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Hi Alexander's fans. I am interested to learn more about the religion alexander believed. Were his religious beliefs same as all other greeks or he believed in other deities like egyptian and Persian

The most famous 'deviation' was his support of Zeus-Ammon (Ammon being a Lybian) diety. He may or may not have liked the Zoroastrans (who still don't like him) and the Brahmans in India fought against him, which may have led him to support the Buddhist portion of the Indian populations. Do a google on Ranajit Pal for the Buddhist support idea.

Mike wrote:Were his religious beliefs same as all other greeks or he believed in other deities like egyptian and Persian

The thing about being polytheistic is that it isn’t necessary to disbelieve in gods other than your own. The Greeks themselves worshipped far more than the twelve gods of the traditional Olympic pantheon – see Theoi.com for more information – and it wasn’t unknown for them to also embrace gods from other countries. For example, in Hellenistic times Isis became hugely popular, first with the Greeks and then the Romans.

rjones2818 wrote:The most famous 'deviation' was his support of Zeus-Ammon (Ammon being a Lybian) diety.

I wouldn’t call it a deviation per se. The Spartans had a long-standing sanctuary of Ammon, and according to Pausanias (Vol. 2; 3.18.3) they seemed “to have used the Libyan oracle more than anyone else in Greece from the beginning.” He also tells the tale of Lysander having a dream in which Ammon told him to end his siege of Aphytis. Lysander did so, and then “made made the Lakonians offer more worship to this god.” Pausanias also records that because of this “Ammon is not more honored by the Lybian Ammonians than he is at Aphytis.” Aphytis, btw, was in Macedonia!

The Eleans also had a sanctuary of Ammon (Pausanias Vol. 2; 5.15.11) and “They appear to have used the Libyan oracle from a very early period, and there are altars in Ammon’s sanctuary which are Elean dedications, inscribed with the names of the men from Elis who visited Ammon.” Finally, in Thebes there was a statue of Ammon dedicated by Pindar who also wrote a hymn to Ammon which he sent to the Ammonians in Libya. (Pausanias Vol. 1: 9.16.1) According to Peter Levi, the translator of my Penguin edition of Pausanias, “Pindar is the earliest known writer to mention Zeus Ammon, and the early coinage of Kyrene which carries his head is the earliest representation of him we have.”

So, as you can see, the worship of Ammon existed in Greece and Macedonia long before Alexander.

Best regards,

Mike wrote:Hi Alexander's fans. I am interested to learn more about the religion alexander believed. Were his religious beliefs same as all other greeks or he believed in other deities like egyptian and Persian

In a general sense you could say that he shared the same religious background with those living in Greek mainland. But in a more closer look you have to examine some factors.

Members of a royal dynasty in the greek world like Temenids consider themselves being under the protection of certain gods/goddesses whom they are associated as the protectors of their house.They were particularly mostly devoted both to Zeus, father of Macedon who was their eponymous ancestor in Greek mythology and Heracles, the so-called 'progenitor' of their clan. From Alexander's maternal side we have also the worship of another eponymous ancestor, Achilles.

Secondly, kings are devoted to the patron god/goddess of their city. In our case, the patron goddess of Pella was Athena Alkedemos. Her worship was quite spread at the time of Alexander and especially during Hellenistic ages.

In another instance we could say sometimes kings are assimilated to certain gods or even in certain cases like Alexander's identified with them (Zeus-Ammon).

Lastly it was natural for a king like Alexander to try to legitimate his royal titles he earned through conquests by adopting some special local deities in relation with the places he ruled as it strengthened further his own position. This was followed in many cases by his diadochi.

amyntoros wrote:... Pausanias also records that because of this “Ammon is not more honored by the Lybian Ammonians than he is at Aphytis.” Aphytis, btw, was in Macedonia! ... Finally, in Thebes there was a statue of Ammon dedicated by Pindar who also wrote a hymn to Ammon which he sent to the Ammonians in Libya. (Pausanias Vol. 1: 9.16.1) According to Peter Levi, the translator of my Penguin edition of Pausanias, “Pindar is the earliest known writer to mention Zeus Ammon, and the early coinage of Kyrene which carries his head is the earliest representation of him we have.”

Wow, Amyntoros, this is something completely unknown to me! Thanks a lot!

I thought that Alexander's "infatuation" with Ammon was mostly a political ruse destined to placate/opt out the local elite, never had thought that it was a not (entirely) uncommon feeling! (Of course I still believe it was mainly a political move, but the background is much richer now!). I know the history of the two doves and that Ammon was identified as Zeus, but I thought it to be a rather third- or fourth-tier myth, not known or embraced by many.

Particularly striking are the two elements that I quoted above: that Macedonia seemed to have been a main site of worship (so Alexander's trip to Siwah becomes less "surprising") and that Pindar wrote a hymn for the god (so there seems to be a second reading to Alexander's keeping his house in one piece while destroying everything else in Thebes - by the way, did the statue survive? or was razed to the ground as well?).

Once again, thanks a lot for the info!

Alejandro

alejandro wrote:Wow, Amyntoros, this is something completely unknown to me! Thanks a lot!

You're very welcome - am always happy to share any small information I may have. (And now you know why I have been pouring through Pausanias for some time now.)

Particularly striking are the two elements that I quoted above: that Macedonia seemed to have been a main site of worship (so Alexander's trip to Siwah becomes less "surprising") and that Pindar wrote a hymn for the god (so there seems to be a second reading to Alexander's keeping his house in one piece while destroying everything else in Thebes - by the way, did the statue survive? or was razed to the ground as well?).

Pausanias wrote his Guide to Greece between the late fifties and the late seventies of the second century AD and he records seeing the statue of Ammon then, so, yes, it must have survived. Despite it being said that the city of Thebes was "razed to the ground" by Alexander, I think it would be in accordance with Alexander's nature and religious beliefs for the temples to have been spared; although, curiously, Pausanias recalls that there used to be an infallible oracle in the Sanctuary of Ptoan Apollo (outside of Thebes) before the invasion of Alexander of Macedon and the extermination of Thebes. The histories do record that Alexander spared the priests, so one wonders what happened to the oracle.

Best regards,

Ovid'sMetamorphosis has an interesting little section which in my opinion throws light on the religion of the Macedonians. I believe the religion of the Makedones was a little more rustic than that of the southern Greeks - and the Ram seems to have played a significant role in Macedonian religious beliefs. I would suggest their religion was perhaps more on a par with the earlier Greek religious beliefe of theTitania.

Nature's elements and wild-life probably had more significance than any anthropomrphic deities such as those found in the Greek pantheon. Having said that, it would appear at some stage the Makedones, or at least some of their elite, adopted or were able to relate to the Greek pantheon of Gods.

All a bit brief isn't it?

Can't compose my thoughts at this hour of the morning.


Cheers!