Classical Studies 2902B

The last Phase of Alexander’s Life

[Note: I shall be moving to another office in Talbot College during this coming week (from TC 431 to 429). It may happen on Monday or Tuesday and I shall announce in class on Tuesday whether or not it has happened. CLM]

(April, 324 to June, 323)

During his stay at Susa (in April, 324) A. fulfilled a promise he had made earlier to Persian royal princesses—that he would, on his return, give them husbands—and he did. In a ceremony lasting five days, he and 91 Companions married noble Persian women (details at Romm, pp. 155-156). Most noteworthy, perhaps, Seleucus’ marriage to Apame, daughter of Spitamenes. About this time A. revived the office of Chiliarch (Grk for “leader of a thousand”, but a translation of the Persian hazārapatis, which had come to mean Principal Minister, or “Grand Vizier”) for Hephaestion. A. also gave presents to soldiers who had taken local wives and paid off soldiers’ debts. However, his ever-increasing adoption of Persian court organization and dress continued to annoy old-line Maceds, as did arrival of 30,000 Iranian youths trained in Maced. military style: A. called them his “Successors”.

In spring, 324 A. left Susa and went down to Pers. Gulf and then sailed to mouth of the Tigris and up the river to Opis, where he announced discharge of all Maced. soldiers unfit for further active service: outbreak of rage and insults hurled at King, who had ringleaders arrested and executed. Then he delivered long speech about how much they owed to Philip and to himself; he secluded himself for three days and then announced sweeping changes to milit. organization. Maceds begged for forgiveness and great reconciliation with elaborate banquet ensued, where A. prayed for “concord and community in empire for Maceds and Persians”. THEN A. proceeded to discharge 10,000 inf. and 1,500 cav., who were to be led back to Macedonia by Craterus and Polyperchon (though Craterus had elaborate orders to stop in Cilicia and see to build-up of forces for coming operations in the Mediterranean; then he was to go to Maced. and take over command from Antipater, who was to bring his troops to A. in Asia). Why was A. replacing Antipater? Antipater decided to resist all this (fearing the chop), and prevaricated, sending his eldest son Cassander to negotiate with A. and figure out what to do. (N.B.: widespread belief in antiquity that Cassander took with him an incredible poison, mixed by Aristotle, to “get” A. with, if this seemed necessary.)

It was now early summer, 324 and in Greece Harpalus turned up at Athens with all his forces. Athenians refused him entry to their harbour; so he went to main mercenary base at Taenarum in Laconia; later he turned up with 3 ships and 700 Talents, gained admission to Athens and was then demanded for surrender by Antipater, Olympias(!) and A.’s Satrap of Caria. Demosthenes (see Cartledge p. 305) proposed (and got passed) a motion in Assembly that Harp. be taken into protective custody and that the 700T be lodged on the Acropolis for safe-keeping. In Aug., 324 Olympic Games were held and A. sent Nicanor to them to announce his solution for the “wandering mercenaries” problem: all Greek states were to receive all exiled citizens back. Considerable uproar at this, since it was completely outside A.’s powers as Hegemon of League of Corinth; so, another widespread belief—that Nicanor came with demand from A. for deification by Greek states (see Cartledge pp. 246-248; there will be class discussion of this matter later in term).

During summer of 324, A., following royal “progresses” of Achaemenid monarchs, moved (very slowly) from Opis to summer capital Ecbatana, where A. eventually staged lengthy and lavish festival in honour of Dionysus, which involved much prolonged evening drinking. Hephaestion took ill and developed fever; put on plain and simple diet; after a week feeling better—so, ate whole chicken and drank 4 pints of wine—then relapsed and died. A. devastated at this loss: seems to have intended Hephaestion to be his successor. Huge burst of mourning, with v. elaborate funeral (eventually: spring of 323) in Babylon. Mission to Siwah to enquire about deification for Hephaestion; oracle replied hero-cult only. (Note A.’s ridiculous message to Cleomenes of Naucratis, de facto governor of Egypt; see Romm, p. 167)

In winter, 324-323 A. campaigned against Cossaeans, who lived in mountains S.-W. of Ecbatana and to whom Achaemenid kings had given money for undisturbed access along road to Ecbataba. A. wiped them out in five weeks. Then in spring of 323 slow progress towards Babylon, which priests warned him against entering. After quick visit (Hephaestion’s funeral) A. sailed down Euphrates to inspect canals, dikes and irrigation on lower river. When he returned to Babylon, naval preparations for Arabian campaign were almost finished and substantial forces mustered. Many embassies were arriving on varied missions and some from Greek cities (“coming…as if sacred envoys to honour a god; but for A. indeed the end was not far off”: Arrian 7.23.2; this passage requires some explanation). With A. there is always an insatiable desire for more conquest; but he was not particularly interested in organization and administration—something which astonished Roman Emp. Augustus.

A.s death: on 29^th May, A. was apparently not feeling well (feverish), but was persuaded to attend a party at which he consumed a huge cup of unmixed wine, shrieked aloud and was carried home. Over the next few days his fever increased, but he carried on with as many activities as possible. By 6^th June, so ill that he gave his signet ring to Perdiccas and troops forced way in to see him for last time. On night of 9-10 June some of his officers kept vigil for him in the “Temple of Sarapis” (problem with this). His Companions asked him to whom he was leaving his kingdom and he said: tō kratistō (which is not very clear: could be “to the best man” or “to the most powerful”). He is also said to have said “I foresee great funeral games for me”. A. died early on 10^th June, 323 B.C.