pothos.org

Anyone got any ideas for a new poll? Here are some suggestions:

• How many Alexander books in your collection?
• I came to this site because...
• Alexander's most stupid act was...
• Alexander's greatest act was...

Sure the companions will think of others...

Slightly facetiously ...

How many different ways have you seen "Perdiccas" spelled?

ATB

marcus wrote:Slightly facetiously ...

How many different ways have you seen "Perdiccas" spelled?

ATB

Forget Perdiccas - how about the various spellings of Arrhidaeus? But seriously - here are a few suggestions:

Did Alexander believe in The Brotherhood of Man? (Or perhaps, did Alexander promote the Brotherhood of Man?)

Did Alexander have an increasing problem with alcohol?

Did Alexander really believe he was the son of Zeus-Ammon?

Was Alexander involved in the murder of his father?

Was Philotas guilty of conspiracy to kill Alexander?

They might seem like fairly obvious questions given that we're quite familiar with the opinions of those who post with regularity, but it'd be interesting to find out what the rest of the membership believes.

Best regards,

Good ideas - as you say, there are regular posters whose views are well known, but this will give everyone a chance to have their say. Perhaps it might encourage more to join in the general discussions on the forum, too.

Did Alexander have an increasing problem with alcohol?

Or even: Did Alexander have a problem with alcohol?

• Did Callisthenes encourage Hermolaus to murder Alexander?
  Did Coenus die of natural causes?
  Did Alexander marry Roxane for: (a) love; (b) politics; (c) both?

ATB

Alexander and the great Chinese general Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, might have been contemporaries. If Alexander had gotten that far and they'd fielded armies against each other, who would have won?

Alexander would have won just because Sun Tzu was a philosopher born from 600 to 500 BCE. Most Chinese historians believe he was equal to the age of King Philip II. A good idea though because neither one knew of each others existence.

karen wrote:Alexander and the great Chinese general Sun Tzu, author of The Art of War, might have been contemporaries. If Alexander had gotten that far and they'd fielded armies against each other, who would have won?

I think that we need to remember that many people who vote will know as little as me about Alexander. I know nothing about Sun Tzu too so would be guessing on this one.

I don't think that all the people on the site are as knowledgeable as the companions.

Oh - just had a thought - you can easily add your own polls on stuff like that when you start a new thread.

marcus wrote:

Did Alexander have an increasing problem with alcohol?

Or even: Did Alexander have a problem with alcohol?

Think we'd need at least a three-choice answer if we went with the latter. If you asked me only if I thought Alexander had a problem with alcohol, I'd have difficultly answering. I'd say there was no evidence earlier in his life. Towards the end of his life - hmm, yes, definitely. So what would be the choices?

Yes - Alexander had a problem with alcohol.

Yes - Alexander had a problem with alcohol in his later years only.

No - Alexander did not have a problem with alcohol.

Ah, even that's not quite satisfactory. You could probably come up with better suggestions.

Best regards

By the way, Andrew - I dig your avatar.

What scale is that figure in real life?

ATB

Thanks, Marcus. If I remember correctly this was made by a Russian artist and was a bit spendee but a beautiful piece. It measures around 130mm high. I send you a photo in a few hrs. or so, must go out and tend to the stock (horses). Take care my freind!

I lost your email address and I can't insert an Img. from my pictures list. I guess it must be from a URL so, sorry!

How good or bad a person was Alexander? (We're always arguing this between the lines anyway.)

1) He was as close as you could get to a perfect hero; in every mistep there were extenuating circumstances.

2) He was a basically good person, doing the job he was supposed to do, but making the odd mistake, like anyone.

3) He was more or less equally good and bad.

4) He was a basically self-interested, ruthless person with occasional flashes of goodness.

5) He was pure evil, megalomaniac, tyrannical, and any good deed he did was just to fool and manipulate people.

That is a good idea!

...that it hadn't already been done!

Warmly,
Karen

Any suggestions?

They would need a better script, but these are some suggestions:

Did Alexander have anything to do with his fatherGÇÖs death?

1.Sure: He had the means, he had the motive and who was the most beneficiated with PhilipGÇÖs death after all?

2.Only by relationship, his mother planned the murder and, once in power, Alexander covered her tracks.

3.Partially. He probably knew something, but just did nothing to stop it.

4.No at all. Philip had made himself many enemies. Alexander probably was as shocked as anyone else.

What would be AlexanderGÇÖs plans after Arabia and Carthage?

1.After Arabia? After dealing with the local tribes and the endless deserts, the control of the species route would make the conquest enough.

2.Carthage and that was it. As Augustus and Adrian, Alexander would realize the empire would get far too big to control.

3.Rome, Spain, Gaul, Britain GǪ whatever was left.

4.Giving India a second chance. With full new resources and troops from his new provinces, who would dare to stop him this time?