Into the Land of Bones : Alexander the Great in Afghanistan

[jim]

Has anyone read this book by American Historian Frank Holt? From the intro Holt attempts to compare ATG experience in Bacteria to later the later military excursions into this land by British , Soviets and now our American forces.Sounds like a potentially interesting theme. I did read Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions by Frank Holt.He did a great job analyzing the limited amount of archeological findings.

[marcus]

Hi Jim,I loved "Land of Bones". Some people, I think, felt that his attempt to draw some parallels with the modern situation didn't really work - I thought they were fine, and weren't overdone, as it happens. Quite a lot of the book is a reworking of his previous "Alexander the Great in Bactria" (or at least there's nothing much new in the more recent book), but it was still a joy to read.ATBMarcus

[jim]

some parallels with the modern situation didn't really work - I thought they were fine, and weren't overdone, I think being able to draw parellels from older times and relate them to the present is essential.No parrell is 100 % but never the less is a good tool.Afganistan is link of a no mans land yet is a bridge that links India ,China,Persia ,Central Asia thus not a coincidence that European powers expand further to the East wind up stumbling accross it.

[marcus]

I think, had Holt tried to make more parallels, it could have been tiresome.But I really like Holt's writing, so would forgive him much. I loved the Elephant Medallions book! The one I haven't yet read is "Thundering Zeus: The Making of Hellenistic Bactria" - seems quite difficult to get hold of. Have you read that one?ATBMarcus

[JIM]

Have not read that book. Stone should have hired Holt to do ATG's eastern campaign. Just ATG fought in todays Iraq and Afganistan.If this theme was emphized a little more his movie may have been a little more successful in the states. Not to say that Robin Lane Fox is not a great historian. Unfortunately Stone played on modern day political correctness as a means to market his flick.The Oprah Winfrey version of ATG.

[marcus]

One of the things that disappointed me about the film was the scant attention paid to the Bactrian campaign. Admittedly, Stone could only include so much (which is a problem that would have plagued any director, so that isn't a snipe at Stone, or the film itself, for that matter), but it was a shame that all we saw was a Bactrian town aflame ... far in the distance.ATBMarcus

[jim]

Hi Marcus, I agree with you on the Bactrian campaign.Also left out was the Seige of Tyre. ect I think most of us Yanks were hoping to see alot of blood and guts battle scenes as opposed to the Polically Correct sensitive male kinda Bill Cintonish Orrahish ATG.Hate to say it but graphic scenes like ATG cricifictions of 2000 Tyrians,on the beach ,the dragging around of Batis corpse in Achilles like fashion ,the burning of Persopolis ect would have struck a cord with American audiances.This view could be balenced with ATG the literary genius who was tutored by Aristotle, could recite lines from Euripides as well.But the campaing against the tribes from Bactria would have struck home esspecially if the film emphisized its present day location is Aftganistan in big letters ,also that the Battle of Gaugamela located in present day Iraq, as of course the location of Babylon -Iran -Persia ect-- even GAZA The fact that most of todays current military hot spots are areas that ATG conquests occured. Stone blew an opportunity for a great film that may have rivaled the God Father