How FYROM’s propaganda distorts Plutarch’s views

in Ancient Historians, ancient macedonian ethnicity, Ancient Macedonian History, FYROM Propaganda, Skopjan Propaganda / by Admin / on October 19, 2008 at 6:20 am /

We have been accustomed to witness every day new false and, in certain cases ludicrus, allegations from FYROM’s propaganda in their struggle to distort the view of Plutarch about ancient Macedonians of being another Greek tribe, as it was evidently shown before in this blog.

As usual FYROM’s propaganda tends to use text taken out of context in their attempt to falsificate and alter the meaning of Plutarch’s works. However they always fail.

Some of their most common texts to use are the following excerts:

Alexander was only twenty years old when he inherited his kingdom, which at the moment was beset by formidable jealousies and feuds, and external dangers on every side. The neighboring barbarian tribes were eager to throw off the Macedonian yoke and longed for the rule of their native kings: As for the Greek states, although Philip had defeated them in battle, he had not had time to subdue them or accustomed them to his authority. Alexander’s Macedonian advisers feared that a crisis was at hand and urged the young king to leave the Greek states to their own devices and refrain from using any force against them. [p.263]

[Alexander chose the opposite course] Plutarch never said that Philip “united” the Greeks, but he states that Philip “defeated” them in battle.

Cassander’s fear of Alexander ‘In general, we are told, this fear was implanted so deeply and took such hold of Cassander’s mind that even many years later, when he had become king of Macedonia and master of Greece, and was walking about one day looking at the sculpture at Delphi, the mere sight of a statue of Alexander struck him with horror, so that he sguddered and trembled in every limb, his head swam, and he could scarcely regain control of himself.’ [p.331]

Before we refute their deliberate use of these texts out of context, lets highlight some crucial points about Plutarch’s work:

Anyone with the slightest knowledge of Plutarch’s work knows that:

Quote:

Plutarch’s plan in the Lives was to pair a philosophical biography of a famous Roman with one of a Greek who was comparable in some way. A short essay of comparison follows most of the pairs of lives.

http://www.e-classics.com/plutarch.htm

You would find also that there is also the “The Age of Alexander” which is a “special edition” of nine Greek lives roughly concomitant with Alexander and his time.Take a look in page 5 which are these 9 Greek lives.

1. AGESILAUS
2. PELOPIDAS
3. DION
4. TIMOLEON
5. DEMOSTHENES
6. PHOCION
7. ALEXANDER
8. DEMETRIUS
9. PYRRHUS

The Macedonian Demetrius, known as the “Besieger“, had no ties with the Macedonian Argead Royal house. He was an ordinary Macedonian, yet he was still part of the 9 Greek Lives since obviously he was Greek.

So in the most commonly used Plutarch’s book by FYROM’s propaganda, they havent bothered themselves looking even…in the title and to whom Plutarch is refering to. Its as irrational and insane as someone quoting a book called “Julius Ceasar – Roman Biographies” to prove that Julius Ceasar is not…Roman!!!

http://books.google.ca/books?id=Lnur0BjQO2oC&pg=PP1&dq=age+of+alexander+plutarch&ei=BkDUSOHSGKS2yQTa4sTTAw&hl=el&sig=ACfU3U2N-3YPIvUw_UVcs4SLzIBvmJWYiw#PPP1,M1

Secondly in the text he used taken out of context, we read

Quote:

“The neighboring barbarian tribes were eager to throw off the Macedonian yoke and longed for the rule of their native kings: As for the Greek states, although Philip had defeated them in battle,”

Therefore like always Plutarch distinguished Macedonians from Barbarians like he did always in all his works. For instance:

Quote:

During his absence Barbarians had been overrunning and devastating Macedonia, and at this particular time a large army of Illyrians from the interior had burst in, and in consequence of their ravages the Macedonians summoned Antigonus home.
[Plut. Cleomenes 27.3]

As usually the amateur FYROMian propagandist scouldnt be more ignorant of the battle of Chaeronea where the combatants in both sides were…Greeks!!!

Chaeronea
Combatants

Side A’
Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Aetolia, Northern Phocis, Epicnemidian Locrians*

Side B’
Athens, Beotian League (Thebes, etc), Euboean League, Achaean League, Corinth, Megara, Corcyra, Acarnania, Ambracia, Southern Phocis.

Neutral sides
Sparta, Argos, Arcadia, Messene. The three last had alliances both with Athens and Philip but their pro-macedonian activity of 344/3 BC showed they were leaning towards Philip. However they didnt sent aid to Chaeronea in Philip’s side because of the blocking in Isthmus by Corinth and Megara. Sparta had withdrawn almost entirely from Greek affairs in 344 BC.

[*] Elis had an alliance with Philip though they didnt take part in Chaeronea but showed their pro-macedonian feelings by joining their forces with Philip in the invasion of Laconia in the autumn of 338 BC.

Notice that we are dealing simple and plain with a Greek CIVIL WAR from the frustration of FYROM’s Illusionists.

Seems there are still ignorant people out there that dont know that “Unification” during the classical ages was always forceful.

In the next quote they think they found something.

Quote:

“when he had become king of Macedonia and master of Greece,

Sadly FYROM’s propagandists seem never to have read any ancient source. If they did they would have read quotes like the one of Spartan Brasidas talking about Atheneans:

Thuc. 4.85.1 – 88.1)

It is more than evident that the deliberate use of Plutarch’s works doesnt help the propagandist of FYROM. Contrarily it shows the world that there is no limit where their propaganda can stop.

Quote:

And for myself, I have come here not to hurt but to FREE the Hellenes, witness the solemn oaths by which I have bound my government that the allies that I may bring over shall be independent; and besides my object in coming is not by force or fraud to obtain your alliance, but to offer you mine to help you against your Athenian MASTERS

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Tags: alexander, demetrius, distortion, fyrom, hellenes, plutarch, propaganda, skopjan

Comments

yannis ts says:

October 19, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Μπραβο παλλικαρι.
Κανεις πολυ καλη δουλεια.
Ευγε!!
Οχι τιποτα αλλο,μας εχουν πρηξει τα @@ οι γυφτοσκοπιανοι.
Μια ειδηση που την γραφουμε στην σελιδα μας.
Ισως την ξερεις ισως οχι.
σκοπιανοί αρχαιοκάπηλοι προσπαθησαν να κλεψουν αρχαια απο την περιοχη της Πτολεμαίδας
http://www.hypervorea.net/antepithesi/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3507&sid=9e3de81d57a2e0e5be82b19e685ead78
καταλαβαινεις πιστευω για ποιο λογο τα θελανε…