Lecture 25 The Greeks Take Persia HIST 213 Spring 2012 Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE) Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας or Μέγας Ἀλέξανδρος son of Philip II and Olympias King (basileus) of Macedon He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle. By the time of his death, he had conquered most of the world as known to the ancient Greeks Alexander tames Bucephalus Alexander on Bucephalus? Fresco on the "Tomb of Philip", Vergina 1
Aristotle teaches Alexander Jan Lievens, 1631 Prince Charles Louis with His Tutor, as the Young Alexander Instructed by Aristotle Alexander Invades Persia May 334 Alexander crossed Hellespont with large army Throws a spear into Asia Visits Troy; He and closest friend Hephaestion take part in funeral games for the Homeric heroes Achilles and Patroclus ancestor of Alexander; ancestor of Hephaestion From the Trojan temple of Athena, the king took a sacred shield saved Alexander's life in India Alex was not the first The Anabasis of Xenophon 10,000 trapped behind enemy lines and fight their way out of Persian Empire (401) Spartan king Agesilaus had succeeded in capturing satrap capital of Sardis (395) War was planned by his father Philip 2
Phases in Alexander s Wars 1. Invasion/Granicus 2. First campaign season in Asia 3. Issus 4. Levant and Egypt (deification) 5. Gaugamela 6. Hunt for the false Shah 7. Ends of the Earth 8. Dismal return to Babylon Alex Advances from the West Gordion 3
The Gordian Knot Alexander cuts the Gordian Knot Jean-Simon Berthélemy (1743 1811) Confrontation at Issus EAST or SOUTH? AFTER ISSUS: Persians controls Aegean & Hellespont threatened Alexander's supply line could attack Macedonian homeland Alex decides to take the Phoenician towns, home of Persian fleet crews The conquest of the Levant was a strategic necessity Founds a city south of Issus (Alexandretta) city featured in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 4
Tyre Change Alex becomes the son of Zeus at Siwa Coin of Ammon Zeus (c. 500 BCE) Coin of Alexander (c. 326 BCE) Alex patterns himself on Ammon Zeus his way of linking himself to the divine first evidence of megalomania with religious overtones stylized numismatic (coin) portraiture becomes Hellenistic standard 5
Eastern Campaign (330-324 BCE) Personality changes in Alexander October 330 Parmenion and son executed for treason Autumn 329 Black Cleitus killed in drunken rage Alexander seems to adopt Oriental habits: marries Roxanne (Spring 328) demands proskynesis (summer 328) Persian robes proskynesis 6
The Death of Alexander 11 June 323 BCE Over next week Alexander s health rapidly declined At one moment, he was so desperate that he gave his ring to Perdiccas and when asked to whom the ring should be given, some believe he replied: tôi Krateroi" (To Krateros) or tôi kratistôi" (to the strongest). 7
Alexander s Generals Seleucus page under Philip II Commander of the Hypaspists Ptolemy 7 Bodyguards after Clitus helped uncover plot Antigonus one-eye Key in Asia invasion Commander of Greek Hoplites satrap of Lycia and Pamphylia Perdiccas 7 Bodyguard commander of Tyre siege became #2 man after Parmenion is executed Hellenistic Kingdoms 311-303 Macedonian Kingship King as Warrior able to lead (or plan) military campaigns King as God ruler cult of the Hellenistic Kings King as Benefactor distributor of benefits grain money citizenship 8
Cities usually named after kings Alexandria Antioch (Antiochus I) Ptolemais Laodicea (wife of Antiochus II) Seleucia (Seleucus I Nicator) Apamea (Apama, wife of Seleucus I) The Great Altar of Pergamon Pergamon Museum in Berlin One of the Wonders of the World built c. 165 BCE by Eumenes II dedicated to Zeus frieze called gignotomachy struggle of gods and giants A Love of Books Library of Alexandria built by Ptolemy I (Soter) 700,000 volumes Library at Pergamon 300,000 scrolls 9
Hellenistic Arts obsession with fortune that is reflected in: popularity of images of Tyche appeal of images of Alexander for their talismanic power individualism interest in distinct personalities in portraiture concern for individual states of consciousness fear, pain, drunkenness Nike of Samothrace, Louvre Paris Parthia The Coming of Parthia 10