Memnon

[john]

One thing that i would like to hear peoples opinion about is, what if Memnon had not died. I think that southern Greece would have revolted, but Antipater would have saved Macedonia itself.
Memnon did have the support of Sparta and Athens, who were ready to revolt at his command. I think that Alexander would not have turned back. I feel that Alexander thought that his goal was not to rule Greece, but Persia. One can see evidence of this in his "orientilization."

[ScottOden]

In my mind, these sorts of questions open whole other realms of possiblity. For instance, if Memnon had not died, Alexander would not have penetrated so far into the Persian heartland until the threat to his rear could be taken care of. Which means he would not have been in Babylon in the summer of 323, and he would not have contracted the fever (one possibility) that eventually killed him. Change one thing, even the tiniest detail, and the whole mythos of Alexander is irrevocably altered.As for the actual question at hand: I don't think Memnon *did* have the full support of Athens and Sparta. The year before his death Memnon entered into talks with the Spartans in an attempt to get them to lead a revolt against Macedon. The envoys of King Agis may have agreed, but in true Spartan fashion, they dragged their feet. About two years later they finally got around to revolting and were trounced. As for Athens, I've never come across anything textual that confirms Memnon having contacted them for the purposes of rebellion. The last contact between Memnon and Athens occured posthumously: in 327 the Athenians honored Memnon with a golden wreath and an inscription in the stoa.Had Memnon not died, he and Alexander would have eventually met in battle. I believe their skills as generals were comparable, but Alexander's better trained forces would have carried the day, albeit after sustaining heavy casualties. The whole debacle would have slowed down Alexander's march to the Persian interior. Of course, if Memnon had not died in 333, at Mytilene, Alexander may have died an old man, in his bed...Just Some Thoughts,Scott

[maciek]

Maybe it would be only little longer of Alexander's worry about situation in Greece. Afterall Sparta finally revolted and was even stronger than when Memnon died so maybe if he would come to battle he would fall in battle with Antipater. Of course theese are only hypothesis...

[susan]

I don't think there was any way he'd have died an old man, if anyone was rushing headlong to meet his fate it was Alexander. However he did manage to die in his bed, which maybe he regretted if he was conscious enough to realise it.Susan

[maciek]

Maybe the best way for him would be to change the side and to fight in some separate direction against Persians - then he would live longer - but still just to Diadoch's wars when most of them died...Maciek