Dancing with the Lion: Rise by Dr. Jeanne Reames

Dancing with the Lion: Rise by Dr. Jeanne Reames (ISBN: 978-1-62649-900-3) is Book Two of Dancing with the Lion: Becoming by the same author - the historical fiction book about the youth of Alexander the Great described earlier (click here to read my post on Book One).

This second part answers many questions that I was left with after reading the first part. It seems that this book was split in two for publishing reasons but this certainly does no justice to the story. Whatever the reason for this separation, I don’t think that in this case, the end justifies the means.

This being said, I now understand the title (which I questioned after reading Book One) and it turns out that Philip is the Lion and Alexander his cub. Why revealing this so late in the story, especially since it was cut in two parts, is not the best idea. It feels familiar, however, to renew with the main characters of Alexander, Hephaistion, and Philip which are – as I pointed out in Book One - as close to reality as can be expected.

It was nice to pick up the story again and submerge into the action. We accompany Alexander as his father’s Page during his Thracian campaign. Elected to be his father’s Regent as Philip is besieging Byzantium, we witness the prince’s first command to successfully crush the revolt on the northern border of Macedonia. At Chaironeia, Alexander annihilates the Theban Band. The events leading up to the murder of King Philip and Alexander’s proclamation as his successor are the true climax.

Throughout the book, Alexander is very much aware that his life at court with all its intrigues and complications stands in sharp contrast with the warmth and charismatic life he discovers at Hephaistion’s home. It makes him realize that he has to pay a high price to live as a Royal Prince and heir to the throne of Macedonia.

In between, several chapters are treating the deep affection and love that blossom between the young prince and Hephaistion, both mentally and physically. I am not sure we need all the tiny spicy details for this phase of Alexander’s coming-of-age but there seems to be a tendency to present this book as an LGBTQ Romance rather than a Historical Romance. Well, maybe all readers will find something to their liking but as an Alexander novel the sexual approach is not a priority. After all, the Greeks in antiquity were bisexual and that should suffice.

Alexandria on the Oxus is at Kampyr Tepe

As mentioned earlier in my blog About Alexandria on the Oxus, the Russian archaeologist Edvard Rtveladze has been digging at Kampyr-Tepe since 2015, a strategic location even today as it is situated on the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

[Picture from The Telegraph, Credit: Maximum Exposure]

So far, it had been established that Kampyr-Tepe was a Graeco-Macedonian fortress raising the question of whether it had been founded by Alexander the Great and if this was his Alexandria on the Oxus or Alexandria Oxiana. Until now, that Alexandria was thought to be located at the confluence of the Kokcha River and the Oxus River, i.e., at Ai-Khanoum in Afghanistan. 

Patience and determination certainly paid off for Rtveladze, for after finding a sanctuary, a treasury, and a harbor with distinct Hellenistic characteristics, he finally unearthed the main gate this year. It is said to be identical to that of Sillyum in Pamphylia. If so, we can match it to the gates of Perge and Termessos in Turkey and that of Apamea in Syria as well. They all share this typical semi-oval shape on the inner side of the gate. To find that same pattern this far east can only have happened in the wake of Alexander. What a revelation!

Thanks to the discovery of a new coin depicting Apollo and analysis of other layers of Kampyr-Tepe, the foundation of Alexandria on the Oxus could be dated to the 320s BC, which matches Alexander’s campaign in Central Asia perfectly. This was not the case for Ai-Khanoum.

Later this autumn, Edvard Rtveladze will return to Kampyr-Tepe to further investigate the main gate. Besides the citadel and the upper city that were revealed earlier (see: About Alexandria on the Oxus), the main temple dedicated to Demeter has been located, as well as the river crossing.

Unfortunately, there is no picture available on the gate at Kampyr-Tepe yet.

Palmyran Beauty in full color

It has taken time to get used to, but by now, the world has generally accepted the bright colors of ancient statues and monuments. The subject was first developed in my post, Ancient Greece in full Technicolor in 2013.

The wide range of colors is something difficult to imagine, and I love it when an occasional artifact is copied in its original colors or digitally reconstructed to help to rebuild our mental images. One such example that stands out is the Lion Horoscope at Nemrud Dag (see: Full color on the lion horoscope of Nemrud Dag).

These days, my attention goes to The Beauty of Palmyra that shines at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen, a museum that holds the largest collection of Palmyrene tomb sculptures outside Syria.

From left, The Beauty of Palmyra today, with reconstituted elements, and in the final stage of digital reconstruction. Tahnee L. Cracchio/Ben Goddard/Cecilie Brøns/Lars Hummelshøj

[Picture from The Art Newspaper]

This unknown woman created between 190 and 210 AD was discovered in a tomb at Qasr Abjad in Syria in 1928. Over the past months, archaeologist Cecilie Brøns has painstakingly researched the original colors of this statue using the latest techniques in order to present it in its full glory to the general public.

Before tackling the pigments, the statue was digitally reconstructed, adding the missing fragments like the nose, lips, and her left hand. Only then was the Beauty of Palmyra enhanced with the colors to bring her back to life. Additionally, her jewels were revived digitally also inspired by the precious stones found during excavations at Palmyra.

For the true aficionados, it is interesting to know that a special exhibition The Road to Palmyra runs at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek till 1 March 2020.

Alexandria puts Alexander on a pedestal

When Alexander ordered the construction of Alexandria in Egypt, he may have had visionary plans, but I wonder if, in his most daring dreams, he could have envisaged the role the Mouseion, the famous Library would play. Better known as the Great Library of Alexandria, this center of knowledge dedicated to the Muses, the goddesses of art, was founded by the Ptolemies and attracted scholars from all over the world.

[Picture of Alexander from the BAAM] 

Ptolemy I Soter, definitely was schooled and shaped by the years he served under Alexander, and it was he who, as pharaoh of Egypt, pushed Alexandria to the foreground. The idea for the Mouseion may have come from the exiled Athenian, Demetrius of Phaleron, but the building was not completed until the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. In any case, the Mouseion remained the capital of learning for three hundred years and eventually disappeared, probably during the 3rd century AD.

The modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina Antiquities Museum (BAAM) was opened in 2002, not far from the place occupied by the original Library. The BAAM was designed to contain eight million volumes, and the Archaeological Museum (the world’s first such museum to be set inside a library) was meant to showcase the vast diversity of Egyptian cultural heritage throughout the centuries.

Most of the museum’s collection dates from the Graeco-Roman era, which is not surprising since Alexandria boomed in Hellenistic times under the Ptolemies, and as part of the Roman Empire for another 600 years afterward.

One of the unique highlights in that vast collection is the marble head of Alexander the Great. It was found in Alexandria’s neighborhood of Kom El Dekka, and although it was sculpted in Roman times, it clearly is a copy of an original attributed to the school of Lesbos. His features, including his hair, are very distinctive for Alexander. The head also carries an inscription with his name followed by his title as king of Egypt.

Among other noteworthy statues are, for instance, a limestone head of Berenice II (wife of Ptolemy III Euergetes), a limestone head of Ptolemy III (ruled 246-222 BC), and a marble bust of Socrates made in Roman times.

Apparently, the area of Kom El Dekka was a residential neighborhood for the well-to-do in Graeco-Roman times since excavations have exposed large villas, bathhouses, as well as a theater and even an amphitheater (the only one ever found in Egypt).

The entrance wall of the BAAM is another exciting feature for it depicts the history of writing. The grey Aswan granite displays letters from 120 different languages. In front of this wall, stands – very appropriately - a 13-meter-high statue of Ptolemy II (ruled 285-245 BC) recovered from the harbor of Alexandria in the mid-1990s. Although the construction of the ancient Library of Alexandria may have been conceived by Ptolemy I if not by Alexander himself, it is generally accepted that it was his son, Ptolemy II who realized the project.

Price list established by Emperor Diocletian

One would not expect to find rules defining the maximum price for goods and services in the year 301 AD, but this is exactly what happened.

On the 1^st of September 301, the Roman Emperor Diocletian issued an edict to this purpose containing as many as 1,400 items for raw materials and manufacturing goods as well as for services in order to curb the high inflation. It was posted all over his empire, and so far, it is known that, for instance, in Anatolia, parts of the decree have been found in Pergamon, Aizonai, Aphrodias, Stratonikeia, and Halicarnassus.

The entire edict consists of 37 parts, and the Museum of Halicarnassus proudly exhibits part 9 and a bit of part 10. Today, Aphrodisias is claiming to have unearthed the complete list that was inscribed on the façade of the Civil Basilica. With restoration works in progress, archaeologists hope to reassemble the entire decree inside the building where future visitors will be able to see it. It is written in Greek, but authorities plan to make the text available in Latin, English, and Turkish translations.

This will certainly shed extra light on the social and economic life of Diocletian’s days. The list mentions such a range of items as the travel fee from Alexandria to Rome, the ostrich fee, or the price for a rabbit’s belly fur.

Moreover, I remember having seen this edict of Diocletian in Ptolemais (modern Libya). It was found on the Via Porticata, the Monument Street, which corresponded to the Decumanus. The panel that was retrieved here is slightly damaged and is now exhibited at the local Museum of Ptolemais. There must be many other such places, but it is not easy to track them down.

Finding such legislation all over the Roman Empire clearly shows their widespread organizational skills. It makes me wonder whether such a law existed before, maybe already in Hellenistic times.

Intact female tomb found in Macedonia

Finding a tomb is one interesting thing, but finding one that is still intact after more than two thousand years is something very special.

[Picture from The Archaeology News Network]

The discovery was made at Mavropigi, near Kozani, located at hardly one hour drive west from Vergina. The tomb that has been dated to the end of the 1^st century BC was discovered 1.5 meters below a recently demolished house. Imagine those people who have lived for centuries in a home standing above a grave!

The entire entombment indicates that we are dealing with the remains of a wealthy woman or one that occupied an important place in society at the time. The body was richly decorated and rested on an elaborate bronze funeral bed that was retrieved in excellent condition.

The remains have now been transferred to the Archaeological Museum of Aiani for closer examination. They aim to ascertain the woman’s age and possibly the cause of her death.

It will be great to see some reference to this tomb in the future exhibits of this splendid museum.

Heliodorus, Greek ambassador in India

It sounds rather strange to hear about an ambassador in antiquity. However, throughout his life, Alexander repeatedly met ambassadors from cities he would conquer or those who wanted to show their goodwill towards the conqueror. Yet, more often than not, they remain anonymous. One such exception, however, took place in India.

Chandragupta had entertained friendly relations with Seleucos, and the Greek Megasthenes had functioned as a capable ambassador. After Changragupta’s death, his son Bindusara came to the throne. This was six years after the death of Seleucos. Still, the friendly relations between the Seleucids and the Mauryan empire remained. Seleucos had been replaced by his son Antiochus, and Megasthenes was replaced by Deimachos as envoy to the Mauryan court (see: Transition between two great rulers, Chandragupta and Asoka).

Heliodorus, in the present case, is a Greek ambassador sent by the Indo-Greek King Antialcidas Nikephoros to the court of King Bhagabhadra, who ruled over north, east, and central India around 110 BC.

We have only scant information about the spreading of Hellenism in that part of the world, but it did happen. In the wake of Alexander and Seleucos, Hellenistic art, culture, and knowledge eventually took root in Central Asia, where the Bactrian kings proudly showed off their close ties.

In India, on the other hand, the influence of Hellenism was much slower since the Mauryan kingdom imposed itself shortly after Alexander’s short passage, eliminating all Greek influences in the area. (see: Indo-Greek art or the influence of Hellenism on Buddhist art).

But things changed in 185 BC with the fall of the Mauryas. The Graeco-Bactrian King Demetrius, son of Euthydemus, saw an opportunity to venture into India. He invaded the country by 180 BC, setting the foundations for the Indo-Greek kingdom that lasted till 10 AD. This was when the influence of Hellenism appeared in India, and those rulers' coins carried inscriptions in Greek and Indian languages. Furthermore, art in the Indo-Greek kingdom reached an unequaled level blending Greek, Hindu, and Buddhist elements harmoniously together.

In this context, it is unsurprising to meet a person like Heliodorus, who lived in Taxila then. The fact that he was sent by Antialcidas Nikephoros places our envoy at an unusually high level. This king ruled from ca. 115 to 95 BC over western India, although other sources prefer to date his rule to ca. 130 to 120 BC and include eastern Punjab in his domain (supported by coin findings). Antialcidas had coins struck representing Zeus and Balram, an Indian god.

Interestingly, Antialcidas may have been a relative of a Bactrian king since Heliocles II, as well as Amyntas, Diomedes, and Hermaeus, struck coins with similar features.

The Hellenistic dynasties in India had a very open mind in true tradition with Alexander. It may not surprise us to hear that Heliodorus converted to Hinduism and erected a pillar confirming his role and position. Our ambassador was logically inspired by Asoka, whose columns were taller and more refined. The inscription on Heliodorus’ pillar in ancient Brahmi reads as follows:

This Garuda-pillar of Vãsudeva, the god of gods, was constructed here by Heliodora, the Bhãgavata, son of Diya, of Takhkhasilã, the Greek ambassador who came from the Great King Amtalikita to King Kãsîputra Bhãgabhadra, the Savior, prospering in (his) fourteenth regnal year. (These?) three steps to immortality, when correctly followed, lead to heaven: control, generosity, and attention. (Translated by Richard Salomon)

Initially, the pillar was surmounted by a sculpture of Garuda, a divine eagle-like sun bird and the king of birds. How close can one get to the eagle who so often accompanied the images of Zeus? It is interesting to realize that Garuda was linked to Vishnu, the Hindu god who fights injustice and destroys evil and, as such, stood as the symbol of the king’s duty and power.

The “Khamb Baba” or Heliodorus Pillar still stands in Vidisha, some 60 kilometers northeast of Bhopal in India.

Excavations in the pillar area have also exposed the remains of a large temple from the 2^nd century BC, measuring 30mx30m with exceptionally thick walls of 2.40m. An earlier elliptical temple from the 4^th-3^rd century BC has been located underneath this level. Apparently, this strange construction was destroyed by a flood in 200 BC, i.e., before the erection of the Heliodorus pillar.

[Picture of the pillar: By Regents Park - Own work, CCBY-SA 3.0]
[Picture of the inscription from Wikimedia]

A rare aerial view of Kasta Hill

The latest news about the famous Tomb of Amphipolis on Kasta Hill is from earlier this year (see: The site of Kasta Hill and the Tomb of Amphipolis).

Nothing much has happened since but YouTube produces an interesting aerial view of the site which clearly highlights how imposing and impressive the site is.

Will be continued some time …