BD-Basiliensis

Alexander the Great

série:	Alexandre le Grand
éditeur:	Weidenfeld
auteur:	Lipsius Frank
classement:	biblio501
année:	1974
format:	cartonné avec jaquette
état:	TBE
valeur:	20 €
critère:	***
remarques:	English book Alexander the Great in the series the great commanders 1/ the court at Pella - Macedonia had not the quality of being a power until Philipp II ascended the throne, he was a descendant of the Argead dynasty - Machiavelli considered Philipp as a master of diplomacy, Philipp also introduced the coined money and he arranged the hellenisation of the Macedonian court - social decline of Athens, a city no longer inspired by patriotism - the defeat at Chaeronea was a humiliating blow to the big cities of Greece: Athens, Thebes and Sparta (although Sparta did not participate at the battle) 2/ the great competitor - Alexander's myth and education at Mieza, Aristotle's major interests were marine, biology and politics, his philosophy in government was to justify absolute power in the hands of the right ruler showing his superiority in some form of godness; a king being better than a democracy - Alexander's philosophy rested mainly in co-operation and not only in conquest - description of Alexander's physical body, Alexander's antagonism with his father 3/ auguries of success - the political assassinations were an accepted practice at that time and Alexander made use of them - Alexander's decisiveness and recklessness in following his father's policy - campaign against Triballian, Getae, Illyrian and finally against the Thebans - the Golden Archers = Darius' coins - Alexander's political philosophy in Greece, especially towards Athens >> p. 67 details about the three typical Greek helmets: Boetian, Theban and Thracian 4/ Darius of Persia - when Alexander set out for Persia, he had the resources to support only a modest incursion into the Persian Empire but his troops had unlimited confidence in him - influence of Parmenio on Alexander's first campaign - good portrait of Darius III, a brave and sage king but weak in the art of war 5/ battle of Issus - the death of Memnon was a real stroke of luck to Alexander - conquest of Tyre and Gaza, entry into Egypt as a saviour where Alexandria was soon to supplant Tyre as a link between Greece and the East >> p. 111 Alexander and Darius at the battle of Issus = largest mosaic coming down from Antiquity n.b. the Alexander Mosaic, dating from circa 100 BC, is a Roman floor mosaic originally from the House of the Faun in Pompeii, it depicts a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia and measures 2.72 by 5.13 metres, the original is preserved in the Naples National Archaeological Museum 6/ the road to Persepolis - good description of the battle of Gaugamela - the taste of the Oriental rituals - treachery of Alexander with the Uxians? (first he would pay, then he would attack) - question about the burning of the great palace at Persepolis, was it a mistake (a result of drunkery?), a punishment or wanted Alexander show that he was still Greece's leader and avenger? (probably both of them) >> p. 144 pictures of the moulded animals on the brick walls of Babylon (made like a jig-saw fashion!) 7/ only a god - Bessus' revolt and execution of Philotas and Parmenio - murder of Cleitus in the city of Prophthasia (city name meaning "anticipation"!) >> p. 179/180 the dispute between Cleitus and Alexander 8/ to India and back - travel into the unknown - battle and siege of Pir-Sar (place identified by Sir Aurel Stein) n.b. Sir Marc Aurel Stein, (1862-1943) was a Hungarian-born British archaeologist, primarily known for his explorations and archaeological discoveries in Central Asia - meeting with Taxiles and the Gymnosophists - use of the elephants for the first time at the battle against Porus = last big battle where Alexander showed his ability to handle any military situation - comments about replacement of Antipater by Craterus >> a very good book, a rather concise history of Alexander's campaigns, but still with some complementary details and superb illustrations enclosures - cover of the book - the golden archers - the moulded animals
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