Search found 403 matches

by Semiramis
Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:28 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Sex, power and punishment
Replies: 64
Views: 22097

Then there's Aristotle's advice on how the Barbarians should be treated. Which Alexander thankfully didn't follow. Not exactly practical advice from the great philosopher. :) But I truly believe that Alexander had a genuine admiration of the Persian empire and culture. Amyntoros mentioned in another...
by Semiramis
Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:18 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Roxane
Replies: 23
Views: 9555

Since Pliny lived and wrote after Alexander's time, maybe what he saw was the result of fusion Alexander dreamed of. I don't know if that's true or not, but it's an idea :D . That is a good idea... But I think people of that description lived in regions like Northern Iran, Central Asia, Northern In...
by Semiramis
Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:12 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Clietus. Parmenio, Philotas,Strapal Purges. Chicken feed
Replies: 80
Views: 30680

Power and Terror

I personally think that if you're going to be a king and a conquerer, especially usurp thrones of other countries, you will have real enemies. Before Alexander, I think there was one single Argead king who had died peacefully in bed. All others were betrayed by those close to him (Carney). The Maced...
by Semiramis
Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:50 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Sex, power and punishment
Replies: 64
Views: 22097

The Greeks generally had higher moral values than other people, such as the Romans, and the Persians. Hehe.. that's a big call! :) Without getting into semantics (definition of "higher", "moral values", evidence for said claim) etc., we can safely say the Greeks never reached th...
by Semiramis
Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:45 am
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Roxane
Replies: 23
Views: 9555

Hehe... and to get even more trivial, there are blonde Indians anyway. I wasn't saying that Roxanne isn't Indian because her people may have had blondes... Just that Sogdiana's never been considered part of India. Just trying to find as much as I could on Roxanne's general area and the closest I fou...
by Semiramis
Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:48 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Roxane
Replies: 23
Views: 9555

I most doubt Alexander was in love with anyone. As its been documented somewhere I would say achievement and Conquest were Alexanders mistress. Although Ive seen many a delightful Indian women and there beauty is really something.If Roxane was the as said most beautiful. how could Alexander not hav...
by Semiramis
Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:05 am
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Most Comprehensive Book
Replies: 38
Views: 12291

Hi, On the subject of Alexander's conquest of Central and South Asia - Has anyone read ' Alexander and the East - the Tragedy of Triumph ' by Bosworth? It looks like a very interesting study. Bosworth only focuses on the period between 329 and 325, allowing him to go into a lot of detail the other b...
by Semiramis
Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:54 am
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Sex, power and punishment
Replies: 64
Views: 22097

Hm.. I should've guessed that this thread would be a depressing one. Speaking of sex as power, perhaps that's why Alexander's good treatment of the Persian harem is such a big part of his myth? That he DIDN'T rape and humiliate them? Because as I understand, the expected behavior for a victor was to...
by Semiramis
Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:37 am
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Most Comprehensive Book
Replies: 38
Views: 12291

This is in no way a criticism of Lane Fox. He writes wonderfully, like a novelist almost. I enjoyed his biography of Alexander immensely and it got drew me into ... shall we say Alexander World? :) His passion for the subject is amply demonstrated in his vast knowledge, careful attention to detail, ...
by Semiramis
Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:12 am
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Most Comprehensive Book
Replies: 38
Views: 12291

I have to agree with Paralus about Bosworth. Not only does he focus on Alexander in the most neutral way possible, he does a good job with the other individuals and especially the vast areas Alexander conquered and his impact (during his lifetime). Best Alexander book I've ever read.
by Semiramis
Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:49 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Alexander's physical appearence
Replies: 37
Views: 24857

As someone else suggested, in the Stone movie, the further away Alexander goes from Macedonia the more "orientalized" he seems to get. The hair, together with the eye-liner and Persian/ Central Asian clothes and jewelery certainly suggest something like that. Add this to the observation th...
by Semiramis
Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:44 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Alexander's physical appearence
Replies: 37
Views: 24857

They Pompeii mosaic is how he looks in my head. Can't help it! Good to know there are others. :) Big brown eyes and Brown hair. A rather focused look on his face. Lion's mane's are brown too aren't they? And "fair" hair for a Greek historian could be brown... :) Are we sure that the Pella ...
by Semiramis
Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:31 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Gay Icon
Replies: 91
Views: 37248

Women in ancient Greece (and even today in the villages) were kept under lock and key, much like Muslim women are today. Men, on the other hand, were required to show an aggressive sexual nature and marry after many sexual experiences. That is a huge and inaccurate generalization about 1 billion pe...