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Dave, I think you're very harsh on yourself!Anyway, Soter is definatelly a Greek (and thus Macedonian ) word meaning "Savior".
Soter is also an epithet of Jesus.For example:
"soteriology
p. 30
Pronunciation: sO-"tir-E-'+ñ-l&-jE
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek sOtErion salvation (from sOtEr savior, preserver) + English -logy -- more at CREOSOTE
Date: circa 1774: theology dealing with salvation especially as effected by Jesus Christ- so-+te-+ri-+o-+log-+i-+cal /-E-&-'l+ñ-ji-k&l/ adjective http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary" http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~hlbostic/Derrida ... sary.htmIn your lexicon it could also be mentioned as "Sotir" Regards,
Yiannis
I know I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable on these matters as you, but could you please clear up some points for me?I've just realised I've always been assuming that the current of the river was from right to left from Alexander's point of view.This would of course account for the fact that he started out on the right, went across at an angle (with the current) and ended up in the Persian center.But I don't know for sure, as I have no data on the actual situation. Also, am I correct in assuming that the Persians forgot to take this into account? Arrian: "They had massed their squadrons in strength - for here it was, threatening their left, they could see Alexander himself"?But when Alexander had crossed, he ended up somewhere else. Arrian says that after he crossed, he went "charging at the head of his men straight for the spot where the Persian commanders stood and the serried ranks of enemy horse were thickest." To me this sounds like he doubled back. Your opinions?
The stream did flow from Alexander's right so his movement will have taken him towards the Persian left. Hammond visited the site in the sixties and that was thw way the river was flowing then and I doubt the relief pattern is different.The trouble is that the Persian commanders should have been in the centre; the sources do not mention any retrograde movement on his part and since the survivors of the initial action fell back on Alexander's troops it would be reasonable to assume that he attacked in the same place.
When you think about, it free-choice is the only possible option.