Asking Alexander only one question

[heroineanilem]

Yesterday evening 11-year-old-neighbour-kid came asking me to help him with his history homework. Personally, I hate doing those things, but the boy is really nice and polite, so I agreed to help him. He's in grade 5 now and kids study basic ancient history at that point (the same as when I went to elementary school). So, his homework was to

Comments

[trust_n0_1]

Very interesting topic. Maybe you should post it on some Alexander communities and see what the response is - it would be interesting :-)

[dramadream10]

u know someone asked me that question...that if i could meet ne one from ancient times who would it be..personally it would not be alexander...it would be hephaistion...one cuz there is sooo little known of the man and i believe he is one of the most under looked ppl in history and two cuz i believe he would give a more human view of alexander...*tempers, disappointments, flaws etc* i mean who better than hephaistion to ask bout alexander..to ask alexander himself u would have to deal w/ the ego of the man w/ his dearest friend it would seem more honest

[fallout_robin]

Well, I think asking Hephaistion only works if he's bound to tell the truth. Otherwise it's not said that he would reveal details about Alex, that his friend didn't want anybody to know (I think he used his propaganda well to create his image).
It's also not easy to say if he's the right information source, because we don't know much about his personality. If he really was arrogant and hard to get along with, querrelsome or whatever and had problems with Alex in the last months of his life it shouldn't be assumed that he tells truth. We don't know enough about their relationship to anticipate the way Heph would react to those questions.
But if I had a choice I would like to talk to Heph rather than to Alex, too. But it must be more than just one question... yeah, I would give him a hard time...

If I could ask Alexander a question and he had to answer me honestly, I would like to know what the oracles said to Alex. I'd like to force him to reveal his secret... :)

[dramadream10]

"But it must be more than just one question... yeah, I would give him a hard time..." hehe me too!
actually historians did find out what he asked the oracles...#1 would he conquer the world #2 did he avenge all those who killed his father and #3 was he really the son of a god (it seems to contradict the 2nd question...but whatever)

[fallout_robin]

Hmm... interesting, I didn't know about that. Do you know who found out and how?

[hephyde]

hmm this is really interesting! I'd simply ask him if he ever got a chance to change one thing in his life, what would that be? --> whatever he choose must be something he considered really important! (wonder if he will think of Hephaistion! ^^;;)

[khepri2]

Interesting question. I think his one thing he would change is the march through the Gedrosian. I would ask him his opinion on his generals and which one he really wanted to succeed him. Give us some info on the other players - after all, he didn't conquer asia on his own and it could give an insight on his opinion of Hephaestion on a professional level.

[selket56]

You'd really want to point out to Alexander that he didn't conquer Asia on his own? I hope you would do this at a time when he wasn't drinking and doesn't have a spear in his hand. Just kidding, sorry, I couldn't help it. I think there was a line from Cletius' death scene, in the movie, where he yells out something about "did you conquer Asia on your own" just before he gets skewered.

Alexander Question

[khepri2]

Well, I'd make sure I was standing behind Hephaestion when I asked it!
He wouldn't skewer his boyfriend, would he? With a spear anyway!

BTW, did my e.mail work with my story? I had problems that day with the server.

[parisad]

Interestin questions indeed :) My (silly, maybe) opinion about that is

[heroineanilem]

Your opinion is not silly at all. In fact, I think the same. I doubt he ever consider himself equal to olympians, but a mortal men with great achievements worth to be acknowleged as greatest among humans, and because of that favorite of the gods, as you said. As for oriental people, IMO he just did what many politicians do nowdays-if you want to worship me as a god, if it pleases you, go for it-give people what they want to see.

[parisad]

Me again! Just dropped here to wish you a wonderful Easter full of joy and happiness :)
**kisses**