Alexander set a trap to catch Callisthenes

[jan]

HI Marcus, Seems to be some trouble in the Mentor post so am writing a new one. The question was about the relationship between Alexander and Aristotle. The problem with Callisthene's was in his having fallen for the trap that Alexander set to prove to the Macedonians Callisthene's real feelings about them. If memory serves me correctly, I remember that Callisthenes was asked to give a speech describing all the good things about the Macedonians which he did and received a rousing cheer, but then when asked to do the same about all the bad qualities, he fell for it, and described those in such great detail that it turned all the Macedonians against him. Thus, he lost their approval, and it was Aristotle who said that he had used poor judgment, siding with Alexander.

[dean]

Hello Jan and happy new year albeit a bit late,
But anyway, my opinion is that Alexander's attempt to "drop Callisthenes in it" was more a move to get even with him, after Callisthenes had made comments previously which had been quite sarcastic towards Alexander regarding thunder and Zeus etc etc.
The axiom Callisthenes was using was basically that expressing one's opinion was his right towards a Macedonian king- and he was going to take advantage of it.
I remember that Renault commented that Philip had to listen to everyday people and their problems and was their to stay listening until the last person who wished to speak had spoken.(sometimes Philip was not the greatest of listeners)
The rules of the game had changed and Callisthenes was becoming "anti Alexander" due to Alexander's adoption of Persian customs and Callisthenes paid the price and proved what Aristotle said about him.
Well, that is my tuppence,
Best regards,
Dean.

[dean]

Hello Jan and happy new year albeit a bit late,
But anyway, my opinion is that Alexander's attempt to "drop Callisthenes in it" was more a move to get even with him, after Callisthenes had made comments previously which had been quite sarcastic towards Alexander regarding thunder and Zeus etc etc.
The axiom Callisthenes was using was basically that expressing one's opinion was his right towards a Macedonian king- and he was going to take advantage of it.
I remember that Renault commented that Philip had to listen to everyday people and their problems and was their to stay listening until the last person who wished to speak had spoken.(sometimes Philip was not the greatest of listeners)
The rules of the game had changed and Callisthenes was becoming "anti Alexander" due to Alexander's adoption of Persian customs and Callisthenes paid the price and proved what Aristotle said about him.
Well, that is my tuppence,
Best regards,
Dean.

[marcus]

Hi Jan,Ah, I had no problems with the "Mentor" thread - I have written an answer to your post there.ATBMarcus

[marcus]

Hi Jan,Ah, I had no problems with the "Mentor" thread - I have written an answer to your post there.ATBMarcus

[jan]

Hi Dean, Thanks for the greeting and Happy New Year to you too. Inoticed last night at the Golden Globe awards that Gwyneth Paltrow honored Sir Anthony Hopkins with the choice word "Mentor" and there was a noticeable absence of his performance in the movie Alexander.I also just saw the movie Tristan and Isolde which is a wonderful film, and it made me even angrier that it was Oliver Stone who got the jump on the movie Alexander.Tristan and Isolde is a very well made movie, and it really hit me at the impact and influence of movies on viewers. Such a shame that Stone failed so poorly.

[jan]

Hi Dean, Thanks for the greeting and Happy New Year to you too. Inoticed last night at the Golden Globe awards that Gwyneth Paltrow honored Sir Anthony Hopkins with the choice word "Mentor" and there was a noticeable absence of his performance in the movie Alexander.I also just saw the movie Tristan and Isolde which is a wonderful film, and it made me even angrier that it was Oliver Stone who got the jump on the movie Alexander.Tristan and Isolde is a very well made movie, and it really hit me at the impact and influence of movies on viewers. Such a shame that Stone failed so poorly.