pothos.org

Dear members of Pothos: I am looking for information about the timing of Alexander's army being at Nysa. According to Arrian, it happen before the battle of Hydaspes, so I presume visit to Nysa takes place between end of 327 and beginning of 326. Is a more precise timing known?

And, on a general note about timing, do you know if anybody ever compiled a detailed chronology of Alexander's life? I am sure some dates are not known exactly or differ by writer (I mean the original ones like Arrian, Plutarch, etc), but still, I am looking for something more detailed than info per year. If you know such a source (on-line preferably) and can share, it will be much appreciated.

Engels, 'Logistics', has a good attempt at a detailed chronology from the invasion to Gedrosia, although he does take Arrian's month's at face value and I don't think A B Bosworth had yet published his 'A Missing Year in the History of Alexander the Great' which throws things out somewhat.

Thanks, Agesilaos. I see that you prefer to teach how to fish instead of giving me a fish already caught.

I still didn't buy Engels' Logistics, looks like your comment is going to be the last drop and I have to open my purse for yet another expense on Alexander.

The first chapter is available on Googlebooks, read it first to see how you like it if still unsure you ought to be able to borrow it from a library. Amazon have a copy for £8.50 which is less than three pints where I live!

Thanks again, Agesilaos. A bit more expensive on Amazon where I live (Canada) but new paperbacks still more or less affordable.

agesilaos wrote:although he does take Arrian's month's at face value

- sorry, what do you mean by that?

If you look up 'Arrian's monthly problems' on this forum all will be revealed; but basically Arrian's month for Gaugamela is at odds with Plutarch's, so i posit Arrian found Macedonian months in his main sources and incorrectly converted them to Attic ones, using the equations of his own time, when the calendars had slipped against each other, rather than the equations that obtained in Alexander's day.

thanks for the advice. I suspected something like this but you summary is apprecicated. i'll look up the suggested topic as well.