What nationality was Alexander?

[Mongoloid Cow]

Did he happen to live during the reign of Demetrius Poliorcetes (or whatever he was... that one with Demetrius the Besieger), or during the last period of Macedonian domination (220 - 18? BC) by any chance?

 

[Yiannis]

Did he happen to live during the reign of Demetrius Poliorcetes (or whatever he was... that one with Demetrius the Besieger), or during the last period of Macedonian domination (220 - 18? BC) by any chance?

I am almost sure that no. As I remember, he lived on some period between classical times and hellenistic times. And he was writing to describe Greece, not to involve to politics, for that I'm sure.

 

[Companiero]

Since FYROM became an indepedent country, it claims from Greece to make Greek Macedonia autonomous, believing that it's theirs. They have actually an article on their constitution that forces their goverment to conquer it, someway. In their arguments involve the ancient Macedonians and Alexander the Great, claiming that they were both their ancestors, and not ancestors of the modern Greeks. That's why their flag has the Bergina's Star on it.

LOL. I'm sorry, my Greek friend, to ruin your paranoid delusions, but what you believe is ridicilously false. I live in Republic of Macedonia, your northern neighbour, and apart the right for self-determance, there's nothing more we want.
There is no article in our constitution that even mentions Greece in any way. There is no article that mentions history also. We havent made any requests from Greece about the authonomy for the Greek province of Macedonia. Thats ridiciluos! The only request for Greece that should be made, but is not in fact, is about granting the basic human rights of our minority that lives there.
Our initial flag had the Vergina star, but we were forced to change it because your government didnt like it. And thats not a common practice in international relations.
Our historians (the respectable ones) dont claim direct connection with Ancient Macedonians, but rather have the stance as the French have with the Gauls.

I hope this will illuminate your parandoid ignorance about my country and my people.

 

[Yiannis]

LOL. I'm sorry, my Greek friend, to ruin your paranoid delusions, but what you believe is ridicilously false. I live in Republic of Macedonia, your northern neighbour, and apart the right for self-determance, there's nothing more we want.
There is no article in our constitution that even mentions Greece in any way. There is no article that mentions history also. We havent made any requests from Greece about the authonomy for the Greek province of Macedonia. Thats ridiciluos! The only request for Greece that should be made, but is not in fact, is about granting the basic human rights of our minority that lives there.
Our initial flag had the Vergina star, but we were forced to change it because your government didnt like it. And thats not a common practice in international relations.
Our historians (the respectable ones) dont claim direct connection with Ancient Macedonians, but rather have the stance as the French have with the Gauls.

I hope this will illuminate your parandoid ignorance about my country and my people.

Paranoid delusions? I said it before and I 'll say it once more: GOD I LOVE THIS ICON HA HA HA HA HA!
I tried to say to you a fact without my opinion! I avoided to make comments, telling you just what is going on!

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS TO YOUR MINORITY?
What are you talking about? Your country requests Macedonia's autonomy, please ask someone about it.

And don't tell me for lack of basic human rights to your minority, I know very well in what condition is OUR minority to your country. You don't even allow them to express themselves.

And believe me, I'm not making things up to tell it to you. Over the last 10 years we are worrying about what will happen with Macedonia and you! And if you even thing about calling us xenophobic, you just never read a book about Greece.

Don't bother answering me, I'm sick of this thread and I unsubscribed.
I 've heard enough anti-Greek propaganda as it is.

 

[Companiero]

Hellinism will be gone only when the world is gone. (Michaelides)

I abstain. This quote says it all.
I have no will to discuss history with nationalistic ignorants.

PS: I happen to have read a lot about Greece, and I especially love ancient Greece. I admire the culture, the beaches, the history etc. So this has nothing to do with my "anti-Greek" attitudes. It's just the fact that ordinary Greeks are not familiar with the injustices comitted in the past century and more over my people, so I cant blame you really.

 

[bombtrack]

Forgive me if someone's posted this already, but I noticed the incident of Philotas trial has come up numerous times.
Now, let's analyze some points here:
- Philotas' trial was a public show-trial that was attended by large audiences.
- Philotas' trial was held within conquered Persia
- At the time, Koine Greek was the official language used in the Empire

Alexander attempting to show "evidence" of Philotas' betrayal was that he would not reply Alexander in his native tongue (not "language", if you study latin you will know the difference in Curtius's writing).
If we look deep into the linguistic evolution of the Hellenes one will notice that Koine Greek, and ancient Greek have some major differences.
So, is it not safe to conclude that Philotas chose to respond in Koine for the benefit of the newly conquered people of Persia who are just barely learning Koine Greek and are attending the trial?
If that is the case, then it is also possible to say that Alexander may have been refering to Ancient Greek as the native tongue?

 

[bombtrack]

Here's a very well written thesis on this particular trial:
http://www.history.ccsu.edu/elias/AlexandrosPatrius.htm

 

[Companiero]

If that is the case, then it is also possible to say that Alexander may have been refering to Ancient Greek as the native tongue?

It is possible. We will never know, will we? But I find the animosity to be greater than just a clash about a "modern variance of Greek". Here's a quote from the trial:

"Alexander asked the man: "Now you'll be tried by the Macedonians? Are you going to speak in your native language?"
Philotas denied and replied:"I am being accused that I'm rejecting the native language and customs of Macedonians. Is that the way I threat the kingdom that I despise? But even before, that native language had been abandoned in the communication between the peoples, so both the conquerors and the conquered had to learn an alien foreign language."

 

[bombtrack]

Yes, as you mentioned there is much animosity, however I think it's evident that it's not due to language or traditions, but if we read further into this show-trial that Alexander's paranoia was the reason for the trial, and therefore he tried every possible method to discredit Philotas wether it was true or alleged.

 

[deo]

Alexander the great was Macedonian but old Macedonian not Slavic Macedonian

 

[King Alexander]

That's what the stupid Greek goverments of 60 years ago did: they cared only for their welfare, when "someone" named Tito started this nonsense propaganda.

Macedonia is an Area. This area(big enough) is divined by Greek borders and Former Yugoslavian Republic borders today. Ancient Macedonians were A Greek tribe, as were Acheis and Dorieus. They spoke Greek dialect, as Sparta had it's Greek dialect(and other city-states), at the time(as today an area inside a nation can have it's dialect). They wrote in Greek dialect.

Alexander the Great WAS a Greek. Didn't Athenians or Spartans or Corinthians(or the other cities) were Greeks? And you know what? Come to see the tomb of Philip, and all the other "EVIDENCE" if you want. All are in Greek.

That time, there were NO last names. You said: "Thalis of Miletos", "Periklis the Athenian", or "Philip the Macedonian".

As far as for the slavs there, in what state they were at the time? When did they came there and from which place? (search to find out - I'm out of here).

Enough said.

P.S.: If I'm correct, this thread should be closed, according to the forum rules. Saying these things for Alexander, can lead to war, you know: Soon, they'll tell us that they want to "liberate" their brothers in Greece, that is.

 

[Vasileius]

Oh , and for those who don't know : Thessaloniki is in Macedonia ,Greece ...

 

[Gelion]

Ancient Macedonians are not Greeks as Dorians or Acheans or Ionians were. They are a different tribe that was "Hellinised". Before the "Battle for Delphi" (a town conquered Delphi and used its treasures to hire a huge mescenary army that was feared in all Greece. Mecedonians defeated the towns army as they were wearing olive garlands to look like "revengers" of Apollo). After that Macedonia was recognied as a Greek state, but culturally they were as Greek as Romans were Ethrucians. Macedonias wanted to be Greek so that Greek states do not object to "outsiders"/foreigners ruling them.

P.S. If someone can remember the name of the town that would be great.

 

[ComradeVlad]

alexander was macedonian but was greek enough to be greek XD hey, he united greece methinks and was somewhat responsible for spreading greek culture. gotta give the guy some credit. aside from the history, i do think alex was a good choice to lead the greeks in civ, even tho he kinda conquered them and united them XD if only his traits were better tho. i mean, aggr and phil are good, but the two don't really work well together unless your going for a SE economy. i suggest that in the future, his traits should be aggr and org.. was alexander organized? i guess military-wise. maybe charismatic or imperialistic although i don't think alexander was imperialistic at all.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Long bump is long.

 

[Agent327]

All I know is that Alexander was a Macedonian prince who considered himself to be Greek. (Funny fact: at his time Macedonia was considered more barbarian than Greek by the Greeks themselves; curiously all this changed after the feats Alexander accomplished.)

As for nationality: that's a notion from the 19th century - it didn't exist at the time. (Everything not-Greek was considered barbarian.)

 

[Dachs]

Yeah, this whole argument is pretty ********. Alexandros' family claimed to be of Hellenic descent (whatever that meant, hmm, since there's such variation between Doric and the rest), and was allowed to participate in the Olympics, which were theoretically reserved for Hellenes but the rules were sometimes bent. But culturally, they were closer to the Hellenic states than probably any of the other polities of the Balkans of the time - Thraikioi, Illyrioi, etc. - and they certainly weren't anything like the current Slavic people that live in Paionia and Dardania now.

 

[ComradeVlad]

Yeah, this whole argument is pretty ********. Alexandros' family claimed to be of Hellenic descent (whatever that meant, hmm, since there's such variation between Doric and the rest), and was allowed to participate in the Olympics, which were theoretically reserved for Hellenes but the rules were sometimes bent. But culturally, they were closer to the Hellenic states than probably any of the other polities of the Balkans of the time - Thraikioi, Illyrioi, etc. - and they certainly weren't anything like the current Slavic people that live in Paionia and Dardania now.

Yeah, the argument is pretty ********. All in all, Alex pwned and pwned many he did If only he was better in Revolutions.... why did they make greece a tech civ? i mean, alex was all about conquering..not science! swords not beakers! oh well, the civ rev leaders didn't really have anything in common with their country bonuses, except for germany and rome? idk, maybe there is more.

 

[silver 2039]

Alexander was Slavic from FYROM. Duh look at the name Macedonia.

 

[TheLastOne36]

Alexander was Macedon. Not related to modern day macedonians who are slavs. The Macedon were an Illyrian people who spoke Greek and were Hellenized. Enless someone comes up with a better theory, this one is the most reliable one.