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[jan]

Dear John, Sorry about the truncation...I lost my fear and awe of you after I regained my composure. I am so impressed with your book and shocked to read your message.
At any rate, I was asking before being rudely cut off, what is it that made you so enamored of Alexander, and Aristotle? If I can be so rude as to ask. Not just because he is one of the powerful people of the world I hope. Is there a psychic pull for you? Or just historical interest?
And one other question: Was the gordian knot made of leather or of rope? I have read that it was made of leather, and have seen a picture of it at least five feet tall and equally as thick, knotted in such a way that even a sword could not cut through it.
Thanks,
Jan

[job]

Hello Jan, good to hear from you. In response (1) I was sitting in a lecture class on ancient history back in the late 50's when the professor mentioned that all of the connected ancient accounts of Alexander's career refer to a metamorphosis in the man during the last seven years of his life. What puzzled the lecturer and he said - everyone else - was the fact that there was a personal deterioration in the man which was simultaneous with his most incredible accomplishments. What a paradox. Having, like you and our other colleagues on the forum, been bitten by the Alexander virus (which is apparently incurable), I developed an itch and a rash in regard to this particular question. Years later I scratched it by systematically wading through all of the ancient sources on Alexander looking for any common thread as far as examples of this "deterioration" were concerned. There it was - wine - wine - wine. That was where that particular interest began. (2) Aristotle has always fascinated me because of the pragmatic mold from whence his philosophical musings come. In regard to "the philosopher" I say somewhere in my book words to the effect that the two axioms inscribed in stone on the temple of Apollo at Delphi epitomize his ethical philosophy: know thyself and nothing in excess. This of course is incompatible with the thought process of aspiring heroes and if anything I believe that Alexander represents the antithesis of Aristotelian thinking in the respect. (3)In regard to the Gordian Knot: as far as I know the best guesses are cornel bark or a vine twig. If you can handle German check Mederer and Schmidt in my notes and bibliography. In English, Ernst Fredricksmeyer (1961)Classical Philology, Tarn, Hamilton & Bosworth are certainly worthwhile. Hope this helps.
John