Ancient Macedonians in the Greek and Roman sources : from history to historiography

Recent scholars have analysed ways in which authors of the Roman era appropriated the figure of Alexander the Great. The essays in this collection cast a wider net, to show how Classical Greek, Hellenistic and Roman authors reinterpret and sometimes misinterpret information on ancient Macedonians to serve their own literary and political aims. Although Roman ideas pervade the historiographical tradition, this volume shows that the manipulation of ancient Macedonian history largely occurred much earlier. It reflected the complicated dynastic politics of the Argead royal house, the efforts of Alexander himself to redefine Macedonian kingship, and the competing strategies of the Successors to claim his legacy. Facing the complexity of the source tradition about the ancient Macedonians yields a richer and more balanced reflection of both the history and the historiography of this important and controversial people. Recent Scholars Have Analysed Ways In Which Authors Of The Roman Era Appropriated The Figure Of Alexander The Great. The Essays In This Collection, By An International Team Of Scholars, Cast A Wider Net. They Show How Classical Greek, Hellenistic And Roman Authors Reinterpreted, Sometimes Misinterpreted, Information On Ancient Macedonians To Serve Their Own Literary And Political Aims. Although Roman Ideas Pervade The Historiographical Tradition, This Volume Shows That The Manipulation Of Ancient Macedonian History Largely Occurred Much Earlier. It Reflected The Complicated Dynastic Politics Of The Argead Royal House, The Efforts Of Alexander Himself To Redefine Macedonian Kingship, And The Competing Strategies Of The Successors To Claim His Legacy. Facing The Complexity Of The Source Tradition About The Ancient Macedonians Yields A Richer And More Balanced Reflection Of Both The History And The Historiography Of This Important And Controversial People. Edited By Timothy Howe And Frances Pownall ; With The Collaboration Of Beatrice Poletti. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Recent scholars have analysed ways in which authors of the Roman era appropriated the figure of Alexander the Great. The essays in this collection, by an international team of scholars, cast a wider net. They show how classical Greek, hellenistic and Roman authors reinterpreted, sometimes misinterpreted, information on ancient Macedonians to serve their own literary and political aims. Although Roman ideas pervade the historiographical tradition, this volume shows that the manipulation of ancient Macedonian history largely occurred much earlier. It reflected the complicated dynastic politics of the Argead royal house, the efforts of Alexander himself to redefine Macedonian kingship, and the competing strategies of the Successors to claim his legacy. Facing the complexity of the source tradition about the ancient Macedonians yields a richer and more balanced reflection of both the history and the historiography of this important and controversial people."--Résumé de l'éditeur Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 6 Introduction 8 Part I - Succession and the Role of Women 18 A Founding Mother? 18 Royal Women as Succession Advocates 46 A Roman Olympias 58 Part II - Philia, Politics and Alliances 76 Was Kallisthenes the Tutor of Alexander's Royal Pages? 76 Hephaistion - A Reassessment of his Career 94 Friendship and Betrayal 120 Part III - Royal Self-Presentation and Ideology 154 The Animal Types on the Argead Coinage 154 Alexander as Achilles 180 The Grand Procession, Galatersieg, and Ptolemaic Kingship 198 Part IV - The Memory of Alexander 218 Legends of Seleukos' Death, from Omens to Revenge 218 The Memory of Alexander in Plutarch's Lives of Demetrios, Pyrrhos and Eumenes 232 Index 274