History Of Macedonia – Modern historians about Macedonia

Modern historians about Macedonia – John Maxwell O’Brien

in Modern Historians / by Admin / on December 29, 2006 at 10:57 pm /

Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy
by John Maxwell O’Brien

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It was Alexanders turn on stage in the oscillating drama of conflict between Greeks and Asians.

Page 60

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During the crossing the king [Alexander] sacrificed a bull to Poseidon and like Xerxes poured a libation from a golden cup

Page 60

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he erected altars and sacrificed to Zeus of the safe landings (apobaterios), Athena and Heracles, – just as he had done on the European side. The goung warrior was placing his invasion in the custory of these three deities.

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Alexander went directly to Troy and sacrificed at the temple of Athena Ilias. There he dedicated his armor to the goddess and replaced it with relics said to have been used during the Trojan war. Alexander also took the time to sacrifice to Priam at the altar of Zeus of the enclosures (Herkeios), where Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, had slain Priam during the sack of Troy. Was Alexander atoning for the sacrilege commited by his ancestor? Perhas he was concerned that Priam’s spirit might be waiting to strike back at one of his murderer’s unwary descedants? The king was taking no chances.

Page 61

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The 2000 survivors [greek mercenaries], including an appreciable number of Athenians, were treated as Traitors, according to principles adopted by the Corinthian league.

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Alexander could also have claimed that his takeover of the region was a resumption of family responsibitilies since like most Greeks he probably believed tha the Lydians were at one time ruled by descendants of Heracles

Page 65

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The Corinthian League’s fleet of 160 ships reached the harbor at Miletus before the arrival of the 400-sail Persian navy. The greek allies blockaded the entrance to the harbor, while the Persians tried to lure the numerically inferior Greek force into open conflict on the high seas.

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