Was Hercules the symbol of Alexander for Greeks?

[Cyrus]

http://www.ganesha.org/leading/paradigm.htmlThis site says that Hercules was Alexander's role model but did Greeks see Alexander as Hercules? I think Greeks wanted to remind Iranians of someone by building several states of Hercules!Statue of Hercules in Susa, Khuzestan: http://www.chn.ir/aspsmartupload/upload ... .jpgStatue of Hercules in Behistun, Kermanshah: http://www.chn.ir/image/daily_pic/herko ... .jpgStatue of Hercules in Nahavand, Hamedan: http://www.iranmiras.ir/fr_site/newsf/p ... pgHercules Temple in Divandareh, Kurdistan: http://www.chn.ir/english/eshownews.asp?no=1112

[Nicator]

Hello Cyrus,
This is an excellent question. Generally, Alexander's role model is seen as Achilles, but that he admired Heracles (or at least what he stood for) cannot be doubted. One gets the feeling that Alexander considered Heracles a bit more in the realm of myth than Achilles, though this is not at all conclusive. There are many allusions to Heracles in the Alexander histories. 1. That Alexander was descended from Heracles on his fathers side (a myth concocted by Philip to be accepted by the Hellenes...particularly in the Olympic games). 2. Alexander's dream at Tyre where Heracles invited him in. Aristander interpreted it as meaning that he would take the city only that it would take great labors to do so. 3. The Rock of Aornos (I think), where Alexander concocts a story about Heracles himself being unable to take the rock. Apparently, there was some myth about a local deity (forget his name) that was unable to take the rock. Alexander substituted the local deity for Heracles and used the story for his own ends. 4. The coins issued (by Alexander and his successors) that cleverly portrayed an ever morphing image of Heracles into Alexander. These are the things that I can think of off the top of my head. Maybe someone else can add more? Certainly, the demigod Heracles was extremely important to not just Alexander, but to all the Greeks and even to the Romans (who transformed him from a slender, smaller in stature, young man; into a veritable heavyweight. The notion of a superhero for the Hellenes, the Romans, and even the Americans (Superman) has played an extremely important role in each nations identity. This gets deep, but I'll stop here... later Nicator p.s. I like your attitude lately...keep it up!

[marcus]

Hi Nick,Heracles as ancestor wasn't concocted by Philip, though - it had been 'accepted' genealogy for much longer.All the bestMarcus

[Nicator]

Hello Marcus,Thanks for correcting. I guess it depends on how you interpret the historical account. Particularly with the bloody Argive descendancy preceding Philip II. Who could really argue, with all those dynastic purges, as to where the line originated from?later Nicator

[sikader]

Well, let me tell you a few things:
1) The Macedonian dynasty originated from Argos ORESTIKON, in Macedonia. The Hellanodikai confused that with Argos in the Peloponesse.2) Hercules was the "forefather" of all the Ancient Greeks. He was a model for all of them, not just Alexander...

[beausefaless]

Later Nicator,This is fact; There are coins minted during Philips' rule depicting him riding in a chariot winning in the Olympic games. Would you say this is a myth concocted by Philip to be accepted by the Hellenes...?Later, Andrew

[Nicator]

Hello Andrew,I would say that a coin depicting Philip riding a chariot may have been minted after his Olympic victory to form valuable propaganda commemorating the event. What do you think? Nicator

[yiannis]

You think that the Hellanodikes actualy cared to check where was his family's origin from before they accepted him as Greek? He was an important man that they wanted to have good relations with and I doubt they were stupid enough to "confuse" the two cities...Herakles was the forefather of the Dorians, not "all Greeks". See the "return of the Heraclidae" for clarifications...

[beausefaless]

Greetings Nicator,I completely agree! What better way to form a catalyst with the nobles to help solidify his rule especially when Philip's gold was accepted everywhere.Take care,Andrew