Confusion

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Paralus
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Re: Arrian implies Macedonians are not Greeks

Post by Paralus »

You're on dangerous ground Bob - but I suspect you know that.To put it simply, the Macedonian "Guards Brigade", the phalanx, the "shield bearers" - oh , all right, all the infantry - did not and were not expected to understand "Greek". There is solid evidence for this. At 04:30 Sydney time, I'm not about to go collate it. One example: the murder of Clietus, Alexander calls to his royal guard in "Macedonian" - evidently so as he is understood.Another is Eumenes (a Greek) using a Macedonian as a go-between between himself and Macedonian infantry on Craterus' side to attempt to get them to defect. He sent the fellow so as he could "converse".The Greek states always viewed Macedonia as a particularly resented "Barbaroi" ruler. Mind you, they resented both Athens and Sparta almost as much. Never applied the pejorative "barbaroi" though.You're a cheeky bastard Bob!Paralus
Paralus
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους;
Wicked men, you sin against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander.

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