Search found 242 matches

by alejandro
Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:16 pm
Forum: 'Off-topic' forum
Topic: visiting greece, what should i see?
Replies: 8
Views: 4425

visiting greece, what should i see?

Dear Pothosians, It's been a while since my last post. I moved to Spain and been busy. Also I had problems logging in, though they seem to be over now. But I kept on reading your -as always- interesting posts. In any case, I need your help to organise a trip to Greece next summer, and I want to know...
by alejandro
Fri Sep 21, 2007 4:20 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander vs. Other Great Conquerors & Military Leaders
Replies: 20
Views: 11060

Yes, West Point does teach Alexander tactics and has done for a long time, although obviously he's not the only great military leader whose battles and tactics are taught there. [...] but it's good to see that Cyrus is also there. Hi Amyntoros, Of course Alexander is not the only leader whose tacti...
by alejandro
Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:20 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Alexander vs. Other Great Conquerors & Military Leaders
Replies: 20
Views: 11060

Hi there, I agree with most comments, especially with the fact that Alexander excelled at every type of (land) war and that he was fully adaptable. The argument that he never lost a battle, though true and remarkable, could be rebutted by some (not me) who claim his opponents were weak or that the M...
by alejandro
Thu Aug 23, 2007 7:02 pm
Forum: 'Off-topic' forum
Topic: Split thread - How/why/when did War lose its lustre?
Replies: 51
Views: 19137

I know that TV and internet are keeping me well-informed on Paris Hilton's hangnail, but not so sure about the ongoing wars. Excellent point. Though I am more inclined to believe that the information IS there, it’s just that many times WE are not interested in looking for it. But even in China you ...
by alejandro
Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:56 pm
Forum: 'Off-topic' forum
Topic: Split thread - How/why/when did War lose its lustre?
Replies: 51
Views: 19137

Hi there, Interesting thread. I guess one of the reasons war lost its "glamour" :? is that citizens now realize that most of the times the goals of the leaders are more mundane (oil, new markets, etc) than the ones they claim to fight for (freedom, democracy, etc). Of course, those goals w...
by alejandro
Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:36 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66865

About the 'Alexanthros' thing: in Greek Alexander is written ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ. In modern Greek the letter delta (Δ) is pronounced 'th' like in 'this'. Many glossologists believe that in ancient Greek the letter delta was pronounced as the latin 'D'. Even today this bipronounciation exists. some say Alexa...
by alejandro
Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:17 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66865

And what was the word used by Romans? Was it different than the greek one at first place? Greek was spoken widely among the educated Roman world. The word was Magno. For example Curtius Rufus wrote "Historiae Alexandri Magni". Indeed, that is the word that I was thinking of. But since I d...
by alejandro
Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:21 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Reasons why Alexander was great?
Replies: 180
Views: 66865

The greek word used was Megas (ΜΕΓΑΣ). I don't think that 'Great' is an acurate translation of the greek word. Hi Alexanthros, That's interesting. What would be a better translation? Best, Alejandro PS: though the Greek word may be itself an inaccurate translation of the Latin original -as it is br...
by alejandro
Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:18 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Alexander story in the news
Replies: 8
Views: 4189

what I would love is if they found something like some papyrus scrolls stored safely in a box that are still in tact with orders or something from Alexander or his Generals. Indeed, this could be very interesting because this place, given its position, would have been an important one regarding the...
by alejandro
Fri Aug 10, 2007 6:08 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Hypocrisy
Replies: 85
Views: 33672

Hi all, I agree that propaganda and the distinction "us v them" is a crucial part of fighting a campaign. I guess this is one of the main reasons why Alexander's alleged policy of fusion (or at least tolerance) was difficult to accept (especially by the winners, of course, but even for the...
by alejandro
Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:52 pm
Forum: Book reviews
Topic: Steven Pressfield's new Alexander novel
Replies: 55
Views: 47023

Hi there, I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but I just read Virtues of War (its Spanish version actually), and I found it substandard. Characters are plain, especially Alexander. I hate when the author makes him tell things explicitly (like "I'm the best warrior ever") rather t...
by alejandro
Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:46 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Clietus. Parmenio, Philotas,Strapal Purges. Chicken feed
Replies: 80
Views: 30681

I dont think that Alexander conquered every area that they passed through because it had something special. It was just in the way. And there were other areas too, that had far more less than India. Yet, he conquered them. Hi Efstathios. I agree that some areas were less rich than others, but they ...
by alejandro
Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:50 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Clietus. Parmenio, Philotas,Strapal Purges. Chicken feed
Replies: 80
Views: 30681

But before you attempt to carry out your insurgency, just remember what happened to those satraps who thought they could get away with anything when Alexander's back appeared to be turned! :twisted: Ouch! I should have realised that you don’t become a somatophilax without being as ruthless as the k...
by alejandro
Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:34 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Clietus. Parmenio, Philotas,Strapal Purges. Chicken feed
Replies: 80
Views: 30681

Alejandro, I've loved your posts in this thread, Thanks! I like your comments too! I guess we can picture ourselves as the “epigonoi” having a go at the “old guard”: the “holy trinity” of Amyntoros, Marcus and Paralus! :wink: (yes, Paralus, despite your rebellious antics, you’re very much part of t...
by alejandro
Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:11 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Clietus. Parmenio, Philotas,Strapal Purges. Chicken feed
Replies: 80
Views: 30681

Hi all, The reason why I don't tend to focus on specific acts of Alexander's violence is because they were rarely gratuitous or sadistic for a conquerer . The vast majority of his actions can be explained as motivated by gaining power, eliminating resistance and spreading terror - the simple day to ...