Comments | bagoasalexander: Okay who is...?

bagoasalexander

Okay who is...?

Apr 18, 2006 14:34

Euxippus? And why are fan ficcers writing about him in their Alexander stories. I don't think I've ever seen this name in any history of Alexander. And I cannot find it anywhere in Mary Renault's trilogy either. So...

WTH?

B.

Comments 6

florachan April 19 2006, 00:51:48 UTC

I think the correct spelling is Euxenippus, and he's mentioned in Curtius Rufus, if I remember correctly (should check this out though).

It was said Alexander took a fancy on this young page of his, and his beauty was compared to Hephaistion's - the youngest one found lacking in virility in compareson.

bagoasalexander April 22 2006, 04:13:23 UTC

Okay I practically have Curtius Rufus memorized. Can anyone give Book and Chapter please? Because he shows up nowhere in MY copy that I've found. Thanks!

B

3scoremiles_10 April 19 2006, 06:47:21 UTC

Like Flora said, they probably mean Euxenippos. He was a pretty young thing reputed to have caught the king's eye (possibly one of his Pages), but Curtius tells us that the lad lacked both virility and conversation. In comparison to Hephaistion, anyway.

In other words, Euxenippos was pretty and soft and as dumb as a bag of hammers. Nice to look at, but never going to hold Alexander's attention for long. ;)

Or I could be totally wrong and Euxippus is a construct of purely original fanon. *shrug*

Found him...WTF? bagoasalexander April 22 2006, 04:54:03 UTC

Okay, I found him. And he's referred to in the context of 'conciliatus', which while I admit to not being a Latin expert, my little handy-dandy dictionary states means "endeared to or disposed toward", if it's used as an adjective. If it's used in verb form, it means "unite, join together". Considering the context in which Curtius speaks, Euxenippus is sent as a companion (presumably an envoy/ambassador) with the Sacae, to whom Alexander just made peace during his trouble with the Scythians. Curtius describes him as being Alexander's favorite. But Curtius describes almost EVERYONE in Alexander's favor as his 'favorite'. Somehow I don't think Alexander was sleeping with every person at court he was favorably disposed toward for God's sake. Two sentences, one of which describing the boy as Hephaestion's equal in looks but not brains, does not a lover make. *rolls eyes ( ... )

Re: Found him...WTF? bagoasalexander April 22 2006, 04:59:09 UTC

And you know. O_O I just made everyone on pothos.org sound like complete morons. That was not my intention :( Bad me. I just meant...ah screw it. Ignore me, tact is not my strong suit. I'm just not calling anyone a dummy, and leave it at that, eh?

B.

Re: Found him...WTF? 3scoremiles_10 April 22 2006, 22:34:26 UTC

Two sentences, one of which describing the boy as Hephaestion's equal in looks but not brains, does not a lover make. *rolls eyes*

True. Of course, the same could be said for a certain eunuch we all know - but fan ficcers are generally not to be put off by such things as limited sources and dodgy Latin translations! Though the fact that Curtius bothers to even note what the boy looked like and then compare him to the king's dear friend does look a little like he's fishing for inferences, perhaps. Ah, those Romans. They do love a good scandal. ;)

To be fair though, if the fan ficcers did pick this stuff up from pothos.org, then at least they're doing some research. That's got to be a start, surely? ;)