a let down talking to a Macedonian

[iskander_32]

Hi FolksThroughout my journeys through the internet I talk to many people,and it always gets me excited to talk to people actually from what is now thessaloniki,i got messaged because of the name I used and was glad to get into conversation about Alexander the Great,the initial chat was the passinate greko Macedonian debate.Then I became disapointed with how relatively little she seemed to know about Alexander. The strangest thing she said was that Alexander died from sifalis i hope thats spelt right, there were many more things she believed that were no where near,to me its a little sad that she actually knows very little about a Macedonian hero, I do hope the film gives us all a good learning even those who come from his land.I was stuck on one issue, maybe you can help, it is known Alexander carried his head leaning towards the left,this girl thought it natural. I was always of the understanding that it was caused by some missile hiiting him on the neck whilst taking Gazza,i stand to be corrected if im wrong thanks.RegardsKenny

[ruthaki]

I find it diffucult to believe anyone coming from Thessaloniki could not know about Alexander as there are various monuments to him, Philip, etc around plus the marvelous National Museum and the Society for Macedonian Studies is there. About Alexander's tilted head, it may have just been an idiocyncracy of his. The busts you see generally have him posed that way and I've seen several including Alexander as youth. All posed the same.

[ruthaki]

PS "What is now Thessaloniki"?? The city, established by Kassandros after he married Alexander's half-sister Thessaloniki, has been call by that name since it was first established, combing a couple of small village in that area. And that goes back to the 4th century BC.

[beausefaless]

Greetings Kenny,
You're not alone, in my country(USA)there's a show called "The tonight Show" hosted by Jay Leno. Sometimes he goes out on the streets and ask people simple questions, called Jay Walking, like who's the president or vice president of the U.S. AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER plus other simple question and some of these Aristotle's claim to be grammar schools teachers? This proves there are lots of people that don't have both ores in the water I mean they are not playing with a full deck of cards! Un believable!
Indeed I'll bet you these clowns have heard of ATG.

[yiannis]

Well Kenny, not all people share our interest on history and yes there are many ignorant people out there as Andrew mentions and -I'm sure- we all know.On the other hand I wouldn't hope that the film would give anyone a good learnig on history as this is not what it was made for. It's meant to entertain people and if anyone is drawn to Alexander as a result of seeing the film, then that's just good and s/he can start reading to find out more about him, not watch films...Regards,
Yiannis

[stavros]

can i just say, when i was in greece i would stand there and look at the acropolis and the parthenon all day if i could. i absolutely loved it and all the history behind it. however not everyone in greece shared the same view. people close to me where calling them old stones and a waste of time, etc... they must be so used to the ancient thing that it doesnt really affect their life as it did mine.

[yiannis]

Well Stavro, I guess that to some it does, to some it doesn't make a difference. But it most certainly affects me! :-)Regards,
Yiannis

[alejandro]

Hi AndrewTalking about ignorance, thereGÇÖs a programme here in the UK called GÇ£Beat the nationGÇ¥, where contestants earn points according to the percentage of people who DONGÇÖT know the answer. Quite funny and interesting.The best part is the end of the programme, when they reveal the publicGÇÖs dumbness (not even ignorance) by mentioning a question with an obvious answer that was actually answered by a disappointing percentage (usually below 50%) of the people interviewed. The one I remember right now is the following GÇ£Where is the Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra based?GÇ¥GǪ and only 30% of the interviewed answered Vienna!Now THATGÇÖs what I call stupidity!CheersAlejandro

[iskander_32]

Thanks folks.But has anyone hear read anywhere that Alwxander died from Sifales.Also any detail with regard to Alexanders prone to his head leaning to the left as adopted by Jim Morrison of the doors.Maybe I was wrong but i read somewhere that a neck injury incure whilst taking Gazza was the reason.regardsKenny

[Tre]

No neck injury was acquired at Gaza. The only injuries mentioned occuring to the neck are one by Plutarch from a fighting stick in the battles to the North at the beginning of his reign, and a stone to the head/neck at Cyropolis.Alexander did not die from syphilis.