Sources for Alexander the Great: An Analysis of Plutarch's 'Life' and Arrian's 'Anabasis Alexandrou'

by N. G. L. Hammond

Overview

Plutarch and Arrian are the ancient writers who tell us most about Alexander the Great. This book is the first attempt to analyze and evaluate in detail the sources of information they themselves drew on, a necessary first step to appreciating the value of their own accounts. It completes Professor Hammond's study of the five Alexander-historians which began with Three Historians of Alexander the Great (Cambridge University Press 1983) and lays a new basis for work on Alexander.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521432641
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/11/1993
Series:	Cambridge Classical Studies
Pages:	362
Product dimensions:	5.67(w) x 8.78(h) x 0.98(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Abbreviations and select bibliography; Prolegomena; Part I. Plutarch's Sources for the Narrative Passages: 1. Alexander's origin, boyhood and relations with Philip; 2. Balkan campaign, sack of Thebes and landing in Asia; 3. The set battles in Asia; 4. Alexander and Darius; 5. Phoenicia, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Parthia; 6. Conspiracies and Callisthenes; 7. Bactria, India and Carmania; 8. Persia and Babylonia; 9. Attributions and deductions; Part II: 10. Plutarch's reflective passages and Alexander's personality; Part III. Arrian's Sources for the Anabasis Alexandrou: 11. The methodology of Arrian; 12. From Macedonia to the Tanaïs; 13. From the Tanaïs to the Indus valley; 14. Advance from Nysa and return to the Hydaspes; 15. From the Hydaspes to Persepolis; 16. The last year of Alexander's life; Part IV: 17. The personality of Arrian and his choice and use of sources; Index.