Summary of a chapter I wrote that I'd promised to discuss. Why did Alexander annihilate an entire people who'd surrendered to him? What might he have thought he was doing? Looks at religious motivations in ancient warfare. #blueskyancient #ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #alexanderthegreat
A general discussion of Macedonia's court society (to use Elias's term). What was the locus of power at the Macedonian court, and how did Philip II and Alexander the Great change it? (Insofar as we call tell.)
#Classicsbluesky #Ancientbluesky #Blueskyancient #AlexandertheGreat
In response to a viewer query about Alexander the Great's court. It's not quite so simple as the age of the individuals; at a court, it never is. #ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #alexanderthegreat
By request, a discussion of Aristotle's impact on Alexander the Great, with side speculation on Aristotle's background & perhaps some *spying* (or at least negotiating) for Philip II at the court of Hermias in Asia Minor. #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky #blueskyancient #Aristotle #Alexanderthegreat
Seems trivial at present, but FWIW... At least it discusses propaganda. I dissect difficulties evaluating stories in our sources. How much is Alexander the Great's own marketing, how much later Hellenistic/Roman-era overlay & what truth lies beneath? #blueskyancient #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky
Last of my 3 discussions of conspiracies at Alexander the Great's court, this time the Page's Conspiracy: a horse of a different color compared to the prior 2. This time, we deal with matters of timé (τιμή) or public standing/honor.
#classicsbluesky
#ancientbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
I wrote this 7 years ago, but its worth a share here for Valentine's. What initially interested me about #Hephaistion was the fact his friendship with/love for #AlexandertheGreat (and Alexander's for him) seems to have been the Real Deal.
#ancientbluesky #classicsbluesky #blueskyancient #Hephaestion
Part 2 of conspiracies: the Philotas Affair (on which I've published). Only half an hour, so not an in-depth look, but covers the main bits, including the actual conspiracy vs. Philotas getting caught up in it via "crisis thinking."
#ancientbluesky
#classicsbluesky
#blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat
Conspiracies tell us a lot about how a court runs by highlighting the cracks: both what caused them & when they occurred. Alexander faced 3 major conspiracies. This video concerns the 1st. (Parts 2 [Philotas] and 3 [Pages] to come)
#classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky #blueskyancient #alexanderthegreat
A video replying to a Tumblr question about Alexander the Great's personality. (Did he want/need to be loved?)
#Classicsbluesky #Alexanderthegreat
#Ancientbluesky #Blueskyancient
At 40 minutes, this one got a bit longer than I usually aim for. But I tried to fold in, at the beginning, a general discussion of (what I think are) more inclusive ways to talk about religious belief systems. #ClassicsBlueSky #Ancientbluesky #AlexandertheGreat #BlueskyAncient
Dr. Guen Taietti guendmtaietti.bsky.social joins me to talk Reception Studies, The Alexander Romance/Phyllada & Alexander the Great in modern Greece. There's a really complete list of texts mentioned, btw, in the YouTube show notes. #AlexandertheGreat #ClassicsBluesky #AncientBluesky #BlueskyAncient
#2 in my Youtube series on the ancient Macedonian court, this time on some key offices.
#Classicsbluesky #Ancientbluesky #Blueskyancient #AlexandertheGreat #PhilipofMacedon #Blueskyclassics
A non-strident, non-click-bait discussion of Alexander the Great's parents.
#classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky #blueskyancient
#alexanderthegreat #blueskyclassics
A computer model of a simple stylus. The shape has been somewhat flattened for easier printing.
A computer model of the sort of wax tablet used to seal contracts.
A hand holding a 3D-printed replica of a Roman wax writing tablet.
Part 2 of my little DH project involved making a printable stylus and contract tablet. The idea is to make it possible to use cheaply printed wax writing tablets to let students experience ancient writing culture hands on. Doing the test prints now. Last image is the Part 1 print. #BlueskyAncient
I share this for the positive suggestion that leaders should be reading books.
Aelian was a Greek writer who wrote a collection of historical anecdotes, some probably true, others more dubious.
#classics #ancientsky #blueskyancient
#reading
Started reading "Travel in the Ancient World" by Lionel Casson today, recommended by a friend. I expect it to be a useful resource for my historical fiction writing.
#histbookchat #history #travel #ancientbluesky #blueskyancient 💙📚
A selfie of me and Head of the School of Languages and Cultures in graduation regalia on stage. In the background is the screen on which the DVC Māori guides us all through taking and posting a selfie.
It's graduation time! #SLC #Classics #Blueskyancient @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social
