Classical Studies 2902B
Alexander – to 334
A.’s birth
in 56—Philip’s marital adventures. His marriage to Olympias
in ? 357. Her background.
Stories
about A.’s childhood:
a)
The Persian Envoys:
when A. was about seven years old! (Plut. A. 5 = Romm
p.4). Significance of this: Great King’s pardon for three rebels who had found
refuge at Philip’s court; two of them were the v. noble Artabazus
and the great mercenary leader and Art.’s friend Memnon
of Rhodes. (Art.’s mother was an Achaemenid; his wife
was Greek and they had a daughter, Barsine—who
becomes v. impt later.)
b)
Bucephalas: see Plut. A. 6 = Romm
pp.4-5
c)
Leonidas (A.’s tutor): v.significant
(Plutarch A. 24.4-5: not in Romm). Important for A.’s never forgetting a slight or an
insult.
The years
with Aristotle at Mieza: 343-340: who was there with A. What did he learn?
In 340 A. was sixteen: governed Macedon (keeper of Philip’s seal) when
P. off attacking Perinthus and
338:
endgame in
337: Crisis
in Macedonian royal family. Why did Philip decide to marry Attalus’
niece Cleopatra and (seemingly) disavow A. as his heir? A’s
response—exile and then patched up reconciliation: but A. isolated from his
friends.
336: Philip
decides to marry his daughter (and A.’s sister) to Oympias’
brother. Assassination of Philip at wedding: everyone (today) asks cui bono? (Latin for “to whose
advantage”)., Answer seems obvious since E. Badian’s paper “The Death of Philip II” in Phoenix
(the great Canadian classical journal) 17 (1963) 244-250 (available via JStor in DBWeldon Library); most
writers since (including Cartledge) accept that A. was involved in Philip’s murder.
Aftermath was very bloody. A’s moves to consolidate his
position in
335: A.
campaigns to secure N. borders of