Question on Plutarch

[dean]

Hello folks,I was just scanning through Plutarch and got to the short entry regarding the death of Hephaestion and read that at around the same time 30000 artists arrived in Ectbatana.I don't know but to me that seems like one hell of a lot of artists- what do you think?
Best regards,
Dean.

[susa]

Ah, that accounts for Hephaistion's death!30000 artists is really off!I hope someone here will come and say it's a Plutarchean overstatement....

[smittysmitty]

hi,
I believe the phallanx of artists was to become H's new regiment, but he died!... ;)cheers!

[agesilaos]

These thirty-thousand are the Epigonoi, the boys Alexander had left behind to recieve a Greek education and training in Macedonian arms.(Plut 71)There were three-thousand players(Plut72)the so-called Guild of Dionysus, though I have to confess ignorance of such a body and three-thousand is the citizen body of a small polis!

[susa]

in time, smitty, just in time!I wonder what kind of quarrel Hep'd engage with Krateros if he had to support 30000 flute players [and so on] under his special command!zouds!

[dean]

Hi,Sorry, my typing to blame, 3000- not 30000-
3000 does nevertheless seem like a massive amount of artists to just pop up out of nowhere.Best regards,
Dean.

[smittysmitty]

Timing is the essence, of commanding 30,000 flute players! LoL.Dean, you need to put your glasses on!As Karl mentions, it's 3,000 flute players! and 30,000 epigoni.Still, lot of flute players for the Ecbatana Open Air Rock Concert! I wonder if Al was wearing those Persian Blue suade shoes, Susa?

[smittysmitty]

LoL, sorry Dean, you got your post in just before me :)anyway, have a nice day, its time for me to go to bed, cheers to you all!

[ruthaki]

Perhaps they were planning to present a de Mille type epic?