Thursday, January 29, 2015
What if … Alexander had died a few months earlier, before Craterus left with his veterans for Macedonia?
Monday, January 26, 2015
What if...
- What if … he had married before leaving for Asia and had produced a son?
- What if … Hephaistion had still been alive at the time of Alexander’s death in Babylon?
- What if … he had died a few months earlier before Craterus left with his veterans for Macedonia?
- What if … he had died a few months later after his son with Roxane was born and Craterus had replaced Antipater in Macedonia?
- What if … he had lived a few more years to conquer western Mediterranean?
- What if … he had left his throne to his son from the Persian princess Barsine/Stateira, descended from and protected by Sisygambis?
First, all members of Alexander’s Bodyguard were in Babylon when he died in 323 BC: Aristonous, Leonnatus,
Lysimachus, Peithon, Perdiccas, Peucestas, and Ptolemy. Other powerful men were also present, like Seleucos, one of his principal commanders over the past seven years; Nearchus, the admiral of his fleet; and Eumenes, his secretary and archivist. They all had campaigned at Alexander’s side for over a decade, and I’m confident their world
vision had changed considerably since they left
What if Alexander had left the throne to his son from the Persian princess Stateira, descended from and protected by Sisygambis?
All theories are certainly worth pondering, for they are all fascinating and frightening at the same time, especially since each theory automatically raises ever more questions Yes, what if …? Only Zeus knows what would have happened and what our modern world would have looked like.
[Picture of Stateira in Babylon is from Oliver Stone's movie "Alexander"]
What if … Alexander had lived a few more years to conquer western Mediterranean?
What if … Alexander had died a few months later, after his son with Roxane was born and Craterus had replaced Antipater in Macedonia?
What if … Hephaistion had still been alive at the time of Alexander’s death in Babylon?
Hephaistion was one of Alexander’s Seven
Bodyguards from the early days onward, with Aristonous, Leonnatus,
Lysimachus, Peithon, Perdiccas, and Ptolemy, but appears as
“Commander of the Bodyguards” at the actual Battle
of Gaugamela. In light of his more intimate relationship with Alexander,
he would protect Alexander more fiercely and convincingly than anyone
else. This same attitude may percolate through the trial of Philotas, who
was accused of conspiracy several years later, and where we see Hephaistion
as a most determined defender of Alexander’s security and safety.
On the other hand, Hephaistion would undoubtedly have protected Roxane and young Alexander with his life, for in his eyes, they were part of Alexander in many ways. There would have been no case for Roxane to poison the Persian princesses were it only because Hephaistion would have watched over all of them as his family.
[Picture of Alexander and Hephaistion is from Oliver Stone's movie "Alexander"]What if … Alexander had married before leaving for Asia and had produced a son?
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Mystery about the precious orichalcum solved?
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A clear statement about Amphipolis (Kasta Hill), at last!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Ancient Turkey. A Travellers’ History by Seton Lloyd
This is an excellent reference book that can be consulted for any time period of the rich history of
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Alexander’s psychological warfare in Pelium, Illyria
Standing here in this desolate and isolated landscape, it is hard to believe that a grand capital like Pelium once crowned this very hill above the Illyrian necropolis or that it was linked by important roads to other cities of the ancient world. In Roman times, it became one of the many stops along the famous Via Egnatia, whose trail is still easy to follow.
[Photos 1 and 2 are courtesy of Wim]
[More pictures can be found by clicking on this link]