Major Themes

•Orientalism

•Fusion/Assimilation

•Alexander as a God

Capture of the major cities

• Made Alexander and his men exceedingly rich.• Brought centres of ancient culture and

civilisation, with much national pride and history, under his control.

• Arrived at a logical conclusion to the expedition as Hegemon of the League of Corinth.

• Retribution had been achieved for the Persian burning of the temples at Athens 150 years previously

The Persian Gates

Burning of the Palace at Persepolis

• Extreme act of drunken vandalism or a deliberate act of elitist policy?

• Seriously regretted by Alexander. Remember he puts himself forward as the successor of Darius. Must be a difficult action to explain to his new subjects.subjects.

• His own Macedonians believe that it signifies an end to their long arduous campaign and are happy to think they are on the way home.

Persepolis

Death of Darius

Death of Darius

• Finds him butchered on the side of the road.• Arrian shows a distinct dislike for the King.• Alex annoyed that someone else instead of him

had dealt with Darius. Only Kings should Only Kings should decide the fate of Kings.decide the fate of Kings.

• Hunts Bessus down like an animal because of Hunts Bessus down like an animal because of thisthis

• Marries Strateira, daughter of Darius, to becom Marries Strateira, daughter of Darius, to becom legitimate successsor.legitimate successsor.

Questions 1

• Was there a change in some of the Macedonians as they encountered the extreme wealth of the Persian Empire?

• Why does the capture of the major Persian cities serve as a logical conclusion to the Pan-Hellenic expedition?

• Why do you believe the palace at Persepolis was burned to the ground?

Questions 2

• What does the reaction to the burning of Persepolis by the Macedonians tell us of the general attitude in the camp at this time?

• Why does Alexander treat Bessus in the way he does?

• ReadingReading :Plutarch pg 291-303, Arrian pg171-188

Tensions in the Camp

• Fusion/assimilation. Older conservative Macedonians such as Parmenio and Cleitus unhappy at respect shown to Persian defeated.

• Also angry with sycophantic courtiers and friends of Alexander who agreed with everything the King said.

Philotas

• Probably over-confident in his fathers’ position.• Saw the Macedonian King as a first among

equals.• Was frustrated with the increasingly revised

histories of the expedition which more exclusively played on the part played by the King.

• May have been a victim to a “greasy pole” syndrome in the Macedonian camp.

Parmenio

• Negativity is almost certainly accentuated after the execution.

• No way Alex would have maintained an inefficient general as his second in command.

• Was between Alex and home geographically.

• Had great support from his soldiers.

Killings in the Camp

Cleitus

• Epitome of being original alpha-Macedonian.• Felt the contribution of the other generals and

the rank and file soldier was being subverted to provide an almost godlike personality for Alex.

• Resented the promotion of the vanquished to positions of authority.

• Thought it blasphemous for mortals to be compared to gods.

Callisthenes

• The intellectual philosopher. Capable of analysing the change from first among equals to autocratic despot.

• An idealist who did not know when to stop talking.

• Was a subversive influence, who was becoming a rallying position for those disaffected by the change in Alexander.

• Needed to be taken out.

Crossing The Hindu Kush

Indus and Aornus