Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Settlement
- 2 Power
- 3 Victory
- 4 Benefaction
- Focus I The Great Altar of Pergamon
- Focus II Hellenistic Mosaics
- Appendix A The Artist
- Appendix B Kallixeinos of Rhodes on the Wonders of Alexandria
- Glossary
- Timeline
- Biographical Sketches
- Select Bibliography and Further Reading
- References
- Sources of Illustrations
- Index
2 - Power
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Settlement
- 2 Power
- 3 Victory
- 4 Benefaction
- Focus I The Great Altar of Pergamon
- Focus II Hellenistic Mosaics
- Appendix A The Artist
- Appendix B Kallixeinos of Rhodes on the Wonders of Alexandria
- Glossary
- Timeline
- Biographical Sketches
- Select Bibliography and Further Reading
- References
- Sources of Illustrations
- Index
Summary
ALEXANDER AND POWER
The ancient Greeks had two words for power: dynamis, or “power to,” and archē, or “power over” – or, as we would say, agency and authority. Although Alexander achieved unprecedented archē over millions, in the popular imagination he was dynamis personified, and remained so until the end of antiquity and beyond. Likewise – although at a lower level – so did many of his successors.
Yet despite glowing later reports of his Hollywood-like good looks, in fact they left much to be desired. His neck was slightly crooked; his eyes were “melting” (like the Knidian Aphrodite’s: see Figure 104); his skin was fair – also like a woman’s; and his chest was flushed. His height was average (about 5 1/2 feet); he would not or could not grow a beard; he wore his hair longish and styled in a kind of a cowlick; he had a harsh voice; and soon he was scarred by many wounds. Altogether, we are told, he looked “somewhat scary.” An uncanny blend of male and female, adult and adolescent, and aggression and allure, this boyish androgyne and his electrifying charisma galvanized his Macedonians to conquer the world.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Art in the Hellenistic WorldAn Introduction, pp. 44 - 66Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014