Plutarch quotes

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Alexias
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Plutarch quotes

Post by Alexias »

I came a cross a couple of quotes from Plutarch's 'On the Control of Anger', which I don't recall having come across before.
And so was Alexander provoked by Callisthenes, who said, when the great bowl was going its rounds, "I do not care to have a drink of Alexander and then have to call in Asclepius."
Apparently a jib at Alexander's divine pretentions. Alexander therefore had previous grievances against Callisthenes before proskynesis or the Pages conspiracy.
So also Ptolemy, when he was jeering at a pedant for his ignorance, asked him who was Peleus' father; and the pedant replied, "I shall tell you if you will first tell me who was the father of Lagus." This was a jest at the dubious birth of the king, and everyone was indignant at its improper and inopportune character; but Ptolemy said, "If it is not the part of a king to take a jest, neither is it to make one."
Makes sense then why Ptolemy might wish to be known as Philip's illegitimate son.
And there is the case of Arcadion the Achaean who was always railing against Philip and advising flight

"Until one comes to men who know not Philip;"

when Arcadion later visited Macedonia on some chance or other, Philip's friends thought that he should not be let off but punished. Yet Philip, when he met him, treated him kindly and sent him friendly presents and gifts; and later bade his friends inquire how Arcadion now spoke of him to the Greeks. When all testified that the fellow had become a wonderful eulogist of the king, Philip said, "Then I am a better physician than you."
Alexander's famed generosity therefore may have it's origins in Philip's precedent.

There was another quote as well about the skill of Philip's physician saving him from deformity when he lost his eye, but I can't find it again now. Anyone? (Don't think it was Plutarch) Did it mean Philip didn't actually lose the eyeball and/or that he wasn't badly scarred by the arrow?
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Jeanne Reames
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Re: Plutarch quotes

Post by Jeanne Reames »

"Apparently a jib at Alexander's divine pretentions. Alexander therefore had previous grievances against Callisthenes before proskynesis or the Pages conspiracy."

Just a quick correction--this is actually in reference to the proskynesis affair, as it involves the earlier supper part arranged by Hephaistion (?), and the handling of the "loving cup." The reference elsewhere is that he goes away poorer by a kiss, but remember, ancient writers tweaked their material to suit their narrative need, not necessarily to reflect an accurate presentation of what occurred.

Plutarch is notorious for this, changing out characters or situations for a story as it suited him. Some other examples: the angry old lady scolding Philip (or Demetrios Poliorketes) for not hearing her case, telling him to "Quit kinging it!" ... or the rebuke from Philip to Alexander about playing to well on a kithera (not suitable for royalty who should listen to "craftsmen," not be one), but in another place, Alexander rebukes Philip for undue interest in the arts!

So in short, take Plutarch with a grain of salt...or maybe the whole salt shaker. :-D
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Paralus
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Re: Plutarch quotes

Post by Paralus »

Jeanne Reames wrote: Sat Oct 20, 2018 8:13 am The reference elsewhere is that he goes away poorer by a kiss, but remember, ancient writers tweaked their material to suit their narrative need, not necessarily to reflect an accurate presentation of what occurred [...] Plutarch is notorious for this, changing out characters or situations for a story as it suited him...

So in short, take Plutarch with a grain of salt...or maybe the whole salt shaker. :-D
Couldn't agree more and the recommendation of salt is wise. It can be easy to forget that Plutarch is not writing history but "lives" (as he tells us). With few exceptions, these lives are paired and written to set themes. Plutarch chooses his sources and uses various literary devices to mold that information to those themes. Some information is simply ignored. For example, if all we had was Plutarch's testimony, the battle of Paraitakene will have been lost to history. Chronology is often also manipulated: one would never know from Plutarch that three years elapsed between Pyrrhos losing Macedonia and accepting an invitation from Tarentum. Chronology is subordinated to feed Plutarch's theme of the erratic, impulsive Pyrrhos who can never be satisfied with what he has. Given that Plutarch is the main narrative source (a pity Diodoros deserts us) left to us on the Epeirote, one wonders just how much he has influenced what we "know".

Keep the salt handy!
Paralus
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους;
Wicked men, you sin against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander.

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