Andrew Chugg's book

[Ariadne]

Hello everybody ! I'm reading the Andrew Chugg's book about Alexander's burial. I would like to know if some of you have read it, and what do they think about it. Difficult for me to summarize in english, but it dtalks about the theory of the Nectanebo's "sarcophage" at British Museum, what would have contained Alexander's body (owing to the author, Ptolemy used it in his propaganda, to identify Alexander with the last egyptian pharaon.)Chuggs talks also about this legend on St Marc's body stolen by Venetian in Alexandria on the 9th century, what would be the Alexander's body, identify with St Marc in IVth century by christian syncretism (Chugg don't say that's the truth, but only that is possible.)
He has also other theories about the Soma and his localisation in Alexandria.It seems very funny talken like that, but Chuggs had prooves I can't develop here, with ancient texts (greeks, latin, arab and european), and archeology.Can you tell me if it can be taken seriously, or if it is just other legends by another Alexander's lover (who Chuggs seems to be in his introduction about the conqueror's life)? (Forgive the bad english)Thanks for your replies !
Ariadne

[marcus]

Hi Ariadne,I am sure that Andrew will read your post. I imagine he will probably not wish to answer!I read the book shortly after it was published. I certainly found many interesting points in the suggestions he makes, and for me they are worth taking seriously. I would certainly not say that Andrew's feelings about Alexander have coloured his arguments.All the bestMarcus

[ruthaki]

Would you please tell me the name of the book? I would certainly love to read it! I hope it's available here in Canada.

[Taphoi]

Hi Ruth,The title is "The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great" and it is indeed available in Canada, for example, through http://www.amazon.ca/In fact it is now available through all the Amazon sites including amazon.com in the US. Search on tomb chugg. The amazon marketplace sellers are doing the best deals with the shortest delivery at the moment. Caiman is good for the US and Canada. There is a link to them on the main amazon page for the book.Happy reading!Andrew

[Ariadne]

Hello Andrew ! Sorry if my post has disturbed you.I find your book very interesting, even if the french translation is, I think, bad (errors about the ancient authors, for example, the same person taking different names on different pages...)I have not finished to read it yet, but the great question seems to be : Why archeologist don't try to find it now ? (The localisation you suggest near the old arab wall seems a good one.) I know there are many thinks to discover in Alexandria, but the Soma seems to be one of the most important ! For the "Venise theory" : I find it a little "to good to be true", but still dubting is one of my troubles in life ... May be I will have other questions when I will study your book a little more better, if you accept them !
Nice to read you,
ByeAriadne

[Taphoi]

Hi Ariadne,No problems with your posts.I know the English edition of "The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great" is fairly accurate, because I proof-read it myself. However, I never saw the French edition until after publication and it was translated under some time pressure, so I hope you will forgive a few errors.The walls and gates I suggest might have been part of the enclosure of the Soma were substantially modified in the 1820's and demolished in the 1880's. The area within these walls has been completely covered with modern roads and buildings for over a century. Furthermore, I am the first to associate this area specifically with the Soma, although there have been significant indications since Mahmoud Bey's work in the 1860's. These are the reasons that there has been little archaeological progress.The Venice theory may seem curious and I only present it as a possibility. Nevertheless, I think it is a significant possibility, because I know a lot about the general background in 4th century AD Alexandria. Basically, at that time a huge amount of relabelling and modification of pagan sites and relics to suit Christian religious purposes happened. My theory fits in very neatly with that pattern and it explains everything at once. It is quite difficult to explain everything in any other way without having to hypothesise multiple unlikely events: e.g. someone destroyed the body, but nobody recorded it or even mentioned its disappearance AND the empty sarcophagus retained its association with Alexander AND someone found some other ancient mummy to pass off as St Mark in the same place as the Soma mausoleum had stood. In other words, alternative explanations of the known facts are even more complicated and unlikely.You can get more background information from my website at http://www.alexanderstomb.com/ and you can send me questions via the contact form there, if you wish.Best regards,Andrew