Alexander

"Who was Alexander's father?"

"Philip II

"Who was Alexander's mother?"

"Olympias

"What year was Alexander born?"

"356 BC"

"Who were the mythical figures Plutarch claims Alexander was related to?"

"Heracles through his father's side and Aeacus through his mother's side. Aeacus was the mortal grandfather of Achilles."

"How did Plutarch describe what happened to Olympias around the time of Alexander's conception?"

"There was a peal of thunder and a thunderbolt fell on her womb

"How did Plutarch describe Phillip's dream about Alexander

after his marriage to Olympias?"

"Outline the story of Alexander and Bucephalus."

"A trader brought a horse to Alexander

"Describe Alexander's education."

"He was tutored by Aristotle

"What was the story about Olympias and a snake?"

"A snake was seen stretched out next to Olympias' body as she slept. This allegedly reduced Philip's love and friendliness towards her

"How did Philip treat Aristotle?"

"He had destroyed Aristotle's native city of Stageira. However

"Describe Philip's relationship with Alexander."

"Plutarch says Philip was very fond of Alexander

"What were Arrian's decisions for his history?"

"He has followed Ptolemy and Aristobulus' accounts of Alexander on the assumption of their accuracy. When their facts differ

"When did Alexander go to the Gordian Knot? What happened?"

"333 BC

"How did Alexander feel about and act in reference to religion?"

"Allegedly

"How did Arrian feel about religion?"

"He endorsed polytheism and considered that the worship of gods and their signs was vital. As a young man

"On which coin was Alexander deified? What does it show?"

"Silver tetradrachm of Alexander

"What were some examples of Alexander's roles in his early life?"

"He was appointed regent of Macedonia at 16. In 340 BC

"Who was Parmenio? Describe Alexander's relationship with him."

"Macedonian general who served under Philip and Alexander. His son Philotas was in charge of the companion cavalry. Alexander gave Parmenio a rich palace in Babylon

"Who was Parmenio's son? What was Alexander's relationship with him like?"

"Philotas. Trusted and effective commander of the Companion Cavalry. Alexander had him stoned to death for allegedly criticising him

"Who was Cleitus? Describe Alexander's relationship with him."

"Important member of the Macedonian military

"Who was Callisthenes? Describe Alexander's relationship with him."

"Greek historian

"Who was Hephaestion? Describe Alexander's relationship with him."

"Life-long friend of Alexander; they studied together under Aristotle. According to Arrian

"Who was Antipater? Describe Alexander's relationship with him."

"Experienced military and political leader

"When did Alexander embark on his conquest against Persia?"

"334 BC."

"What were some reasons for Alexander's conquest of Persia?"

"Philip's invasion of Persia was already in its early stages when he died

"When was the Battle of Granicus? Who won?"

"334 BC

"What was the numbers of Alexander's army at Granicus?"

"~30,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry according to Arrian."

"What did Memnon say prior to the Battle of Granicus?"

"Memnon (a high-ranking Greek mercenary fighting for Persia) advised the Persians not to risk war with the Macedonians

"How far can we trust Arrian's accounts of battles such as Granicus?"

"Arrian was appointed governor of Cappadocia with two legions

"When was the Battle of Issus?"

"333 BC."

"What happened at the Battle of Issus?"

"Alexander defeated the Persians and their leader Darius III

"When was the Battle of Gaugamela?"

"331 BC."

"Who were the Hellenic League?"

"The federation of Greek states created by Philip after the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) to facilitate his use of military forces in his war against Persia."

"What happened at the Battle of Gaugamela?"

"Alexander defeated the Persians. The Babylonian Astronomical Diary mentions the battle and refers to Darius III as 'the king' and Alexander as 'the king of the world'. Plutarch describes Alexander charging straight towards Darius. Darius escapes at the end of the battle when Alexander comes to the aid of his left wing

"Describe the mosaic from the House of Faun."

"In Pompeii

"How does Arrian describe the Persian preparations for the Battle of Gaugamela?"

"Darius III and his army remained drawn up for battle from the start

"How do the ancient sources describe the army numbers at Gaugamela?"

"Arrian was potentially accurate for Alexander's forces: 7,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry. Plutarch said Darius had one million men

"When was the Battle of the Persian Gate?"

"330 BC."

"Who was the Persian commander at the Battle of the Persian Gate?"

"Ariobarzanes."

"What happened at the Battle of the Persian Gate?"

"Alexander won

"When did Alexander's conquest of India begin?"

"326 BC."

"When was the siege of Aornos Rock and the battle of Hydaspes River?"

"326 BC."

"What happened at the Battle of Hydaspes River?"

"The last major battle Alexander ever fought

"Which prescribed source coin shows Alexander wearing an elephant scalp headdress?"

"Silver tetradrachm minted by Ptolemy I

"What happened at the mutiny at the Hyphasis?"

"Alexander's men

"Describe the difficulties encountered on Alexander's return journey to Babylon."

"After the mutiny at Hyphasis

"What did Alexander do in Persia after returning from the Gedrosian Desert?"

"Alexander found that many men he had put in charge of local affairs whilst away in India had committed irregularities. He made an example of any local governors suspected of even the slightest crime - for example

"How many cities did Plutarch claim Alexander founded?"

"Plutarch claimed no less than 70 cities

"When was Philip murdered?"

"336 BC."

"Where did Philip's murder take place?"

"Aegae

"Who is the main source of Philip's murder?"

"Diodorus Siculus in his 'Library of History'

"Outline the backstory of Philip's death."

"Philip invited guests from all over Greece to celebrate the marriage of his daughter Cleopatra. Wanting to show everyone he was protected by the common goodwill of the Greeks

"Who murdered Philip? Why? (part 1: until young Pausanias's suicide)"

"The assassin was Pausanias

"Who murdered Philip? Why? (part 2: Attalus onwards until the attempt)"

"Attalus

"Who murdered Philip? Why? (part 3: the attempt)"

"After nursing his anger for some time

"Analyse Diodorus' reliability from this account (16.93-16.94)."

"Diodorus

"What is an alternate theory for who murdered Philip?"

"Arrian

"Describe Arrian's depiction of Granicus."

"Arrian 1.15: Spithridates had already raised his sword to strike Alexander from behind

"Describe the prescribed sources' account of Gaugamela."

"Arrian 3.15: about 60 of Alexander's companions fell. Plutarch 33: Aristander the seer rode along pointing to an eagle which hovered above Alexander's head and then made a straight flight towards the enemy."

"How does Diodorus Siculus describe Persepolis?"

"Library of History 17.70: it was the richest city under the sun and the private houses had been furnished with every sort of wealth over the years."

"What does Arrian comment in relation to the burning of Persepolis?"

"Arrian suggests that from his own perspective

"Outline the murder of Cleitus."

"Following the difficult capture of modern-day Uzbekistan

"Analyse the source reliability for the murder of Cleitus."

"Plutarch introduces this by saying it was a savage tale

"When were the mass marriages at Susa?"

"324 BC."

"Outline what happened at the mass marriages at Susa."

"Alexander arranged a mass marriage ceremony at which many of his leading comrades married local Persian women

"When did Alexander die?"

"323 BC."

"What is a negative omen from Arrian and Plutarch about Alexander's future?"

"A complete stranger sat on Alexander's throne when Alexander had briefly vacated it."

"What do Arrian and Plutarch say in terms of how Alexander died?"

"Alexander attended a long drinking binge

"How does Arrian describe Alexander saying farewell to his army?"

"Arrian 7.26: the majority were eager to see Alexander because of their grief and longing for their king. He was unable to speak as the army went past

"What did Alexander decide in regards to his succession?"

"He was asked by his companions to name whom he left his kingdom to

"Who were the most important members of the cavalry? Describe their weapons

armour

"Describe the Thessalian horsemen."

"Considered the finest cavalry in Greece. 1800-2000 men. Light bronze armour. Javelins. Rhomboid formation. Defended the left side from cavalry attacks. Withstood the Persian cavalry at Gaugamela."

"Describe the archer cavalry."

"Iranian people

"Describe Alexander's navy."

"Alexander didn't make much use of his navy except for Tyre. Used triremes with three rows of rowers. Rammed enemy ships with the beak-shaped ram at the front of the ship."

"Describe the Macedonian phalanx."

"Infantry chosen from peasantry

"Describe the hypaspists."

"Shield-bearers

"Describe the light infantry: Peltasts/Agrianians."

"Used when quick movement was needed. Thracian Peltasts on the left flank. No or very light armour

"Describe the Cretan Archers."

"Mercenaries

"Which Persian noble may have commissioned the Alexander Sarcophagus?"

"Mazaeus in the 4th century BC."

"What does Arrian attribute Alexander's military success at Granicus to?"

"Arrian 1.15: partly through their strength and experience

"When was the siege of Tyre?"

"332 BC."

"What were some motivations for Alexander's invasion of Tyre?"

"Many Greek city-states previously taken by the Persians were located along this coastline. He would deny the Persians their last harbour base in the region if he took it."

"What were some initial issues regarding the siege of Tyre?"

"Tyre was situated on an island and had walls right up to the sea. Alexander did not have much of a navy. The Macedonians were initially unable to capture the city."

"How did Alexander overcome the Macedonian inability to capture Tyre?"

"He built a causeway across to the city's walls

"How did the Tyrians respond to the causeway and siege towers? How did Alexander respond?"

"The Tyrians sent fire ships to engulf the wooden towers. In response

"How did the Tyrians respond to Alexander's blockade and battering rams?"

"The Tyrians sent underwater divers to cut the cables of the anchored ships fitted with battering rams."

"How did Alexander respond to the Tyrians cutting the anchor cables?"

"He replaced the anchor cables with chains

"When was the siege of Aornos Rock?"

"326 BC."

"Outline what happened at the siege of Aornos Rock."

"A key challenge was a deep valley that prevented Alexander and his siege engines from coming near to the rock. Alexander ordered the construction of an earthwork mound

"Describe Alexander's response to the indigenous Indians' surrender at Aornos Rock."

"He was the first to climb the summit of the rock. Arrian describes how Alexander and his men killed the Indians as they fled."

"How does Arrian describe Alexander's attitudes towards the construction of the earthworks at Aornos?"

"Arrian 4.29: Alexander himself watched his men

"How did Alexander respond once he entered the city of Tyre?"

"Arrian 2.24: he marched prisoners up onto the wall where they could be seen from the camp

"How does Arrian describe Alexander's treatment of his army after Granicus?"

"Arrian 1.16 describes how Alexander commemorated the dead by commissioning bronze statues of them

"How does Arrian describe Alexander's treatment of his army at Gaugamela?"

"On the night before the battle