Australian Macedonian Advisory Council
November 20, 2008

As we emphatically pointed out in our previous article, the art of commiting provocative falsification and blatant violation of the historical reality finds full use into the propaganda originating from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). If we are looking for a pure sample of the deplorable “taking text out of context” method in order to misrepresent a source´s actual position, then one of the best candidates should definitely be one of the latest articles of Risto Stefov, ironically entitled “Greek Australian Advisory Council and the falsification of Ancient Macedonian history Part 9″. For example in one of the most comical writings you could ever read in your lives, as regards to ancient history, the author once more, attempts to isolate and take out of context a certain small number of references taken from the book “Plutarch The Age of Alexander” by Ian-Scott Kilvert.

First and foremost even the source he attempts to forge this time, is crystal clear about the Greek ethnicity of ancient Macedonians. For the sake of materiality, in page 3 of Ian-Scott Kilvert´s “Plutarch The Age of Alexander” - a “special edition” of Nine Lives roughly concomitant with Alexander and his time - we can read:

The Age of Alexander – Nine Greek lives by Plutarch

Right afterwards we read the names of these prominent nine Greeks of which the book deals with their Biographies.

Agesilaus – Pelopidas- Dion – Timoleon – Demosthenes – Phocion – Alexander – Demetrius – Pyrrhus

In other words, two of the Nine Greeks are Macedonian themselves. Inevitably, Risto Stefov continues to pursue a policy of constant self-contradictions since once more he tried to present a source which completely shatters his historical inaccuracies and contrarily to his erroneous claims, proves the Greekness of ancient Macedonians.

Secondly, the author employs a number of selected lines to draw connections to an alleged “implied ethnic distinction” but as usual, he fails to take account of the particular place, time and circumstance these lines apply, which often is crucial to understand what someone really means or intends to. Moreover he also fails to take account of even the other words or lines which immediately surround it with result the overall meaning to be quite different from the author´s agenda. The latter constitutes a blatant case of wilful distortion.

Take a look for instance to the first “unique finding” of Risto Stefov

1] “Alexander was born on the sixth day of the month Hecatombaeon, which the Macedonians call Lous, the same day on which the temple of Artemis at Ephesus was burned down.” [p.254]

The above quote underscores the ill-informed and quite amateurish notion of ancient history that currently prevails the author. Unfortunately Risto Stefov totally ignores that almost all places in the Greek world had their own distinct Calendars, yet some months were common among them. Quite indicatively if for a moment, someone was inclined to consider the author´s implication as valid then he should also conclude for instance that Delphi was not Greek since the Delphian calendar called the specific month Hyllaios and not Hecatombaeon. In fact the month Lous/Loios was also a Thessalian month. I denote here that there are also Macedonian months whose names are shared with other Greeks, namely the calendars of Argos, Corinth, Epidaurus, Crete and Rhodes. Argives, Corinthians, Cretans, Epidaurians and Rhodians. In essence the ancient Macedonian calendar emphatically points out the Greekness of ancient Macedonians.

In the same manner, the rest of the absolutely selective and taken out of context, lines in the article of Risto Stefov, rely heavily on outrageous half truths, mainly dealing with the characteristical ignorance of the author with similar statements pertaining to “freed” or “enslaved” Greeks by the Atheneans, Spartans and others abound in ancient sources.

Plutarch “The Age of Alexander”

Penguin Classics

1] On his father´s side Alexander was descended from Hercules through Caranus, and on his mother´s from Aeacus through Neoptolemus: so much is accepted by all authorities without question.

(Plut. 7.2 page 252)

Point of Interest: The fact that Alexander was Greek by both his parents went unquestioned by all authorities]

2] The first was that his general Parmenio had overcome the Illyrians in a great battle, the second that his race-horse had won a victory in the Olympic games, and the third that Alexander had been born.

(Plut. 7.3, page 255)

Philip participated in Olympics during Classical Ages where only Greeks could take place since he was a Greek himself]

3]Philip for example was as proud of his powers of eloquence as any sophist, and took care to have the victories won by his chariots at Olympia stamped upon his coins.

(Plut. 7.4, page 256)

Philip as a proud Greek, had his victories in Olympics stamped on his coins]

4]The person who took on both the title and the role of Pedagogue was an Acarnanian named Lysimachus. He was neither an educated nor a cultivated man but he managed to ingratiate himself by calling Philip Peleus, Alexander Achilles, and himself Phoenix, and he held the second place in the prince´s household.

(Plut. 7.5, page 257)

The love of Philip and Alexander for anything Greek is apparent]

5]Besides this he considered that the task of training and educating his son was too important to be entrusted to the ordinary run of teachers of poetry, music and general education: it required as Sophocles puts it:

The rudder´s guidance and the curb´s restraint,

and so he sent for Aristotle, the most famous and learned of the philosophers of the time and rewarded him with the generocity that his reputation deserved.

(Plut. 7.7, page 258)

One of the most famous Greek philosophers, Aristotle was entrusted by Philip with the task of training and educating his son]

6] He [Alexander] regarded the Iliad as a handbook of the art of war and took with him on his campaigns a text annotated by Aristotle, which became as “the casket copy” and which he always kept under his pillow together with his dagger. When his campaigns had taken him far into the interior of Asia and he could find no other books, he ordered his treasurer Harpalus to send him some. Harpalus sent him the histories of Philistus, many of the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and the dithyrambic poems of Telestes and Philoxenus.

(Plut 7.8, pages 259-260)

Alexander never hide his love for anything Greek]

7] During this period he [Alexander] defeated the Maedi who had risen in revolt, captured their city, drove out its barbarous inhabitants, established a colony of Greeks assembled from various regions and named it Alexandroupolis.

Plut. 7.9, page 260)

Here we have undisputed evidence of Macedonia´s Greekness. On one hand, the term “barbarians” is used only for Maedi, not Macedonians while on the other hand Alexander of course establishes a Greek colony since apparently he is Greek himself.]

7]There he [Philip] scolded his son and angrily reproached him for behaving so ignobly and so unworthily of his position as to wish to marry the daughter of a mere Carian, who was no more than the slave of a barbarian king.

(Plut. 7.10, page 262)

Point of interest: Philip uses the term barbarian for a foreign king. Its obvious Philip was Greek, otherwise he wouldnt use at all the derogatory remark if he was “barbarian” himself]

8]The neighbouring barbarian tribes were eager to throw off the Macedonian yoke and longed for the rule of their native kings.

(Plut. 7.11, page 263)

The difference between the “neighbouring barbarian tribes” and Macedonians is clear.]

9]As for the barbarian tribes they [Macedonians] considered that he [Alexander] should try to win them back to their allegiance by using milder methods.

(Plut. 7.11, page 263)

Again, Barbarians are being distinguished from Macedonians, even by Macedonians themselves]

10]In the previous year a congress of the Greek states had been held at the Isthmus of Corinth: here a vote had been passed that the states should join forces with Alexander in invading Persia and that he should be commander-in-chief of the expedition. Many of the Greek statesmen and philosophers visited him to offer their congratulations…

(Plut. 7.14, page 266)

Macedonia as a greek state took part in the congress held at Isthmus of Corinth. Alexander was voted to be commander-in-chief while many Greek statesmen and philosophers showed their joy about the event by offering him their congratulations.]

11] Once arrived in Asia, he [Alexander] went up to Troy, sacrificed to Athena and poured libations to the heroes of the Greek army. He annointed with oil the column which marks the grave of Achilles, ran a race by it naked with his companions, as the custom is, and then crowned it with a wreath: he also remarked that Achilles was happy in having found a faithful friend while he lived and a great poet to sing of his deeds after his death. While he was walking about the city and looking at its ancient remains, somebody asked him whether he wished to see the lyre which had once belonged to Paris. I think nothing of that lyre, he said, but i wish i could see Achilles´ lyre, which he played when he sang of the glorious deeds of brave men.

(Plut. 7.15, page 268)

First thing Alexander did while being in Asia was to honour the Greek heroes and his own ancestor Achilles]

12] “At the same time he [Alexander] was anxious to give the other Greek states a share in the victory. He therefore sent the Atheneans in particular three hundred of the shields captured from the enemy and over the rest of the spoils he had this proud inscription engraved:

Alexander, the son of Philip, and all the Greeks, with the exception of the Spartans, won these spoils of war from the barbarians who dwell in Asia.”

(Plut. 7.16, page 270)

Needless to say much about it. Things are pretty clear. Alexander’s inscription itself reveals Macedonians are Greeks]

13] It is said that there was a spring near the city of Xanthus in the province of Lycia, which at this moment overflowed and cast up from its depths a bronze tablet: this was inscribed with ancient characters which foretold tha the empire of the Persians would be destroyed by the Greeks. Alexander was encouraged by this prophecy and pressed on to clear the coast of Asia Minor as far as Cilicia and Phoenicia.

(Plut. 7.17, page 270)

No reason Alexander to be enouraged unless he was Greek himself. Another undisputable evidence of his Greekness]

14]he [Alexander] managed to extend it round the enemy´s left, outflanked it, and fighting in the foremost ranks, put the barbarians to flight.

(Plut. 7.20, page 274)

The dinstiction between Macedonians and Barbarians is obvious]

15] It was here that the Macedonians received their first taste of gold and silver and women and of the luxury of the Barbarian way of life.

(Plut 7.24, page 278)

Macedonians couldnt receive their first taste of the luxury of the Barbarian way of life if they were Barbarians themselves]

16] he [Alexander] dshed to the nearest camp fire, dispatched with his dagger the two barbarians who were sitting by it

(Plut. 7.24, page 280)

Another evidence Macedonians were Greeks and certainly not Barbarians]

17]One day a casket was brought to him which was regarded by those who were in charge of Darius´ baggage and treasure as the most valuable item of all and so Alexander asked his friends what he should keep in it as his own most precious possesion. Many different suggestions were put forward, and finally Alexander said he intended to keep his copy of Iliad there.

(Plut. 7.26, page 281)

Alexander´s love for anything Greek was overwhelming. He considered Iliad as his most precious possession.]

18]According to this story, after Alexander had conquered Egypt, he was anxious to found a great and populous Greek city there, to be called after him.

(Plut. 7.26, page 281)

Alexander as a Greek himself founded Greek cities]

19] Others say that the Priest, who wished as a mark of courtesy to address him with the Greek Phrase ´O, paidion´ (O, My son)…

(Plut. 7.27, page 283-4)

20] On this occasion, Alexander gave a long address to the Thessalians and the rest of the Greeks. They acclaimed by shouting for him to lead them against the barbarians and at this he shifted his lance into his left hand, so Callisthenes tells us, and raising his right be called upon the gods and prayed that he were really the son of Zeus they should protect and encourage the Greeks.

(Plut. 7.33, page 290)

Greek soldiers couldnt have shouted to Alexander to lead them against the Barbarians if him and his Macedonians were Barbarians themselves. Alexander´s pray includes Macedonians to the rest of Greeks.]

21]To the Plataeans in particular he [Alexander] wrote that he would rebuild their city because their ancestors had allowed the Greeks to make their territory the seat of war in the struggle for their common freedom. He also sent a share of the spoils to the people of Croton in Italy in honour of the spirit and valour shown by their athlete Phayllus: this man when the rest of the Greeks in Italy had refused to give any help to their compatriots in the Persian wars, he fitted out a ship at his own expense and sailed with it to Salamis to share in the common danger.

(Plut. 7.34, page 291)

22] During the advance across Persis the Greeks massacred great numbers of their prisoners, and Alexander has himself recorded that he gave orders for the Persians to be slaughtered because he thought that such an example would help his cause.

(Plut. 7.37, page 294)

Macedonians are recorded by Plutarch as Greeks]

23]Alexander stopped and spoke to it [Xerxes Statue] as though it was alive. ´Shall i pass by and leave you lying there because of the expedition you led against Greece, or shall i set you up again because of your magnanimity and your virtues in other respects?´

(Plut. 7.37, page 294)

Xerxes statue was toppled by Macedonians and was left in the ground. This spontaneous action of Macedonians, plus Alexander´s words reveal how much Macedonians wanted to revenge Persia through this Panhellenic expedition.]

24] Demaratus the Corinthian, who was much attached to Alexander, as he had been to his father, began to weep, as old men are aprt to do, and exclaimed that any Greek who had died before that day had missed one of the greatest pleasures in life by not seeing Alexander seated on the throne of Darius.

(Plut. 7.37, page 295)

Greeks wouldnt have missed this great pleasure in life to see Alexander seated on Darius throne if he wasnt Greek himself]

25]She wanted to put a torch to the building herself in full view of Alexander, so that posterity should know that the women who followed Alexander had taken a more terrible revenge for the wrongs of Greece than all the famous commanders of earlier times by land or sea. Her speech was greeted wit wild applause and the king´s companions excitedly urged him on until at last he allowed himself to be persuaded, leaped to his feet and with a garland on his head and a torch in his hand led the way.

(Plut. 7.38, page 295)

26] From this point he advanced into Parthia, and it was here during a pause in the campaign that he first began to wear barbarian dress.

(Plut. 7.45, page 301)

So Macedonian dresses were Hellenic since in Parthia was the FIRST time Alexander began to wear BARBARIAN dresses]

27]However he didnt go so far as to adopt the Median costume, which was altogether barbaric and outlandish.

(Plut. 7.45, page 302)

More evidence of the greekness of Macedonians. The remark about the Median costume being Barbaric wouldnt make sense if Macedonian costume was Barbaric too. Here we have another dinstinction between Barbaric and Macedonian (Greek) costume]

28]For this reason he [Alexander] selected thirty thousand boys and gave orders that they should be taught to speak the Greek language and to use Macedonian weapons and he appointed a large number of instructors to train them.

(Plut. 7.47, page 303)

Alexander spread everywhere the Greek language since he was a Greek himself. There is no reason or even an example of a conqueror in classical ages to spread a “foreign” language but solely his own.]

29]The barbarians were encouraged by the feeling of partnership which their alliance created, and they were completely won over by Alexander´s moderation and courtesy..

(Plut. 7.47, page 304)

Again a clear dinstiction between barbarians and Macedonians]

30]After the company had drunk a good deal somebody began to sing the verse of a man named Pranichus which had been written to humiliate and make fun of some Macedonian commanders who had recently been defeated by the Barbarians.

(Plut. 7.50, page 307)

The dinstiction between Macedonian commanders and Barbarians is more than obvious]

31]Callisthenes then turned to the other side of the picture and delivered a long list of home truths about the Macedonians, pointing out that the rise of Philip´s power had been brought about by the divisions among the rest of the Greeks,

(Plut. 7.53, page 311)

The evidence of the Greekness of Macedonians is striking. Macedonians and the rest of Greeks]

32]In the meantime Demaratus of Corinth, although he was by now an old man, was eager to visit Alexander and when the king had received him Demaratus declared that those Greeks who had died before they could see Alexander seated on the throne of Darius had missed one of the greatest pleasures in teh world.

(Plut. 7.56, page 313)

No reason for those Greeks to “miss one of the greatest pleasures in the

world when they when they would see Alexander seated in Darius throne if Alexander was not Greek]

33]For example he put to death Menander, one of the Companions because he had been placed in command of a garrison and had refused to remain there, and he shot down with his own hand one the Barbarians named Orsodates who had rebelled against him .

(Plut. 7.57, page 314)

Clear Dinstiction between the Macedonian Menander and the Barbarian Orsodates.]

34] He [Alexander] also set up altars for the gods of Greece and eve down to the present day the kings of the Praesii whenever they cross the river do honour to these and offer sacrifice on them in the Greek fashion.

(Plut. 7.62, page 320)

Another evidence Alexander and Macedonians worshipped the Greek

Pantheon]

35] The ladder was smashed so that no more Macedonians could join him and the barbarians began to gather inside along the bottom of the wall and to shoot at him from below.

(Plut. 7.63, page 320)

Clear Dinstiction between the Macedonians and Barbarians]

36]Both men were wounded and Limnaeus was killed, but Peucestas stood firm wile Alexander killed the Barbarian with his own hand. But he was wounded over and over again and at last received a blow on the neck from a club which forced him to lean against the wall, although he still faced his assialants, At this moment the Macedonians swarmed round him..

(Plut. 7.63, page 321)

Clear Dinstiction between the Macedonians and Barbarians]

37] Nevertheless the prince Taxiles awas able to persuade Clanaus to visit Alexander. His real name was PShines but because he greeted everyone he met not with the Greek salutation chairete but with the Indian word cale, the Greeks called him Calanus.

(Plut. 7.65, page 323)

38] Not long afterwards Alexander discovered tha the tomb of Cyrus had been plundered and had the offender put to death, enen though he was a prominent Macedonian from Pella named Polymachus. When he read the inscription on the tomb he ordered it to be repeated below in Greek characters.

(Plut. 7.69, page 326)

39] The thirty thousand boys whom he had left behind to be given a Greek education and military traning had now grown into active and handsome men and had developed a wonderful skill and agilit in their military exercises.

(Plut. 7.71, page 328)

40] The other, Cassander, had only lately arrived in Babylon and when he saw some of the barbarians prostrate themselves before the king he burst into loud and disrespectful laughter for he had been brought up as a Greek and had never seen such a spectacle in his life.

(Plut. 7.74, page 331)

Plutarch - Moralia, “On the Fortune of Alexander”

“But he said, `If I were not Alexandros, I should be Diogenes´; that is to say: `If it were not my purpose to combine barbarian things with things Hellenic, to traverse and civilize every every continent, to search out the uttermost parts of land and sea, to push the bounds of Macedonia to the farthest Ocean, and to diseminate and shower the blessings of the Hellenic justice and peace over every nation, I should not be content to sit quietly in the luxury of idle power, but I should emulate the frugality of Diogenes. But as things are, forgive me Diogenes, that I imitate Herakles, and emulate Perseus, and follow in the footsteps of Dionysos, the divine author and progenitor of my family, and desire that victorius Hellenes should dance again in India and revive the memory of the Bacchic revels among the savage mountain tribes beyond the Kaukasos…´”

(Plutarchos, On the Fortune of Alexander, 332 a-b)

“Yet through Alexander, Bactria and the Caucasus learned to revere the gods of the Hellenes … Alexander established more than seventy cities among savage tribes, and sowed all Asia with Hellenic magistracies … Egypt would not have its Alexandria, nor Mesopotamia its Seleucia, nor Sogdiana its Prophthasia, nor India its Bucephalia, nor the Caucasus a Hellenic city, for by the founding of cities in these places savagery was extinguished and the worse element, gaining familiarity with the better, changed under its influence.´”

(Plutarchos Moralia. On the Fortune of Alexander, I, 328D, 329A)

“What spectator… would not exclaim… that through Fortune the foreign host was prevailing beyond its deserts, but through Virtue the Hellenes were holding out beyond their ability? And if the ones [i.e., the enemy] gains the upper hand, this will be the work of Fortune or of some jealous deity or of divine retribution; but if the others [i.e. the Hellenes] prevail, it will be Virtue and daring, friendship and fidelity, that will win the guerdon of victory? these were, in fact, the only support that Alexander had with him at this time, since Forune had put a barrier between him and the rest of his forces and equipment, fleets, horse, and camp. Finally, the Macedonians routed the barbarians, and, when they had fallen, pulled down their city on their heads. ”

Plutarch, On the Fortune of Alexander, 344 e-f

Again, however, Fortune stirred up Thebes against him, and thrust in his pathway a war with Greeks, and the dread necessity of punishing, by means of slaughter and fire and sword, men that were his kith and kin, a necessity which had a most unpleasant ending.

Plutarch, Virtue, 11]

For Alexander did not follow Aristotles advice to treat the Greeks as if he were their leader, and other peoples as if he were their master; to have regard for the Greeks as for friends and kindred, but to conduct himself toward other peoples as though they were plants or animals; for to do so would have been to cumber his leadership with numerous battles and banishments and festering seditions. But, as he believed that he came as a heaven sent governor to all, and as a mediator for the whole world, those whom he could not persuade to unite with him, he conquered by force of arms, and he brought together into one body all men everywhere, uniting and mixing in one great loving‐cup, as it were, mens lives, their characters, their marriages, their very habits of life.

He bade them all consider as their fatherland the whole inhabited earth, as their stronghold and protection his camp, as akin to them all good men, and as foreigners only the wicked; they should not distinguish between Grecian and foreigner by Grecian cloak and targe, or scimitar and jacket; but the distinguishing mark of the Grecian should be seen in virtue, and that of the foreigner in iniquity; clothing and food, marriage and manner of life they should regard as common to all, being blended into one by ties of blood and children.

Plutarch, Fortune, 6]

A comparison of Alexander with Pericles:

“Pericles collected tribute from the Greeks and with the money adorned the Acropolis with temples; but Alexander captured the riches of barbarians and sent them to Greece with orders that ten thousand talents be used to construct temples for the gods.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, II, 13

Alexander´s assault on the citadel of the Mallians:

“…that through Fortune the foreign host was prevailing beyond its deserts, but through Virtue the Greeks were holding out beyond their ability? And if the enemy gains the upper hand, this will be the work of Fortune or of some jealous deity or of divine retribution; but if the Greeks prevail, it will be Virtue and daring, friendship and fidelity, that will win the guerdon of victory? These were, in fact, the only support that Alexander had with him at this time, since Fortune had put a barrier between him and the rest of his forces and equipment, fleets, horse, and camp.Finally, the Macedonians routed the barbarians, and, when they had fallen, pulled down their city on their heads.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, II, 13

In conquering and civilising the barbarians, both the cities established and the form of government, law and culture is Greek:

“Yet no such busy wars as these employed their time in civilizing wild and barbarous kings, in building Grecian cities among rude and unpolished nations, nor in settling government and peace among people that lived without humanity or control of law.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 4

“But Alexander, building above seventy cities among the barbarous nations, and as it were showing the Grecian customs and constitutions all over Asia, quite weaned them from their former wild and savage manner of living.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 5

“It may, however, be more justly averred of those whom Alexander subdued, had they not been vanquished, they had never been civilized. Egypt had not vaunted her Alexandria, nor Mesopotamia her Seleucia; Sogdiana had not gloried in her Propthasia, nor the Indians boasted their Bucephalia, nor Caucasus its neighboring Grecian city; by the founding of all which barbarism was extinguished and custom changed the worse into better.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 5

“But it behooves us also, as it were, to make a new coin, and to stamp a new face of Grecian civility upon the barbarian metal.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 5

In the treatment and distinguishment of Greeks and barbarians:

“But Alexander made good his words by his deeds; for he did not, as Aristotle advised him, rule the Grecians like a moderate prince and insult over the barbarians like an absolute tyrant; nor did he take particular care of the first as his friends and domestics, and scorn the latter as mere brutes and vegetables…”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 6

“Nor would he that Greeks and barbarians should be distinguished by long garments, targets, scimitars, or turbans; but that the Grecians should be known by their virtue and courage, and the barbarians by their vices and their cowardice…”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 6

“But I would gladly have been a spectator of those majestic and sacred nuptials, when, after he had betrothed together a hundred Persian brides and a hundred Macedonian and Greek bridegrooms, he placed them all at one common table within the compass of one pavilion embroidered with gold, as being all of the same family…”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 7

Next Plutarch tells us of the imposition of Greek religion:

“Most admirable philosophy! which induced the Indians to worship the Grecian Deities…”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 5

“But Alexander engaged both Bactria and Caucasus to worship the Grecian Gods, which they had never known before.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 5

Of Alexander´s descent, which would not be seen as “noble” in Plutarch´s eyes if it was not Greek:

“…the nobility of his Macedonian extraction…”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 9

And the ultimate revenge, to see a Greek king on the throne of Persia:

“Therefore it was that Demaratus the Corinthian, an acquaintance and friend of Philip, when he beheld Alexander in Susa, bursting into tears of more than ordinary joy, bewailed the deceased Greeks, who, as he said, had been bereaved of the greatest blessing on earth, for that they had not seen Alexander sitting upon the throne of Darius.”

On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander, I, 7

Conclusion:

- From the side of his father, Alexander is shown clearly as descendant of Heracles and from his mother side a descendant of Aeacos. (Alex 2.1).

- He is educated by Aristotle, uses as his permanent favourite book the Iliad of Homer (see Alex 8,2, 26.2-3) but wishes also other Greek books to be sent to him.

- The inscription of Alexander with the first booty is clear and Macedonians are included as Greeks. (see Alex.16.18)

- After conquering Egypt Alexander wishes to found “a great Greek city with many people” (Alex. 26.4 and Moralia 328B). The Priest of Ammon adresses Alexander in Greek (Alex. 27.9).

- In Alexander´s Live, Macedonians are included in the general Greek race and those who are opposed to Persians and the rest of Barbarian tribes of Asia are called greeks and not Macedonians (Alex. 33.1-4)

- Alexander campaigns in Asia in the name of Greeks in order to revenge the campaign of Xerxes against Greece (see Alex. 37.5, 38.4)

- Before Gaugamela, Alexander encourages mainly Greeks and from Greeks he is being encouraged too (see Alex. 33.1)

- After the final defeat of Darius he chooses 30,000 young Persians and orders those to be educated in Greek (see Alex. 47.6)

- In the meantime he wishes to please all the Greeks by abolishing tyrranies, giving autonomy, urging Plateans to rebuild their city, sending booty even to Krotoniates in order to honour the participation of their ancestor Faylos in Medika (Alex. 34.2-3)

- Alexander´s behaviour to Greeks is entirelly different from his behaviour to Barbarians. (see Alex 28.1)

- Plutarch considered Macedonians as Greeks by distinguishing them always from Barbarians. (see Cleomenes 27.3; 30.1-3; Pyrrhus 16.8; Alexander 9.1;11.3; 11.5; 16.15; 16.18; 20.11;24.13; 28.11; 33.1; 33.4; 35.2; 38.7)

- Like we can easily realize from this plethora of hard evidence, Plutarch draws the same conclusion as the other ancient historians and verifies the Greekness of ancient Macedonians. Following Polybius, neither Plutarch is helpful at all to the petty efforts of the Slavs from FYROM who are comically inclined to believe that if they could ever disprove the Greekness of ancient Macedonians, their self-made mythical link to ancient Macedonians will be somehow validated.

Written by Ptolemy MOTW

Presented & produced by Truth Bearer & Makedonia25

AUSTRALIAN MACEDONIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL (AMAC)

Proud indigenous Macedonians proud Greeks one people,one language,one country,one culture

Tags: alexander, america, chronicle, falsification, history, plutarch, risto, stefov

Reconstruction of the shield found in locality of Bonče, Pelagonia, 2008: VASILEOS DIMITRIOU

Its really frustrating for Skopjans always to discover ancient Macedonian archaeological findings which reveal the Greekness of Macedonians.

Tags: ancient, Archaeology, demetrius, fyrom, greek, macedonian, pelagonia, vasileus

A collection of Decrees related to Alexander the Great. All the decrees left behind from ancient Macedonians of course are written in Greek.

1-Letter to chian-king alexander

2- 2 letter to chians-king alexander

3- ionia priene-king alexander,334bc

4- delphi-king alexander,324 bc-

5-maked-kalindria-king alexandros.4cth bc

6-letter to chian by king alexander,334 bc

7-delphi-king alexandros,321 bc

8-amorgos-king alexander

9-delphi-alexandros,170 bc

10. maked-samos-king alexandros

BY SAMIOS MAKEDONAS

Tags: alexander, alexandros, amorgos, chians, decrees, delphi, great, ionia, kalindria, letters, priene, samos

Greece unearths treasures at Alexander’s birthplace

ATHENS (Reuters) - Archaeologists have unearthed gold jewellery, weapons and pottery at an ancient burial site near Pella in northern Greece, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, the culture ministry said on Thursday.

The excavations at the vast cemetery uncovered 43 graves dating from 650-279 BC which shed light on the early development of the Macedonian kingdom, which had an empire that stretched as far as India under Alexander’s conquests.

Among the most interesting discoveries were the graves of 20 warriors dating to the late Archaic period, between 580 and 460 BC, the ministry said in a statement.

Some were buried in bronze helmets alongside iron swords and knives. Their eyes, mouths and chests were covered in gold foil richly decorated with drawings of lions and other animals symbolizing royal power.

“The discovery is rich in historical importance, shedding light on Macedonian culture during the Archaic period,” Pavlos Chrysostomou, who headed the eight-year project that investigated a total of 900 graves, told Reuters.

Pavlas said the graves confirmed evidence of an ancient Macedonian society organized along militaristic lines and with overseas trade as early as the second half of the seventh century BC.

Among the excavated graves, the team also found 11 women from the Archaic period, with gold and bronze necklaces, earrings and broaches.

Nine of the graves dated to the late classical or early Hellenistic period, around the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

Alexander, whose father Philip II unified the city states of mainland Greece, conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks before dying at the age of 32 in Babylon. Educated by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, Alexander was never defeated in battle.

(Reporting by Daniel Flynn and Renee Maltezou; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

Tags: alexander, Archaeology, archaic, Aristotle, bronze, cultrure, gold, graves, Greece, hellenistic, macedonia, Northern Greece, pella, philip

 

Many people often ask me what is the difference between a Greek and a Macedonian, and if Macedonians were Greeks of a different nation. Actually this is the same question that most foreign people with little or a basic -and we all have to admit rich and many times complicated - historical knowledge have.  Basically this is the exact lack of knowledge over the Greek history which the propaganda of fyrom uses, in order to create a huge confusion and chaos in people’s minds between the term ”Macedonians” and ”Greeks.”

This article will not proceed further in whether Macedonians were Greeks or not, because as it has already been mentioned and proved thousands of times not only from this blog, but from every valid historical ancient and modern source, that Macedonians were and are Greeks! This article aims in giving a very plain but essential explanation related to the way the fyromians used the confusion and lack of historic details of foreign people, -even the lack of knowledge of the Greek language.- in the names of the Kingdoms of the Greek Cities and how Greeks were calling each other and continue to call until today, according to their heritage, descent and lineage.

Plain and simple for every foreign friend. Greece was divided in Greek City States, all of them under the definition of the Greek nation according to Herodotus «όμοαιμον, ομόγλωσσον, ομόθρησκον, ομότροπον» (omemon – same blood, omoglosson – same language, omothriskon – same religion, omotropon – same ways, behaviour.), but with any Greek City State maintaining it’s independent leadership and rulers, with their own alliances and their own civil wars in the Greek region. From Homer up to Herodotus who also mentions that ” το Ελληνικόν γλώσση αιεί τη αυτή διαχράται ” (a general translation as ”the Greek language has always been spoken”) and in the pass of time, in this long Greek history, the Greeks were calling themselves with a variety of names. (Ex. Hellenes, Achaeans, Ionians, Grecians, etc. ) they also had their personal introduction beyond their father’s names, who preserves the tendency for a Greek to distinguish himself with pride for the City he comes from. This localism is something we continue to have as Greeks until today.

Ancient Greeks after all never had flags, but they had symbols:

Athenians had the owl:

Corinthians had the Pegasus:

Spartans had the Λ which stated their origin: ΛΑΚΕΔΑΙΜΟΝΙΟΙ (Lacedemonians) 

And of course Macedonians had the Star of Vergina:

So this is where we reach the word ”macedonian” and the fyromian’s trick. The two maps below shows the major Greek City States of antiquity and the third one, the modern Greek Provinces which maintained the same names and the same political map’s distinction.

Every Greek then and every Greek today, continue to introduce to each other with their family name and the place they live or the place they descend from. When a Greek wanted back then or wants until today to introduce himself according to their birthplace and local heritage, mentions that he is for example Thessalian from the town of Trikala, or Volos, of that he is a Thracian from Alexandroupolis, or Kavala, or that he is a Cretan from Chania or Heraklion, or that he is Macedonian from Kilkis or Thessaloniki, or that he is a Peloponnesian from Sparta. A very specific and simple introduction which of course foreigners ignore, as it is natural to ignore the Greek language and habits that the Greeks like any other nation, have with each other.

A very bright example of that is the words of Alexander:

The speech of Alexander I, when he was admitted to the Olympic games

“Men of Athens…
Had I not greatly at heart the common welfare of Hellas I should not have come to tell you; but I am myself Hellene by descent, and I would not willingly see Hellas exchange freedom for slavery….

If you prosper in this war, forget not to do something for my freedom; consider the risk I have run, out of zeal for the Hellenic cause, to acquaint you with what Mardonius intends, and to save you from being surprised by the barbarians.

I am Alexander of Macedon.”

(Herodotus, The Histories, 9.45)

Really interesting isn’t it?

So the fyromian propaganda based an entire falsification in taking advantage of people’s lack of knowledge, in creating step by step the impression that the Macedonians were something ”different”, something ”distant” from the rest of the Greeks, who after all were not conquered from Phillip, but agreed in an alliance with him in uniting all the Greeks under his guidance, against Persia, after the battle of Chaeronia, which was not the first civil war from the many civil conflicts, the Greek Cities had between them.

By Ariadni_Nefeli

Tags: athenians, city-states, greeks, herodotus, ομόαιμον, ομόγλωσσον, ομόθρησκον, ομότροπον, lacedaimonians, macedonians, nation, omoaimon, omoglosson, omothriskon, omotropon, spartans

Διάβασα σήμερα στο αρκετά ενημερωτικό blog Το Μακεδονικό Ζήτημα σήμερα μια αναδημοσίευση άρθρου απο την εφημερίδα Έθνος της κ. Αγγελικής Κωττή. Το άρθρο είχε θέμα την αναβίωση της αμφισβήτησης εκ μέρους συγκεκριμένης, μικρής μερίδας Ιστορικών και αρχαιολόγων, με κύριους εκφραστές σήμερα, τον γνωστό Αμερικάνο Ακαδημαϊκό Eugene Borza και της Ελληνίδας Καθηγήτριας του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών, Αρχαιολόγου κ. Όλγας Παλαγγιάς.

Ο κ. Borza και οι διφορούμενες απόψεις του περί της Ελληνικότητας των αρχαίων Μακεδόνων, μας έχει απασχολήσει σε αυτό το blog και παλαιότερα. Στην προκειμένη περίπτωση θα ασχοληθούμε με την τοποθέτηση πάνω στο θέμα της κ. Παλαγγιάς.

Στις 12/07/1998, είχε δημοσιευτεί στην εφημερίδα ‘Το Βήμα’, ένα άρθρο της κ. Χαράς Κιοσσέ, στο οποίο φιλοξενούσε τις απόψεις και ισχυρισμούς της κ. Παλαγγιάς. Αμέσως υπήρξαν ανταπαντήσεις στην ίδια εφημερίδα, με αντικρουόμενες απόψεις των Αρχαιολόγων και Ιστορικών ερευνητών. Ενδεικτικά αναφέρω το άρθρο του κ. Παναγιώτη Β. Φάκλαρη,  αναπληρωτή καθηγητή Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας του ΑΠΘ και μέλος της πανεπιστημιακής ανασκαφής της Βεργίνας, την τοποθέτηση του κ. Ν. Μάρτη, γνωστού τέως υπουργού και θερμού υποστηρικτή της Ελληνικότητας της Αρχ. Μακεδονίας, καθώς και της έγκριτου αρχαιολόγου, επίκουρου καθηγήτριας της Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας στο ΑΠΘ και μέλος της Ανασκαφής στη Βεργίνα, κ. Χρυσούλας Σαατσόγλου-Παλιαδέλη. Παράλληλα μπορείτε να διαβάσετε και την επιστολή της κ. Σ. Δρούγου, (σ. στο τέλος του link) Διευθύντριας της Ανασκαφής της Βεργίνας και Καθηγήτριας Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας ΑΠΘ.

Αναδημοσιεύω το απόσπασμα-απάντηση της κ. Χρυσούλας Σαατσόγλου-Παλιαδέλη στην κ. Παλαγγιά, επειδή κατα την γνώμη μου πάντα, είναι η πιο εμπεριστατωμένη τοποθέτηση απο όσες διάβασα.

Οσοι πήραμε μέρος στην ανασκαφή της Μεγάλης Τούμπας στη Βεργίνα, και συνεχίζουμε την έρευνα στον αρχαιολογικό της χώρο, βρισκόμαστε συνεχώς αντιμέτωποι με ένα εξαιρετικά σημαντικό εύρημα, αλλά και με τις επιπτώσεις του, καθώς η τόλμη του Μανόλη Ανδρόνικου να το αντιμετωπίσει σφαιρικά ήταν φυσικό να προκαλέσει τις αναμενόμενες αντιδράσεις. Οι διαφορετικές απόψεις δεν αναιρούν ούτε τη γνώση ούτε την επιστημοσύνη του και η φυσική απουσία του δεν ανέστειλε ούτε την ανασκαφική δραστηριότητα ούτε την επιστημονική δράση μας στη Βεργίνα. Το κοινό, όμως, που διάβασε τις απόψεις της κ. Παλαγγιά στο άρθρο της κυρίας Κιοσσέ («Το Βήμα της Κυριακής», 12.8.98) για την τοιχογραφία του μεγάλου τάφου της Βεργίνας, ίσως πραγματικά ένιωσε ότι του «κλέβουν ένα μέρος του ονείρου».

Τα πράγματα όμως δεν είναι ακριβώς έτσι. Η άποψη της κ. Παλαγγιά δεν είναι, κατ’ αρχήν, νέα. Πρώτη, το 1980, η αμερικανίδα αρχαιολόγος Phyllis Lehmann αμφισβήτησε την απόδοση του μνημείου στον Φίλιππο Β’, αντιπροτείνοντας την ταύτιση του νεκρού του θαλάμου με τον Φίλιππο Γ’ Αρριδαίο, και εγκαινιάζοντας έτσι έναν επιστημονικό διάλογο που συνεχίζεται ως σήμερα. Ο Μανόλης Ανδρόνικος είχε πολλές φορές την ευκαιρία να απαντήσει αμέσως στις περισσότερες από αυτές, εκθέτοντας ακόμη αναλυτικότερα τα επιχειρήματα που τον οδηγούσαν στην προτεινόμενη απόδοση.

Από τη θέση του μελετητή της τοιχογραφίας, μπορώ να καταθέσω με βεβαιότητα πως λιγοστές από τις παρατηρήσεις της συναδέλφου ανταποκρίνονται στα εικονογραφικά στοιχεία της παράστασης, επηρεάζοντας, ως ένα βαθμό, και τις ερμηνείες της. Ο νεαρός Αλέξανδρος, για παράδειγμα, στο μέσον της τοιχογραφίας, φορεί ελληνικότατο, πορφυρό ­ καθότι διάδοχος ­ χιτωνίσκο και όχι χιτώνα ανατολίτικο, επηρεασμένο από την περσική ενδυμασία, ενώ ο ώριμος, θριαμβευτικός, γενειοφόρος ιππέας, που ετοιμάζεται να σκοτώσει (χωρίς λεοντή) το λιοντάρι, δεν μπορεί να ταυτισθεί με τον Φίλιππο Γ’ τον Αρριδαίο, όπως πρότεινε η συνάδελφος, καθώς γνωρίζουμε πως ήταν μόλις δύο χρόνια μεγαλύτερος από τον Αλέξανδρο. Επιπλέον, ανήμπορος για έντονη δραστηριότητα, μπορούσε, ενδεχομένως, να ιππεύει, μάλλον όμως αδυνατούσε να κυνηγά.

Ο κυνηγός με το δίχτυ δεν έχει μουστάκι, είναι πράγματι μελαψός (όπως συνήθως αποδίδονται στα περισσότερα ζωγραφικά έργα της αρχαιότητας οι ανδρικές μορφές), αλλά δεν είναι Ινδός ή Πέρσης. Η ιδιόμορφη ενδυμασία του (ίσως η διφθέρα των αρχαίων πηγών, που φορούσαν οι άνθρωποι της υπαίθρου) μάλλον τον ταυτίζει με νεαρό, αμούστακο, ηλιοκαμένο, ορεσίβιο Μακεδόνα, επειδή δεν υπάρχουν ενδυματολογικά παράλληλα που να ερμηνεύουν την καταγωγή του, κυρίως όμως επειδή κανένα εικονογραφικό στοιχείο της παράστασης δεν παραπέμπει στην Ανατολή. Το κυνήγι της τοιχογραφίας διαδραματίζεται στον ευρωπαϊκό χώρο, προφανώς, κάπου στη Μακεδονία παραπέμποντας σε ένα γεγονός που προηγείται της εκστρατείας του Αλεξάνδρου και ενισχύοντας έτσι τη χρονολόγηση του τάφου πριν από τον θάνατό του. (Τεχνητοί παράδεισοι, μεταφυτευμένα πλατύφυλλα δένδρα, μελαψοί μυστακοφόροι και άλλα συναφή δεν συμβάλλουν στην κατανόηση της παράστασης.)

Δεν κατανοώ, κατ’ αρχήν, τις υποθέσεις που ερμηνεύουν ορισμένα πολιτισμικά στοιχεία των αρχαίων Μακεδόνων, ως αποτελέσματα της εκστρατείας του Αλεξάνδρου στην Ανατολή, όταν είναι γνωστή από τον Ηρόδοτο η σχέση τους με τους Πέρσες, ήδη από τα τέλη του 6ου π.Χ. αι. Τέτοιοι θεσμοί, όπως το βασιλικό κυνήγι, για παράδειγμα, θα μπορούσαν να εισαχθούν (αν τελικά εισήχθησαν) στη μακεδονική αυλή πολύ νωρίτερα από τον Αλέξανδρο. Λιοντάρια, άλλωστε, υπήρχαν στη Μακεδονία πριν από τα τέλη του 4ου π.Χ. αι., όπως μαρτυρεί ο Ξενοφώντας στον Κυνηγετικό του και ο Παυσανίας στην Περιήγησή του, περιγράφοντας τον γνωστό άθλο του Θεσσαλού Πουλυδάμαντα, που είχε σκοτώσει με τα χέρια του, ως νέος Ηρακλής, ένα λιοντάρι στον Ολυμπο, στα τέλη του 5ου π.Χ. αι. Το κυνήγι τους ήταν γνωστό στον βορειοελλαδικό χώρο τουλάχιστον από τα χρόνια του βασιλιά Αρχελάου (413-399 π.Χ.), που εξέδωσε νομίσματα με λιοντάρι στην πίσω πλευρά, το οποίο δαγκώνει σπασμένο δόρυ (σαφής μαρτυρία για κυνήγι λιονταριού στη Μακεδονία ήδη από τα τέλη του 5ου π.Χ. αι.). Ο Διόδωρος ο Σικελιώτης αναφέρει πως ο ίδιος βασιλιάς δολοφονήθηκε κατά τη διάρκεια ενός προφανώς ανάλογου κυνηγιού.

Τον σημαντικό ρόλο του κυνηγιού για τη μακεδονική κοινωνία τον αντανακλά ανάγλυφα η περίπτωση του Κασσάνδρου, που, μη έχοντας ως τα τριάντα πέντε του κατορθώσει να σκοτώσει κάπρο χωρίς δίχτυ, ήταν ταπεινωτικά αναγκασμένος να μετέχει στα συμπόσια της μακεδονικής αυλής, καθισμένος και όχι ανακεκλιμένος, όπως οι άλλοι συμποσιαστές.

Η τοιχογραφία με το κυνήγι στην πρόσοψη του μεγάλου τάφου της Βεργίνας υπήρξε σαφώς πολιτική επιλογή εκείνου που φρόντισε με τόση επιμέλεια για την ταφή του νεκρού. Ο Κάσσανδρος δύσκολα θα διάλεγε ένα θέμα που ως τα 35 του μάλλον θα προσπαθούσε να ξεχάσει. Είναι εντελώς απίθανο, επομένως, να τον αναγνωρίσουμε σε κάποια από τις μορφές της τοιχογραφίας, όπως προτείνει η κ. Παλαγγιά, σε μια ετεροχρονισμένη και ανακριβή σχέση με το κυνήγι. Αντίθετα, ο νεαρός Αλέξανδρος είχε κάθε λόγο ­ στους ταραγμένους μήνες που ακολούθησαν τη δολοφονία του πατέρα του και τη δική του ανάρρηση στον θρόνο ­ να επιλέξει ένα τέτοιο θέμα, που τον εικόνιζε, μαζί με τον νεκρό βασιλιά, σε μια κατ’ εξοχήν σημαντική ­ για τη μακεδονική αυλή ­ δραστηριότητα.

Αν από την ερμηνεία της τοιχογραφίας προκύπτει ένα ακόμη επιχείρημα για την ταύτιση του νεκρού με τον Φίλιππο Β’, λυπούμαι να διαπιστώνω συνεχώς πως ­ ακόμη και ανεξάρτητα από την ερμηνεία της ­ όσοι από τους συναδέλφους αμφισβήτησαν την άποψη του Μανόλη Ανδρόνικου (ανάμεσά τους συγκαταλέγεται τώρα η κ. Παλαγγιά) δεν έλαβαν σοβαρά υπόψη τους το μέγιστο, κατά τη γνώμη μου, λογικό και αρχαιολογικό του επιχείρημα: η πρωτογενής ταφή που καταγράψαμε κατά τη διάρκεια της ανασκαφής δεν μπορεί με κανέναν τρόπο να αποδοθεί στον Φίλιππο Γ’, που εξετάφη από τον Κάσσανδρο, αρκετούς μήνες αργότερα από τον θάνατό του, για να ξαναταφεί (δευτερογενώς) μαζί με τη γυναίκα του, Ευρυδίκη, στις Αιγές.

Φαίνεται πως ο επιστημονικός διάλογος συχνά συγκροτείται από μοναχικούς μονολόγους, που κινούνται παράλληλα, χωρίς πουθενά να συναντώνται. Μοναχικά κείμενα, για μοναχικά περιοδικά, που απευθύνονται σε μοναχικούς αναγνώστες.

Εντέλει, είμαστε όλοι εκτεθειμένοι στην κρίση της διεθνούς επιστημονικής κοινότητας.

Το ευρύ κοινό μπορεί, εν τω μεταξύ, να διαφυλάσσει το όνειρό του.
Η κυρία Χρυσούλα Σαατσόγλου-Παλιαδέλη είναι επίκουρος καθηγήτρια της Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας στο Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης και μέλος της Ανασκαφής στη Βεργίνα.

Tags: eugene borza, βεργίνα, δρούγου, μάρτης, όλγα παλαγγιά, ευγένιος μπόρζα, τάφος, φάκλαρης, φίλιππος β', χρυσούλα σαατσόγλου-παλιαδέλ�, tomb, vergina

Long long ago, before the days of Islam, Sikander e Aazem came to India. The Two Horned one whom you British people call Alexander the Great. He conquered the world, and was a very great man, brave and dauntless and generous to his followers. When he left to go back to Greece, some of his men did not wish to go back with him but preferred to stay here. Their leader was a general called Shalakash (i.e.: Seleucus). With some of his officers and men, he came to these valleys and they settled here and took local women, and here they stayed. We, the Kalash, the Black Kafir of the Hindu Kush, are the descendants of their children. Still some of our words are the same as theirs, our music and our dances, too; we worship the same gods. This is why we believe the Greeks are our first ancestors…

 (Statement made by a Kalash named Kazi Khushnawaz, “In the footsteps of Alexander the Great”, p.8.)

He [Alexander] had a vision for a world empires in which  the wealth and culture of the East would meld with the rationality and drive of the Greeks. He encouraged his veterans to marry Persian women in order to facilitate the integration of the two societies. He began to act more like an Eastern potentate than a Greek general, and his men grew weary of that.

 Encyclopaedia of invasions and conquests,  Davis, McKenzie and Haris, 2006, page 20

One text from Hippolytus_of_Rome, author of the first centuries AC and…a saint.

Its translation in English

HIPPOLYTUS OF ROME TREATISE ON CHRIST AND ANTICHRIST.

Quote:

24. Then, after the lioness, he sees a “second beast like a bear,” and that denoted the Persians. For after the Babylonians, the Persians held the sovereign power And in saving that there were “three ribs in the mouth of it,” he pointed to three nations, viz., the Persians, and the Medes, and the Babylonians; which were also represented on the image by the silver after the gold. Then (there was) “the third beast, a leopard,” which meant the Greeks. For after the Persians, Alexander of Macedon obtained the sovereign power on subverting Darius, as is also shown by the brass on the image. And in saying that it had “four wings of a fowl,” he taught us most clearly how the kingdom of Alexander was partitioned. For in speaking of “four heads,” he made mention of four kings, viz., those who arose out of that (kingdom). For Alexander, when dying, partitioned out his kingdom into four divisions

.

Quote:

28. The golden head of the image and the lioness denoted the Babylonians; the shoulders and arms of silver, and the bear, represented the Persians and Medes; the belly and thighs of brass, and the leopard, meant the Greeks, who held the sovereignty from Alexander’s time; the legs of iron, and the beast dreadful and terrible, expressed the Romans, who hold the sovereignty at present;

From Ioannis Chrysostomos about Daniel’s fragment in page 893.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Θα καταλάβετε καλύτερα αν ακούσετε αυτό το όραμα που μας διηγήθηκε παραβολικά ο προφήτης αποκαλώντας κριό τον βασιλέα των Περσών Δαρείο, τράγο τον βασιλέα των Ελλήνων, εννοώ τον Αλέξανδρο τον Μακεδόνα, τέσσερα κέρατα τους διαδόχους του και τελευταίο κέρατο τον Αντίοχο. ”

Translation: “You will understand better if you hear this vision which was narrated parabolically by the Prophet, by calling ram the Persian king Darius, billy-goat the King of Greeks i mean Alexander the Macedonian, 4 horns his successors and last horn Antiochos“