Maxwell The Invisible Enemy

[iskande-32]

Comrades I just finished Reading Maxwell the Invisible Enemy.The book is basically Alexanders invisible enemy been Dionysus the god of wine.I really think schollars should leave this aspect alone, Its as if Alexander was some type of ancient Alcoholic.I dont know how its measured or if he had a problem with drinking, The sources dont refer to drinking in excess as we know Macedonians drank like fish and fought and played just as hard, I would say Alexanders drinking could have even been the opposite even to far as his drinking was only sociable. But I think its fare to say he didnt have a drink problem and definately not what some writers say he died a sad drunk.I also dont think he was a tragic drunk either.Regards
Kenny

[jan]

Thanks, Kenny, as I agree with you.

[marcus]

Hi Kenny and Jan,What was very clever about O'Brien's theme was that, particularly at the time, some new take on Alexander was required. To be honest, book after book appearing which didn't have an angle would have got very boring.To be fair, however, discussing Alexander's relationship with Dionysus doesn't mean that O'Brien is accusing Alexander of being an alcoholic or an inveterate drunkard. Dionysus *was* important to Alexander, and as at least two authors state that Alexander believed the killing of Cleitus (and perhaps other 'disasters') were the god's revenge for the destruction of Thebes, it's not a bad angle to take.I used to be rather anti the book myself, but have come to appreciate it far more with second reading.All the bestMarcus

[amyntoros]

It's actually one of my favorites, and whether you agree with the book or not, it certainly gives cause for debate, which is never a bad thing. A quick note here regarding another "angle" of the book. It is written as if it were a Greek tragedy, with the quotes from the Iliad being the chorus. :-)Linda Ann

[S]

Greetings,A good companion book to this study is Walter Otto's "Dionysus: Myth and Cult". It was originally written in 1965, but the material is still interesting. Regards,
Sikander

[yiannis]

I have read the book and I concur that it is "excelent"! Indeed it brings certain ancient Greek customs and beliefs under a different perspective.

[marcus]

Hi Linda Ann,Yes, that's a good point about the way the book's written - very clever, and very apt!All the bestMarcus