Curtius

[lucian]

I have been reading Curtius for the first time. Honestly, the guy does give a lot more information than other authors (I've never read Diodorus, or Josephus) but for every "good deed" Alexander does, Curtius refutes it. At one point he said (on the topic of Darius' family) that he (Curtius) would have placed Alexander in high regard if Alexander were able to maintain this same constrait throughout his life, instead he killed his best friend. He said this after he tells us the tale of the "sparing" of Darius' family. It's almost as if he doesn't want his readers to have a respect for Alexander, to like him. Whenever he mentions Bagoas, he uses words like disgusting, immoral, leud, to describe his behavior and his role, and always as a way of describing Alexander, because he gave in to those "passions". He has it in for Alexander! There is more immoral behavior coming from a Caesar, then any day of Alexander's life. Thais had more morals than Caligula!I needed to vent..Thanks

[tino]

Curtius may have used Alexander to criticize the despotic power of the Caesars of his age. He could not very well criticize the Emperors of his age without fear of death, but a famous king centuries past was a safe target to level subtle and not to subtle barbs against the Nero's of his age...

[marcus]

That's true, and there are indeed times when Curtius finds himself rather arguing both points. However, there are times when Arrian does the same, and he wasn't trying to appease the emperor.I recently read (at last) Elizabeth Baynham's excellent book on Curtius ("A the G: The Unique History of QCR"). If you can get a copy (they re-released it to coincide with the film) it's well worth a read - not least because it specifically answers the original question, in some detail! (So much so that I can't give a precis of it (a) in one forum message and (b) because there's so much I'd have to re-read the book in order to do so.)ATBMarcus

[xxx]

A wise reading of Curtius is very profitable and don't ignore his final summation, which is ultimately positive. Curtius uses Alexander as a tool to wax about the morality of ancient times. He was not one to research what was true or not because that wasn't necessarily his point, which is why you will find lots of mistakes. But in areas where he is interested, such as injuries to the King he is a superior source. On military matters, less so. Plutarch is more clever and Arrian more factual and understanding of all things military, but it is Curtius' Alexander that is more alive and complex than the others.