Alexander The Great

Comprising relevant selections from the four ancient writers whose portraits of Alexander the Great still survive—Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius—this volume provides a complete narrative of the important events in Alexander's life. The Introduction sets these works in historical context, stretching from the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War through Alexander's conquest of Asia, and provides an assessment of Alexander's historical importance as well as a survey of the central controversies surrounding his personality, aims and intentions. This edition includes a timeline, maps, a bibliography, a glossary, and an index.

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Selections from Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius

Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius
Edited, with Introduction, by James Romm; Translated by Pamela Mensch and James Romm

2005 - 224 pp.

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Paper 978-0-87220-727-1
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Comprising relevant selections from the four ancient writers whose portraits of Alexander the Great still survive—Arrian, Diodorus, Plutarch, and Quintus Curtius—this volume provides a complete narrative of the important events in Alexander's life. The Introduction sets these works in historical context, stretching from the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War through Alexander's conquest of Asia, and provides an assessment of Alexander's historical importance as well as a survey of the central controversies surrounding his personality, aims and intentions. This edition includes a timeline, maps, a bibliography, a glossary, and an index.

 

Reviews:

"The translations . . . are rendered in clear, modern style. Romm's Introduction is fresh, mature, and insightful—one of the best brief synopses of Alexander's life and impact this reviewer has read in recent years. . . . Romm's carefully selected and well-translated passages from Arrian provide a vivid and cohesive narrative of the highlights of Alexander's career. Wherever there is a major discrepancy among our ancient sources, or wherever an alternate version seems to enrich Arrian's account, Romm relegates the variant source to his notes, thereby providing the enhancement without disrupting the main narrative.  He has thus preserved the flow of Arrian's narrative, while also providing a commentary that alerts the reader to some of the pitfalls that mark any attempt to understand the course of Alexander's achievements.
     "I highly recommend this work as a pedagogical component in the teaching of basic courses on Alexander. And even some battle-hardened advanced students, scholars of the Macedonian monarchy, and history buffs would benefit by the insights of Romm's introductory essay and the notes accompanying Arrian's text."
    —Eugene N. Borza, The Classical Outlook


"A refreshing new work which will no doubt open up a number of possibilities for undergraduate instruction. Romm has produced a comprehensive and well-organized reader."
    —Charles M. Muskiet II, Villanova University

 

Contents:

Introduction; Chronology; Maps.

I. ALEXANDER, PRINCE OF MACEDONIA (356-336 B.C.E.):
    a. The youth and upbringing of Alexander.
    b. The battle of Chaeronea.
    c. The rift between Philip and Alexander.
    d. The assassination of Philip.

II. ALEXANDER IN EUROPE (Autumn 336-Winter 335 B.C.E.):
    a. The northern campaigns.
    b. The Theban revolt.

III. THE WAR WITH DARIUS--PHASE I (Spring 334-Autumn 332 B.C.E.):
    a. The battle of the Granicus.
    b. The war at sea.
    c. The battle of Issus.
    d. The siege of Tyre.

IV. THE EGYPTIAN INTERLUDE (Autumn 332-Spring 331 B.C.E.)

V. THE WAR WITH DARIUS-PHASE II (Summer 331-Summer 330 B.C.E.):
    a. The battle of Gaugamela.
    b. The capture of the spoils.
    c. The pursuit of the King.

VI. THE CENTRAL ASIAN CAMPAIGNS (Summer 330-Spring 327 B.C.E.):
    a. The Philotas affair and the killing of Parmenio.
    b. The capture of Bessus.
    c. The war with Spitamenes
    d. The death of Cleitus.
    e. The proskynesis crisis.
    f. The conspiracy of the pages.
    g. The Sogdian and Chorienian rocks.

VII. THE INVASION OF INDIA (Spring 327-Summer 325 B.C.E.):
    a. The capture of Aornos Rock.
    b. The Nysa revels.
    c. The war with Porus.
    d. The Hyphasis mutiny.
    e. The Indus voyage and the attack on the Malli.
    f. The Gedrosia march.

VIII. THE FINAL PHASE (Autumn 325-Spring 323 B.C.E.):
    a. The death of Calanus.
    b. The Susa weddings.
    c. The mutiny at Opis.
    d. The death of Hephaestion.
    e. Alexander's illness and death.

Glossary of Names, Places, Peoples, and Military Terms; Bibliographical Note; Index of Proper Names.

 

About the Author:

James Romm is the James H. Ottoway, Jr. Associate Professor of Classics at Bard College. He is also the editor of Herodotus, On the War for Greek Freedom: Selections from the Histories (Hackett Publishing Company, 2003).