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Historiography of Alexander the Great

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There are numerous surviving ancient Greek and Latin sources on Alexander the Great, as well as some oriental texts. The five main surviving accounts are by Arrian, Plutarch, Diodorus, Curtius and Justin. In addition to these five main sources, there is the Metz Epitome, an anonymous late Latin work that narrates Alexander's campaigns from Hyrcania to India. Much is also recounted incidentally by other authors, including Strabo, Athenaeus, Polyaenus, Aelian, and others. Strabo, who gives a summary of Callisthenes, is an important source for Alexander's journey to Siwah.

Contents

Lost works

  • Life of Alexander by Aesopus
  • Works of Anaximenes of Lampsacus
  • Works of Aristobulus of Cassandreia
  • Geographical work of Androsthenes of Thasos
  • Deeds of Alexander by Callisthenes (the official historian)
  • Personal Notebooks, or Hypomnemata, by Alexander himself (possibly inauthentic)
  • History of Alexander by Cleitarchus
  • On the empire of the Macedonians by Criton of Pieria
  • Histories (also listed as Macedonica and Hellenica) by Duris of Samos
  • Ephemerides (royal journal) of the royal secretary Eumenes (existence or authenticity disputed)
  • Work of Ephippus of Olynthus
  • Work of Hagnothemis upon which Plutarch rested the belief that Antipater poisoned Alexander.
  • Work of Hieronymus of Cardia
  • On the education of Alexander and Macedonian history by Marsyas of Pella
  • Work of Medius of Larissa
  • Work of Nearchus, the primary source of Arrian's Indica
  • How Alexander was Educated and geographical works by Onesicritus
  • Work of Ptolemy I Soter
  • History of Alexander by Timagenes
  • Historiae Philippicae by Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus

    • Greek epigraphy

  • Decree of Philippi (ca.335-330 BC) Alexander arbitrates a boundary dispute between local Thracian tribes and the city of Philippi.
  • A dedicatory inscription to Apollo was found at Toumbes Kalamotou, Thessaloniki regional unit ; it records a list of priests of Asclepius who had fulfilled their duties from the time when King Alexandros gave Kalindoia and the villages around to Makedones.
  • A dedicatory inscription to Olympian Zeus by Philonides of Crete in which he is mentioned as King Alexandros' hemerodromos (cursor) and bematist of Asia.
  • Lindos Chronicle. King Alexandros having defeated Darius in battle and become lord kurios of Asia, sacrificed to Athena of Lindos. boukephala (ox-heads) and hopla (armour)
  • Antigonus (son of Callas) hetairos from Amphipolis, commemorates his victory in hoplite racing at Heraclean games after the Conquest of Tyrus.

    • Babylonian Chronicles

  • Alexander Chronicle mentions the battle of Gaugamela and the incident of Bessus, who was pursued by Aliksandar.
  • Alexander and Arabia Chronicle refers to events concerning the last years of the King.

    • References

    Historiography of Alexander the Great Wikipedia
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