Search found 2874 matches

by Paralus
Sat Sep 01, 2018 5:29 am
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Hephaestion
Replies: 27
Views: 52287

Re: Hephaestion

I agree: Heckel is on the money with Gaugamela. Hephaistion commanded the personal foot guard of the hypaspists and these will have been in the foremost of those phalanx troops forming Alexander's "wedge". Hardly surprising he was wounded and no minor command. I think Xenophon has nailed t...
by Paralus
Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:19 am
Forum: The Diadochi
Topic: Books/Documentaries/Podcasts on Diadochi Wars
Replies: 3
Views: 11047

Re: Books/Documentaries/Podcasts on Diadochi Wars

Ancient Warfare podcasts: https://thehistorynetwork.org/elite-units-of-the-hellenistic-era/ https://thehistorynetwork.org/royal-stalemate-hellenistic-kingdoms-at-war/ https://thehistorynetwork.org/alexander-the-wars-of-the-successors/ https://thehistorynetwork.org/the-seleucid-empire-at-war/ https:/...
by Paralus
Thu May 24, 2018 5:08 am
Forum: The Diadochi
Topic: Books/Documentaries/Podcasts on Diadochi Wars
Replies: 3
Views: 11047

Re: Books/Documentaries/Podcasts on Diadochi Wars

Yes, we've been a bit remiss. There aren't too many simply on war; most are narrative histories including wars. Some of the below are available in soft copy. Legacy of Alexander: Politics, Warfare and Propaganda under the Successors. Alexander's Veterans and the early Wars of the Successors. War in ...
by Paralus
Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:40 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Hephaestion
Replies: 27
Views: 52287

Re: Hephaestion

I do not believe Alexander ever envisioned Hephaistion and himself as anything approaching a "dual regency" and I do not believe there is any cogent evidence for such. Alexander was the Macedonian king. Macedonian kings did not share power and Alexander was certainly no exception. His rule...
by Paralus
Sun Apr 01, 2018 12:39 pm
Forum: Alexander's contemporaries
Topic: Hephaestion
Replies: 27
Views: 52287

Re: Hephaestion

Can't say I'd disagree with any of that - especially the second point. Alexander clearly found the man competent. The notion that Hephaistion, when given army commands, needed another officer to essentially "ride shotgun" is, I suspect, one of those interpretations you take issue with. I'd...
by Paralus
Sat Feb 24, 2018 1:42 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: The sarissa
Replies: 4
Views: 4412

Re: The sarissa

And so we can have Theophrastus opining about the "longest sarisa". A xyston, to a Macedonian, will have been a "shorter" sarisa.
by Paralus
Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:05 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: The sarissa
Replies: 4
Views: 4412

Re: The sarissa

Perhaps the best guide is Theophrastus, the only source who was contemporary with Philip and Alexander who says the 'longest' pikes/sarissae were 12 (Athenian) cubits which is 5.29m, or 17.2 feet. Indeed he does and for those without the text ( Enquiry into Plants , 3.12.1-2): The wood of the ‘male...
by Paralus
Tue Feb 13, 2018 11:45 pm
Forum: Art and Culture
Topic: Hephaistion in the mosaic?
Replies: 37
Views: 21841

Re: Hephaistion in the mosaic?

I've always inclined to Guagamela and for the reason Sean has mentioned: the end of Dareios. The forest of spears are Macedonian as they are too long to be hoplite spears of 8-9 feet. That next to the tree is a standout example. In art perspective is all and it can be difficult to cram in all that t...
by Paralus
Sun Jan 28, 2018 8:59 pm
Forum: Comments, help, suggestions etc
Topic: Direction of the forum
Replies: 46
Views: 72992

Re: Direction of the forum

Thanks Alexias. I can see why you say "adapt". It's quite general and would require some editing to cover the Diadochi. I've got a couple that suit better I can modify.
by Paralus
Sun Jan 28, 2018 6:02 pm
Forum: Comments, help, suggestions etc
Topic: Direction of the forum
Replies: 46
Views: 72992

Re: Direction of the forum

Alexias wrote:Thanks! I found a timeline of the Successors I could adapt.
A debated subject that! Can you send it to me first?
by Paralus
Sun Jan 28, 2018 4:49 am
Forum: Comments, help, suggestions etc
Topic: Direction of the forum
Replies: 46
Views: 72992

Re: Direction of the forum

Looking good Alexias. I'm getting there on the Diadochi....
by Paralus
Mon Jan 22, 2018 12:13 am
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: The cry of the tomb of Alexander the Great from the desert at Siwa Oasis
Replies: 3
Views: 2731

Re: The cry of the tomb of Alexander the Great from the desert at Siwa Oasis

You aren't sounding very happy about all of this Stathi! Can't say I disagree with you but it was ever the way in Greece. The Generals and Alexander, the Vergina tombs.... If it makes you feel any better, it is worse in the Levant and "Holy Land" where everything has a religious / modern p...
by Paralus
Wed Dec 27, 2017 11:27 pm
Forum: Comments, help, suggestions etc
Topic: Direction of the forum
Replies: 46
Views: 72992

Re: Direction of the forum

As for size, I don't know. 500 words? That's about a pageful, but I'll leave it entirely up to you. Divided into nice bite-sized chunks always helps with attention spans. 500 words might cover the first year (ditto for Philip)!! More seriously, I assume this is for the main page? If so, we'll need ...
by Paralus
Wed Dec 27, 2017 7:17 am
Forum: Comments, help, suggestions etc
Topic: Direction of the forum
Replies: 46
Views: 72992

Re: Direction of the forum

Agree with Xenophon on the work you're putting in. Much appreciated.

On the Diadochi, I could put something together. Away at the moment but back next week. See what time permits.
by Paralus
Thu Dec 07, 2017 10:51 pm
Forum: Discuss Alexander the Great
Topic: Did Alexander command the PHALANX at Chaeronea?
Replies: 122
Views: 94865

Re: Did Alexander command the PHALANX at Chaeronea?

I've no doubt that had Philip told Alexander such the latter's reaction will have been as he paints it. Fact is, Worthington states, as fact, that Philip told Alexander he'd be left behind. This is entirely possible of course, but possibilities are not facts - particularly when no evidence is provid...