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Hello. I've lurked in this forum for a long time, but I finally have reason to post. I'm working on (well, revising) a play about the Pages' Conspiracy, and I found my characters discussing Harmodius and Aristogeiton as inspiration for their attempted assassination. I noticed that this website, in its article on Callisthenes, mentions "the tale that [Callisthenes] lectured the pages on the virtues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton." So my question is--what is the origin of this tale? I couldn't find anything about the Liberators as inspiration for the Pages' conspiracy in Curtius, Arrian, or Plutarch. I know Mary Renault uses this story in The Persian Boy--is it just one of those wonderful details of Renault's work that has wormed its way into Alexander literature, or is there some historical evidence? Not that it really matters--whether or not any historian mentions it, I think it's plausible--but I'm just really curious about where this idea came from. (As much as I love Mary Renault--and believe me, I do--it's a bit annoying how anything I try to write about Alexander is always tinged by her work!)
Ilium wrote:Hello. I've lurked in this forum for a long time, but I finally have reason to post. I'm working on (well, revising) a play about the Pages' Conspiracy, and I found my characters discussing Harmodius and Aristogeiton as inspiration for their attempted assassination. I noticed that this website, in its article on Callisthenes, mentions "the tale that [Callisthenes] lectured the pages on the virtues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton." So my question is--what is the origin of this tale? I couldn't find anything about the Liberators as inspiration for the Pages' conspiracy in Curtius, Arrian, or Plutarch. I know Mary Renault uses this story in The Persian Boy--is it just one of those wonderful details of Renault's work that has wormed its way into Alexander literature, or is there some historical evidence? Not that it really matters--whether or not any historian mentions it, I think it's plausible--but I'm just really curious about where this idea came from. (As much as I love Mary Renault--and believe me, I do--it's a bit annoying how anything I try to write about Alexander is always tinged by her work!)
Thanks in advance!
Hi Illium, and welcome!
Arrian tells the tale, quoting from Vulgate sources. He doesn't say that Callisthenes lectured the Pages on Harmodius and Aristogeiton, but that he spoke of the tyrant slayers to Philotas.
Arrian IV.10.1-4
It is said that Callisthenes of Olynthus, a past pupil of Aristotle, and with something of the boor in his character, did not approve of this, and here I myself agree with Callisthenes; on the other hand I think Callithenes went beyond reason, if the record is true, in declaring that Alexander and his exploits depended on him and his history; [2] it was not he who had come to win fame from Alexander, but it would be his work to make Alexander renowned among men; and again, that Alexander’s share in divinity did not depend on Olympias’ invention about his birth, but on the account he would write and publish in Alexander’s interest. [3] Some too have recorded that Philotas once asked him whom he thought to be held in highest honour by the Athenians; and he replied, Harmodius and Aristogiton, because they slew one of the two tyrants, and destroyed the tyranny, [4] and that when Philotas asked him again if a tyrannicide could find a safe refuge among any of the Greeks he wished, Callisthenes again answered that he would find a safe refuge in Athens at least; the Athenians had even fought on behalf of the children of Heracles against Eurystheus, who was tyrant then over Greece.
A little bit of both. Hermolaus is my tragic hero, but I hope that the hypothetical audience would sympathize with both him and Alexander. As for what to do with the finished play, I don't really have any plans for it--it's just for fun.
Good for you! It's a dramatic episode that deserves attention, deserves to be a story in its own right. Usually when it's mentioned in fiction, it's lumped together with other things. I hope you publish it online, so we can read it.
Fiona
Fiona wrote:Good for you! It's a dramatic episode that deserves attention, deserves to be a story in its own right.
I agree, Fiona. The whole motive for the conspiracy is muddied and obfuscated, as are so many issues to do with Alexander. The involvement (or not) of Callisthenes is particularly intriguing. A little while ago I considered that it was worthy of a novella in its own right, and might still embark on that at some point - but in the meantime a play might be very interesting to read.
I'm working on (well, revising) a play about the Pages' Conspiracy, and I found my characters discussing Harmodius and Aristogeiton as inspiration for their attempted assassination. I noticed that this website, in its article on Callisthenes, mentions "the tale that [Callisthenes] lectured the pages on the virtues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton." So my question is--what is the origin of this tale? I couldn't find anything about the Liberators as inspiration for the Pages' conspiracy in Curtius, Arrian, or Plutarch. I know Mary Renault uses this story in The Persian Boy--is it just one of those wonderful details of Renault's work that has wormed its way into Alexander literature, or is there some historical evidence? Not that it really matters--whether or not any historian mentions it, I think it's plausible--but I'm just really curious about where this idea came from. (As much as I love Mary Renault--and believe me, I do--it's a bit annoying how anything I try to write about Alexander is always tinged by her work!)
But thanks so much for the help, I really appreciate it.
