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1. Upbringing, Character, Beliefs and Life of Alexander - Coggle Diagram
1. Upbringing, Character, Beliefs and Life of Alexander
YOUTH
Birth
Plutarch. Descended from Heracles through father, Aeacus through Neoptolemus (Achilles) from mother. Olympius dreamt that thunder hit her womb, fire sprung up and was extinguished. Philp later dreamt he put seal in shape of lion on womb of Olympius (Told by seer Aristander of Telemessus that she pregnant, don't seal empty things)
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Boucephalus
Philip, court and Alexander arrived at Thessaly horse ranch. None of Philip's men could tame horse (worth 13 talents) Alexander repeatedly muttered this is not how you tame a horse. Philip ignored him at first, later told him to try, Alexander said he'd pay 13 talents to Philip if he failed. Alexander realised horse feared his own reflection. Alexander kissed on head by Philip, very proud of son
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PARENTS
PHILIP
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Chaeronea
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Macedon + Thessaly vs Athens, Thebes, Corinth + 6 other states
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League of Corinth
Philip was leader (hegemenon) as well as founder. Handed responsibility of invading Persia in Greece's name (in reality handed himself this responsibility as payback for Xerxes)
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Murder. Killed by Pausanius. Maybe under order of Olympias or Alexander, maybe in revenge for replacement by Pausanius younger as lover of Philip, then raped by mule drivers under instruction by Philips men. Pausanius killed in pursuit by bodyguards of Philip (only following at a distance). Alexander claimed Darius bribed murderer
Organised Macedonian army, made them swear allegiance to the king not the state. Developed the Sarissa Spear (0longer for Macedonian Phalanx)
OLYMPIAS. CHARACTER, POLITICAL AND PERSONAL INFLUENCE
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Misogyny played key role in her lack of popularity and accusations against her (in relation to Philip's murder). Plutarch refers to her as 'bad tempered'
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Arguments in royal household - multiple wives of Philip arguing. Olympias went to Epirus after argument between Philip and Alexander
Killed Iolas (Alexander's cupbearer) for suspicion of poisoning Alexander. Most historians think story of poison is false
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Diodorus Siculus. Her daughter, Cleopatra, married to Alexander of Epirus - Olympias' brother. No longer strongest link to Epirus. Possible motive for assassination
CHARACTER AND BELIEFS
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COURSE OF LIFE
Foundation of Alexandria. 331 BCE founds city on site of town Rhakotis. Alexander never returned to Alexandria, but city thrived
RELIGION
Dedicated 300 sets of Persian armour to Athena in her temple at Athens. Reference to Spartans at Thermopylae. Made it clear that Alexander and the Greeks defeated Spartans
Conspicuously pious. Hailed as son of Ammon, very visibly sacrificed to Poseidon and Zeus when visiting Troy battlegrounds
RELATIONSHIPS
PARMENIO
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Killed after killing son, Philotas, for involvement in conspiracy to dethrone him (probably false). No grief mentioned in sources
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CLEITUS
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Officer of the Companions (Under Philotas).Became joint leader with Hephaesiton after Philotas conspiracy
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HEPHAESTION
Alleged lovers
Relationship compared to that of Achilles and Patroculus - alleged lovers in Trojan war. Payed tribute to the pair at Trojan war site
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Very close to Alexander. Mistaken for Alexander by Queen Statira (Persian) who knelt to him instead. Alexander said "Don't worry, mother. Everywhere, he is Alexander too".
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Fell ill in games at Ecbatana. Alexander left to see him, but already dead.
CALLISTHENES
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Historian. Appointed as official historian of Alexander's campaign though none of his work survives.
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PHILOTAS CONSPIRACY
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330 BCE. December. Accused of knowing about conspiracy against Alexander. Given trial, but also tortured - confessed that he and Parmenio were plotting death of Alexander due to claims of divinity.
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Parmenio in Ecbatana when Philotas killed (him and fellow 'conspirators' stoned to death). Parmenio killed too.
Issues:
We don't really know what happened
Ancient sources dont doubt that there was a conspiracy that Philotas failed to report
We don't know why he failed to report the conspiracy
Confessoin under torture is invalid.
Alexander's treatment of Philotas and Parmenio made him an object of fear to his friends [Plutarch 49]