Category Archives for Commentary

Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire

It’s not much of a review, but I’ll pass on the link to my post on James Romm’s recent release Ghost on the Throne: The Death of Alexander the Great and the War for Crown and Empire. If you have enjoyed The Landmark Arrian you will definitely enjo… Continue reading

20. October 2011 by dwightgreen
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , | 1 comment

They “do not remain there entirely of their own will”

The conference call on Arrian Book 4 & 5 in Andre’s group had an interesting “side topic” discussion on people left to provide a garrison for Alexander’s empire. I thought a post to continue that topic would be worthwhile since it seemed the discu… Continue reading

14. September 2011 by dwightgreen
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Alexander the Great: to boldly go

I have been meaning to post about this article regarding an intended TV series in 1964, starring William Shatner as Alexander and Adam West as Cleander. The link contains several YouTube clips from the series pilot, which was eventually released a… Continue reading

11. September 2011 by dwightgreen
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , | 1 comment

Arrian: Alexander and the Greeks, burning down the house

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the paradoxical figure of Alexander continues to emerge in Book Three. I wanted to look a little at Alexander’s relationship with the Greeks, leading to the dismissal of Greek troops at Ecbatana (3.19.5-8) and th… Continue reading

08. July 2011 by dwightgreen
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , | 1 comment

Arrian: Book Three—Gaugamela

Alexander deserves the glory which he has enjoyed for so many centuries and among all nations; but what if he had been beaten at Arbela [Gaugamela] having the Euphrates, the Tigris, and the deserts in his rear, without any strong places of refuge,… Continue reading

07. July 2011 by dwightgreen
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Alexander, the great administrator?

Book Three sees several changes in Alexander’s administrative choices and style. To date, most of the officers installed by Alexander as he marched through Ionia and the Levant have been Macedonians friends or trustees. The exceptions in the fir… Continue reading

01. July 2011 by dwightgreen
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , | 1 comment

The oracle of Ammon

Chapters 3 and 4 of Book Three cover Alexander’s visit to the shrine of Ammon, but questions raised by this trip linger long after the close of these chapters. Even though Arrian provides detail about the journey, full of marvels and supernatura… Continue reading

28. June 2011 by dwightgreen
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , | 1 comment

Was Alexander reckless?

Posted by Bill Swislow, member of the Arrian reading group 2 Thinking about Alexander’s risk taking, it seems fair to say that by our standards his behavior is reckless on the face of it. After all, as pointed out on a recent call, our political l… Continue reading

09. June 2011 by Arrian
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , , , , | 1 comment

Bryn Mawr calls Landmark Arrian a ‘clear hit’

Bogdan Burliga of Gdansk University published a glowing review of the Landmark Arrian, the new edition we are currently using in our two Reading Odyssey reading group sections. Most of the adult readers reading Arrian’s Campaigns of Alexander for … Continue reading

31. May 2011 by Phil Terry
Categories: Arrian-Alexander, Commentary | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Bryn Mawr calls Landmark Arrian a ‘clear hit’

Veronese Painting Of Alexander Greeting The Family Of Darius After The Battle Of Issus

Wanted to share with the Arrian reading group this Mannerist painting by Veronese in the National Gallery in the UK. It shows the wife and daughters of Darius genuflecting before Alexander and his general Hephaestion after Alexander’s victory at t… Continue reading

26. May 2011 by Arrian
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