For historical context, consult Cole, Symes Chapter 4 "The Gre- Question: Once you have read the selections included below an Blackboard, please write a short, 1-page response, answering the
For historical context, consult Cole, Symes Chapter 4 "The Gre- Question: Once you have read the selections included below an Blackboard, please write a short, 1-page response, answering the
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Question
Now that Alexander had become, “King of Asia,” how much did he intend his empire to remain Macedonian in
character?
![Text: Extracts from the various historical sources on Alexander the Great relating to his
relations with his non-Greco-Macedonian subjects. Also, it will be useful to consult the
Additional Reading by Peter Green, "Greek Gifts?" that is available on Blackboard.
For historical context, consult Cole, Symes Chapter 4 "The Greek World Expands."
Question: Once you have read the selections included below and the Green article from
Blackboard, please write a short, l-page response, answering the following the question:
Now that Alexander had become "King of Asia," how much did he intend his empire to remain
Macedonian in character?
Please be sure to use the evidence provided in the texts to support your answer.
Format: Please upload your response to Blackboard either as a text file of some sort (.txt .rtf .doc
.docx) or a PDF (.pdf). If you are using a cloud-based word processor such as GDocs or Office 365,
please download your paper into one of the above file formats and upload that file into
Blackboard. Do not email me a link to your document. If you have problems with the upload,
contact me and I will instruct you on how to submit your response.
Texts:
1) Justin, Summary of Pompeius Trogus's History, Book 12 chs.10-12:
[12.10] Soon after he married Statira, the daughter of king Darius; but, at the same time, he gave the noblest virgins,
chosen from all the conquered natives, as wives to the chiefs of the Macedonians; in order that the impropriety of the
king's conduct might be rendered less glaring by the practice becoming general.
[12.12] 1 He then addressed himself, in a public speech, to the auxiliary troops of the Persians apart from the
Macedonians. 2 He extolled their constant fidelity, as well as to himself as to their former kings; he mentioned the
kindnesses which he had shown them, saying that "he had never treated them as a conquered people, but always as
sharers in his successes; that he had gone over to the usages of their nation, not they to those of his; and that he had
mingled the conquerors with the conquered by matrimonial connections. 3 And now," he added, "he would entrust
the guardianship of his person, not to the Macedonians only, but also to them." 4 Accordingly, he enrolled a
thousand of their young men among his bodyguard; and at the same time incorporated into his army a portion of the
auxiliaries, trained after the discipline of the Macedonians. 5 At this proceeding the Macedonians were much
dissatisfied, exclaiming that "their enemies were put into their places by their king;" 6 and at length they all went to
Alexander in a body, beseeching him with tears "to content himself rather with punishing than ill-treating them." 7
By this modest forbearance they produced such an effect upon him, that he released eleven thousand veterans more.
8 Of his own friends, too, were sent away the old men, Polysperchon, Cleitus, Gorgias, Polydamas, Amadas, and
Antigenes. 9 Of those that were sent home Craterus was appointed leader and commissioned to take the government
of Macedonia instead of Antipater, whom he summoned, with a body of recruits, to take the place of Craterus. 10
Pay was allowed to those that went home, as if they had been still in the service. [trans. J. S. Watson]
2) Plutarch, Life of Alexander ch.70-71:
[70] At Susa he brought to pass the marriage of his companions, took to wife himself the daughter of Dareius,
Stateira, assigned the noblest women to his noblest men, and gave a general wedding feast for those of his
Macedonians who had already contracted other marriages. At this feast, we are told, nine thousand guests reclined at
supper, to each of whom a golden cup for the libations was given. All the other appointments too, were amazingly
splendid, and the host paid himself the debts which his guests owed, the whole outlay amounting to nine thousand
eight hundred and seventy talents.
aN aousc, alter using men up in every kind of service, now to put
them away in disgrace and cast them back upon their native cities and their parents, no longer the men they were](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F8097d5d1-46b8-4a23-a34c-4d3931ce0b59%2Fe72ba297-e168-4b08-b83e-a91198d94a27%2Fiw1gj8_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:Text: Extracts from the various historical sources on Alexander the Great relating to his
relations with his non-Greco-Macedonian subjects. Also, it will be useful to consult the
Additional Reading by Peter Green, "Greek Gifts?" that is available on Blackboard.
For historical context, consult Cole, Symes Chapter 4 "The Greek World Expands."
Question: Once you have read the selections included below and the Green article from
Blackboard, please write a short, l-page response, answering the following the question:
Now that Alexander had become "King of Asia," how much did he intend his empire to remain
Macedonian in character?
Please be sure to use the evidence provided in the texts to support your answer.
Format: Please upload your response to Blackboard either as a text file of some sort (.txt .rtf .doc
.docx) or a PDF (.pdf). If you are using a cloud-based word processor such as GDocs or Office 365,
please download your paper into one of the above file formats and upload that file into
Blackboard. Do not email me a link to your document. If you have problems with the upload,
contact me and I will instruct you on how to submit your response.
Texts:
1) Justin, Summary of Pompeius Trogus's History, Book 12 chs.10-12:
[12.10] Soon after he married Statira, the daughter of king Darius; but, at the same time, he gave the noblest virgins,
chosen from all the conquered natives, as wives to the chiefs of the Macedonians; in order that the impropriety of the
king's conduct might be rendered less glaring by the practice becoming general.
[12.12] 1 He then addressed himself, in a public speech, to the auxiliary troops of the Persians apart from the
Macedonians. 2 He extolled their constant fidelity, as well as to himself as to their former kings; he mentioned the
kindnesses which he had shown them, saying that "he had never treated them as a conquered people, but always as
sharers in his successes; that he had gone over to the usages of their nation, not they to those of his; and that he had
mingled the conquerors with the conquered by matrimonial connections. 3 And now," he added, "he would entrust
the guardianship of his person, not to the Macedonians only, but also to them." 4 Accordingly, he enrolled a
thousand of their young men among his bodyguard; and at the same time incorporated into his army a portion of the
auxiliaries, trained after the discipline of the Macedonians. 5 At this proceeding the Macedonians were much
dissatisfied, exclaiming that "their enemies were put into their places by their king;" 6 and at length they all went to
Alexander in a body, beseeching him with tears "to content himself rather with punishing than ill-treating them." 7
By this modest forbearance they produced such an effect upon him, that he released eleven thousand veterans more.
8 Of his own friends, too, were sent away the old men, Polysperchon, Cleitus, Gorgias, Polydamas, Amadas, and
Antigenes. 9 Of those that were sent home Craterus was appointed leader and commissioned to take the government
of Macedonia instead of Antipater, whom he summoned, with a body of recruits, to take the place of Craterus. 10
Pay was allowed to those that went home, as if they had been still in the service. [trans. J. S. Watson]
2) Plutarch, Life of Alexander ch.70-71:
[70] At Susa he brought to pass the marriage of his companions, took to wife himself the daughter of Dareius,
Stateira, assigned the noblest women to his noblest men, and gave a general wedding feast for those of his
Macedonians who had already contracted other marriages. At this feast, we are told, nine thousand guests reclined at
supper, to each of whom a golden cup for the libations was given. All the other appointments too, were amazingly
splendid, and the host paid himself the debts which his guests owed, the whole outlay amounting to nine thousand
eight hundred and seventy talents.
aN aousc, alter using men up in every kind of service, now to put
them away in disgrace and cast them back upon their native cities and their parents, no longer the men they were
![(71J The thirty thousand boys whom he had left behind him under institution and training were now SO vigorous in
their bodies and so comely in their looks, and showed besides such admirable dexterity and agility in their exercises,
that Alexander himself was delighted; his Macedonians, however, were filled with dejection and fear, thinking that
their king would now pay less regard to them. 2 Therefore when he also sent the weak and maimed among them
down to the sea-board, they said it was insult and abuse, after using men up in every kind of service, now to put
them away in disgrace and cast them back upon their native cities and their parents, no longer the men they were
when he took them. 3 Accordingly, they bade him send them all away and hold all his Macedonians of no account,
since he had these young war-dancers, with whom he could go on and conquer the world. 4 At these words of theirs
Alexander was displeased, and heaped much abuse upon them in his anger, and drove them away, and committed his
watches to Persians, and out of these constituted his body-guards and attendants. 5 When the Macedonians saw him
escorted by
and when they reasoned the matter out they found that they had been almost mad with jealousy and rage. 6 So
finally, after coming to their senses, they went to his tent, without their arms and wearing their tunics only, and with
loud cries and lamentations put themselves at his mercy, bidding him deal with them as base and thankless men. 7
But Alexander would not see them, although his heart was softening. And the men would not desist, but for two
days and nights persisted in standing thus before his door, weeping and calling upon their master. 8 So on the third
day he came forth, and when he saw their piteous and humble plight, wept for some time; then, after chiding them
gently and speaking kindly to them, he dismissed those who were past service with magnificent gifts, and wrote to
Antipater that at all the public contests and in the theatres they should have the foremost seats and wear garlands. 9
He also ordained that the orphan children of those who had lost their lives in his service should receive their father's
pay. [trans. B. Perrin]
these, while they themselves were excluded from him and treated with contumely, they were humbled;
3) Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander, Book 7 Chapter 4 and Chapter 6:
[ch4] In Susa also he celebrated both his own wedding and those of his companions. He himself married Barsine, the
eldest daughter of Darius,[5] and according to Aristobulus, besides her another, Parysatis, the youngest daughter of
Ochus. [6] He had already married Roxana, daughter of Oxyartes the Bactrian. [7] To Hephacstion he gave Drypetis,
another daughter of Darius, and his own wife's sister, for he wished Hephaestion's children to be first cousins to his
own. To Cratenus he gave Amastrine, daughter of Oxyartes the brother of Darius; to Perdiccas, the daughter of
Atropates, viceroy of Media; to Ptolemy the confidential body-guard, and Eumenes the royal secretary, the
daughters of Artabazus, to the former Artacama, and to the latter Artonis. To Nearchus he gave the daughter of
Barsine and Mentor, to Seleucus the daughter of Spitamenes the Bactrian. Likewise to the rest of his Companions he
gave the choicest daughters of the Persians and Medes, to the number of eighty. The weddings were celebrated after
the Persian manner, seats being placed in a row for the bridegrooms; and after the banquet the brides came in and
seated themselves, cach one near her own husband. The bridegrooms took them by the right hand and kissed them:
the king being the first to begin, for the weddings of all were conducted in the same way. This appeared the most
popular thing which Alexander ever did; and it proved his affection for his Companions. Each man took his own
bride and led her away; and on all without exception Alexander bestowed dowries. [8] He also ordered that the
names of all the other Macedonians who had married any of the Asiatic women should be registered. They were
over 10,000 in number, and to these Alexander made presents on account of their weddings.
Ichól The viceroys from the newly-built cities and the rest of the territory subdued in war came to him bringing with
them youths just growing into manhood to the number of 30,000, all of the same age, whom Alexander called
Eniconi (successors).[1] They were accoutered with Macedonian arms, and exercised in military discipline after the
Macedonian system. The arrival of these is said to have vexed the Macedonians, who thought that Alexander was
contriving every means in his power to free himself from his previous need of their services. For the same reason
Comhe sight of his Median dress was no small cause of dissatisfaction to them; and the weddings celebrated in the
Dersian fashion were displeasing to most of them, even including some of those who married, although they had
Felsereatly honoured by the king putting himself on the same level with them in the marriage ceremony. They were
rended at Peucestas, the viceroy of Persis, on account of his Persianizing both in dress and in speech, because the
king was delighted by his adopting the Asiatic customs. They were disgusted that the Bactrian, Sogdianian,
Anshotian, Zarangian, Arian, and Parthian horsemen, as well as the Persian horsemen called the Evacae, were
distributed among the squadrons of the Companion cavalry; as many of them at least as were seen to excel in
wrputation, fineness of stature, or any other good quality; and that a fifth cavalry division was added to these troops.
pot composed entirely of foreigners; but the whole body of cavalry was increased in number, and men were picked
from the foreigners and put into it. Oophen, son of Artabazus,, Hydarnes and Artiboles, sons of Mazaeus, Sisines
and Phradasmenes, sons of Phrataphermes, viceroy of Parthia and Hyrcania, Histanes, son of Oxyartes and brother of
Alexander's wife, Roxane, as well as Autobares and his brother Mithrobacus were picked out and enrolled among
the foot-guard in addition to the Macedonian officers. Over these Hystaspes the Bactrian was placed as commander,
and Macedonian spears were given to them instead of the barbarian javelins which had thongs attached to them.[2)
All this offended the Macedonians, who thought that Alexander was becoming altogether Asiatic in his ideas and
was holding the Macedonians themselves as well as their customs in a position of contempt.
(trans. EJ. Chinnock]
4) Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Book 17 Chapter 108:
[108] Now there came to Susa at this time a body of thirty thousand Persians, all very young and selected for their
bodily grace and strength. 2 They had been enrolled in compliance with the king's orders and had been under
supervisors and teachers in the arrest of war for as long as necessary. They were splendidly equipped with the full
Macedonian armament and encamped before the city, where they were warmly commended by the king after
demonstrating their skill and discipline in the use of their weapons. 3 The Macedonians had not only mutinied when
ordered to cross the Ganges River but were frequently unruly when called into an assembly and ridiculed
Alexander's pretence that Ammon was his father, For these reasons Alexander had formed this unit from a single
age-group of the Persians which was capable of serving as a counter-balance to the Macedonian phalanx.
(trans. C. Bradford Welles]](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F8097d5d1-46b8-4a23-a34c-4d3931ce0b59%2Fe72ba297-e168-4b08-b83e-a91198d94a27%2Fm3choo_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:(71J The thirty thousand boys whom he had left behind him under institution and training were now SO vigorous in
their bodies and so comely in their looks, and showed besides such admirable dexterity and agility in their exercises,
that Alexander himself was delighted; his Macedonians, however, were filled with dejection and fear, thinking that
their king would now pay less regard to them. 2 Therefore when he also sent the weak and maimed among them
down to the sea-board, they said it was insult and abuse, after using men up in every kind of service, now to put
them away in disgrace and cast them back upon their native cities and their parents, no longer the men they were
when he took them. 3 Accordingly, they bade him send them all away and hold all his Macedonians of no account,
since he had these young war-dancers, with whom he could go on and conquer the world. 4 At these words of theirs
Alexander was displeased, and heaped much abuse upon them in his anger, and drove them away, and committed his
watches to Persians, and out of these constituted his body-guards and attendants. 5 When the Macedonians saw him
escorted by
and when they reasoned the matter out they found that they had been almost mad with jealousy and rage. 6 So
finally, after coming to their senses, they went to his tent, without their arms and wearing their tunics only, and with
loud cries and lamentations put themselves at his mercy, bidding him deal with them as base and thankless men. 7
But Alexander would not see them, although his heart was softening. And the men would not desist, but for two
days and nights persisted in standing thus before his door, weeping and calling upon their master. 8 So on the third
day he came forth, and when he saw their piteous and humble plight, wept for some time; then, after chiding them
gently and speaking kindly to them, he dismissed those who were past service with magnificent gifts, and wrote to
Antipater that at all the public contests and in the theatres they should have the foremost seats and wear garlands. 9
He also ordained that the orphan children of those who had lost their lives in his service should receive their father's
pay. [trans. B. Perrin]
these, while they themselves were excluded from him and treated with contumely, they were humbled;
3) Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander, Book 7 Chapter 4 and Chapter 6:
[ch4] In Susa also he celebrated both his own wedding and those of his companions. He himself married Barsine, the
eldest daughter of Darius,[5] and according to Aristobulus, besides her another, Parysatis, the youngest daughter of
Ochus. [6] He had already married Roxana, daughter of Oxyartes the Bactrian. [7] To Hephacstion he gave Drypetis,
another daughter of Darius, and his own wife's sister, for he wished Hephaestion's children to be first cousins to his
own. To Cratenus he gave Amastrine, daughter of Oxyartes the brother of Darius; to Perdiccas, the daughter of
Atropates, viceroy of Media; to Ptolemy the confidential body-guard, and Eumenes the royal secretary, the
daughters of Artabazus, to the former Artacama, and to the latter Artonis. To Nearchus he gave the daughter of
Barsine and Mentor, to Seleucus the daughter of Spitamenes the Bactrian. Likewise to the rest of his Companions he
gave the choicest daughters of the Persians and Medes, to the number of eighty. The weddings were celebrated after
the Persian manner, seats being placed in a row for the bridegrooms; and after the banquet the brides came in and
seated themselves, cach one near her own husband. The bridegrooms took them by the right hand and kissed them:
the king being the first to begin, for the weddings of all were conducted in the same way. This appeared the most
popular thing which Alexander ever did; and it proved his affection for his Companions. Each man took his own
bride and led her away; and on all without exception Alexander bestowed dowries. [8] He also ordered that the
names of all the other Macedonians who had married any of the Asiatic women should be registered. They were
over 10,000 in number, and to these Alexander made presents on account of their weddings.
Ichól The viceroys from the newly-built cities and the rest of the territory subdued in war came to him bringing with
them youths just growing into manhood to the number of 30,000, all of the same age, whom Alexander called
Eniconi (successors).[1] They were accoutered with Macedonian arms, and exercised in military discipline after the
Macedonian system. The arrival of these is said to have vexed the Macedonians, who thought that Alexander was
contriving every means in his power to free himself from his previous need of their services. For the same reason
Comhe sight of his Median dress was no small cause of dissatisfaction to them; and the weddings celebrated in the
Dersian fashion were displeasing to most of them, even including some of those who married, although they had
Felsereatly honoured by the king putting himself on the same level with them in the marriage ceremony. They were
rended at Peucestas, the viceroy of Persis, on account of his Persianizing both in dress and in speech, because the
king was delighted by his adopting the Asiatic customs. They were disgusted that the Bactrian, Sogdianian,
Anshotian, Zarangian, Arian, and Parthian horsemen, as well as the Persian horsemen called the Evacae, were
distributed among the squadrons of the Companion cavalry; as many of them at least as were seen to excel in
wrputation, fineness of stature, or any other good quality; and that a fifth cavalry division was added to these troops.
pot composed entirely of foreigners; but the whole body of cavalry was increased in number, and men were picked
from the foreigners and put into it. Oophen, son of Artabazus,, Hydarnes and Artiboles, sons of Mazaeus, Sisines
and Phradasmenes, sons of Phrataphermes, viceroy of Parthia and Hyrcania, Histanes, son of Oxyartes and brother of
Alexander's wife, Roxane, as well as Autobares and his brother Mithrobacus were picked out and enrolled among
the foot-guard in addition to the Macedonian officers. Over these Hystaspes the Bactrian was placed as commander,
and Macedonian spears were given to them instead of the barbarian javelins which had thongs attached to them.[2)
All this offended the Macedonians, who thought that Alexander was becoming altogether Asiatic in his ideas and
was holding the Macedonians themselves as well as their customs in a position of contempt.
(trans. EJ. Chinnock]
4) Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Book 17 Chapter 108:
[108] Now there came to Susa at this time a body of thirty thousand Persians, all very young and selected for their
bodily grace and strength. 2 They had been enrolled in compliance with the king's orders and had been under
supervisors and teachers in the arrest of war for as long as necessary. They were splendidly equipped with the full
Macedonian armament and encamped before the city, where they were warmly commended by the king after
demonstrating their skill and discipline in the use of their weapons. 3 The Macedonians had not only mutinied when
ordered to cross the Ganges River but were frequently unruly when called into an assembly and ridiculed
Alexander's pretence that Ammon was his father, For these reasons Alexander had formed this unit from a single
age-group of the Persians which was capable of serving as a counter-balance to the Macedonian phalanx.
(trans. C. Bradford Welles]
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