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IGÇÖm reading GÇ£Into the land of bonesGÇ¥ by Frank Holt where RoxaneGÇÖs figure is discussed in three or four pages. The book is very good and the author is a first-rate historian, but he is also of the GÇ£Roxane doesnGÇÖt countGÇ¥ persuasion. He says that when she married probably she was only twelve, but no evidence is offered for this conjecture (apart from a footnote referring to Helmut Berve). Moreover, he asserts that GÇ£ GǪfor years the couple could not even carry on a conversation without the aid of interpretersGÇ¥, which seems to me a bit pessimistic: if there is some catalyst of attraction languages are learnt (or invented, or adjusted) at an amazing speed. In short, Holt stresses RoxaneGÇÖs sufferings and considers her entire married life as a violence imposed on her by reason of state. In my opinion, both this version and the one of the romantic love story are perhaps a bit simplistic; as we have no evidence, at this point IGÇÖd like to be a fly and steal a glance at RuthGÇÖs manuscript . All my best wishes Azara

Azara,I agree. It is said that the best place to learn a language is in the bedroom.Regards,
Atha

Hello,Interesting point, I met my wife on holiday about 15 years ago. She is Spanish- I am English. She knew about 5 or 6 words in English at the time and I knew more or less,(probably less) in Spanish.So I think that the writer you mentioned is being pessimistic.Where there is a will there is a way. Best regards,
Dean.

Strange duplicate?

Atha,I think there's something to be said for a grossly accelerated learning curve no matter what the subject, as I can attest to after having learned circuit analysis from my Dorothy Hamil look-alike proff. For her, I worked harder, and longer than I ever would have for anyone else. Attraction is a powerful motivator!NicatorP.S. For anyone interested, you can check out a poem I wrote about her (that was selected as a semi-finalist by the International Society of Poets earlier this year) on http://www.poetry.com

...and if there was enough love in this World we would all understand each other, just like chidren sans frontieres.Regards,
Atha

I think they underestimated Alexander's probable adaption to learning the languages of the people he conquored. I also have the experience of being a foreigner in Greece -- especially in the village where no English was spoken -- and believe me, if you want to talk, you learn --- fast! My shepherd spoke no English. I spoke limited Greek. But I can tell you many things about him and conversations that we shared!By the way: If you want to peek at excerpts from my novel you can see some on my website:
http://www.dreamwater.org/ruthaki
and I occasionally post some on my writer's blog
http://wynnbexton.blogspot.com

I think they underestimated Alexander's probable adaption to learning the languages of the people he conquored. I also have the experience of being a foreigner in Greece -- especially in the village where no English was spoken -- and believe me, if you want to talk, you learn --- fast! My shepherd spoke no English. I spoke limited Greek. But I can tell you many things about him and conversations that we shared!By the way: If you want to peek at excerpts from my novel you can see some on my website:
http://www.dreamwater.org/ruthaki
and I occasionally post some on my writer's blog
http://wynnbexton.blogspot.com

G'day Azara! Arrian says that Roxane was a girl of marriageable age, which I took to mean sexually mature. This of course varies among individuals. One would expect that Alexander, king and conqueror, would hardly have an attraction or patience for a twelve year old girl, nor could such a girl be the second most beautiful in Asia. But I believe her being a princess would have mattered to Alexander. Roxane is important now because she was important then.Gary

G'day Azara! Arrian says that Roxane was a girl of marriageable age, which I took to mean sexually mature. This of course varies among individuals. One would expect that Alexander, king and conqueror, would hardly have an attraction or patience for a twelve year old girl, nor could such a girl be the second most beautiful in Asia. But I believe her being a princess would have mattered to Alexander. Roxane is important now because she was important then.Gary