look to Alexander and decide what may make him great and see if any of the others match up. I...