Philip's Murder

[dean]

Hello,
I was curious about Olympias' behaviour before during and after the murder of Philip and also wondering what credit do you think we should give to the idea that it was revenge due to the humiliation suffered by Pausinias at the hands of Attalus.
Did Olympias not celebrate the day of Philip's death and saved the celtic knife used in the murder?
Plus one last question. (promise) I have read about Cleopatra and Perdiccas. The general impression I have got from novels not from any source is that they either were lovers or intended getting married. Is this more to do with the imagination of the writers namely Valerio Manfredi.
Thankyou ,
Dean.

[agesilaos]

The stories of Olympias actions after PhilipGÇÖs death belong to the propaganda warfare of the Diadoch Wars. The Athenians had previously invented the story that Iollas had poisoned Alexander in order to detach Antipater from his Macedonian troops especially the reinforcements coming from Asia. LeonnatosGÇÖ ambitions may indicate that this had a certain degree of success.
In 319 when Kassander was opposed to Olympias, she ressurected the allegation, destroying IollasGÇÖ tomb and killing Nikanor in supposed revenge; her ferocity ,however worked against her but probably not until the charge of complicity in AlexanderGÇÖs death had been met with charges of complicity in PhilipGÇÖs.
As to Pausanias, the act does have all the traits of vendetta, its public nature screams it but he definitely had help since horses were waiting. For his own motivation the story of the humiliation seems sufficient.
As far as I remember there was no love between Perdikkas and Kleopatra it was more a case of PhilipGÇÖs daughter being a better link than AntipaterGÇÖs; Perdikkas screwed up by dithering and trying to get the best of both worlds and lost AntipaterGÇÖs support by repudiating his daughter without gaining any Kudos from a link with Kleopatra. Love stories have little substance in an age of arranged political marriages (Seleukos and Apamea and Antiochos and Stratonike being possible exceptions).

[dean]

Hi,Cheers Karl. Would Ptolemy and Thais be perhaps another example similar to Seleucos?As for the Kleopatra story and Perdikkas; which never as I understand it, came to flower, do you know where the details about their story are to be found?Best regards,
Dean.

[marcus]

Ptolemy and Thais is a different matter, as Thais was merely Ptolemy's mistress - he had children by her, but never married her.All the bestMarcus

[agesilaos]

Perdikkas' attempts at diplomacy by marriage are to be found in Diodoros Bk XVIII.

[Kallistos]

Kleopatra, the sister of Alexander was a great prize and love had
nothing to do with it. After the murder of Alexander IV, by
Kassandros, she was much sought after. She was on her way to
marry Ptolemy when she was murdered by agents of Antigonos.

[ruthaki]

I've never heard of her going to marry Ptolemy. Where is that' info from? I know she was living in exile in Syria as she was lucky not to have been charged with treason after her attempt to marry Perdikkas. And I know she was killed (one report I read says by her women, on the orders of Kassandros). I think if Ptolemy wanted to marry her he would have done so much earlier on.

[marcus]

Hi Ruth,Well, as it happens, I found a (brief) reference to it just last night - it's certainly in the Heidelberg Epitome, in Alexander's supposed last will and testament, where he explicitly says that he wants Cleopatra to marry Ptolemy.Obviously the will is a fabrication ... but there's at least one mention of the intended match!All the bestMarcus

[smittysmitty]

I was reading Heckels Alexander the Great the other night trying to research some things on Cleopatra, and the reference is also to be found in the 'Liber de Morte Testamentmque Alexandri Magni' which translates to The Book on the Death and Testament of Alexander the Great. According to Heckel, this book was appended to the Metz Epitome but is not part of the same work.Not sure if thats the same as the Heidelberg Epitome,. could be, I'm not really familiar with either.cheers!