Ancient History - Alexander the Great - Early Life

How did Macedon and the rest of Greece differ after war in Greece?

Macedon was more secure, wealthy etc and Greece was unstable and declining

Who was Plutarch?

A biographer who compared Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar: he was more interested in morals and character than history - mainly writes about non battle events

Who was Diodorus Siculus?

A historian who made things a lot more exaggerated than they were, sometimes inaccurate - writes about assassination of Philip

Who was Arrian?

A Roman general, writing from Ptolemy (general under Alexander) and Aristobulus (enginner). Overly positive, sometimes critical of Alexander - mostly writes about battles and major events in Alexander’s life

Who was the notable ancestor of Alexander?

Heracles

What three signs about Philip (Alexander’s father)’s wife (Olympias) were shown?

A thunderbolt fell on Olympias’ womb, Philip dreamed about placing a seal with a lion on it on Olympias’ womb, Philip thought he saw a snake stretched with Olympias in bed

What good things for Philip happened one day?

Illyria was conquered, his racehorse won a great victory and Alexander was born

Who was Boucephalas and how did Alexander tame him?

Alexander’s horse: he saw his elders fail with the horse and said if he failed to tame it, he would pay the price of the horse. He turned it to the sun and gently stopped it misbehaving, then rode successfully.

Where did Alexander live for the first 14 years of his life, not seeing who?

Pella’s palace, Philip

Where was his higher education?

School of Pages

Who was his most famous tutor?

Aristotle, who taught him medicine which Alexander used later in his campaign. He also introduced Alexander to his favourite book: the Iliad. Alexander slept with the “Iliad of the casket” and a dagger beneath his pillow

What was the sarissa?

A massive pike in the phalanx

Who fought Macedonia at the Battle of Chaeronea?

Athens and Thebes: Philip used the Sacred Band of Thebes and the wedge formation

How many people did Philip have?

33,000 (30K infantry, 3K cavalry). Alexander commanded the elite Companion Cavalry.

What was Philip happy about?

Macedonians calling him their general and Alexander their king

What dispute did Alexander and Philip have?

When Philip married Cleopatra (Attalus’ niece), Attalus called to ask the gods for a legitimate heir to Macedonia. Alexander threw a cup in anger and Philip tried to face him but fell due to anger and being drunk. Alexander mocked him and was sent away, but was later returned.

What did Philip establish in 337 BCE and what office did he hold?

The League of Corinth, hegemon

Who was Pausanias?

Philip’s murderer: his lover, but Philip favoured a younger man. Pausanius taunted this man who committed suicide, this man was a friend of Attalus. Attalus got him drunk and had him raped: to avoid conflict, Philip did not punish Attalus but made Pausanius a bodyguard.

How did Pausanias kill Philip?

When at the theatre, he ran to Philip and stabbed him. He could have escaped, but tripped on a vine and was stabbed to death.