"Alexander, Son of Zeus" Topic

Do you think Alexander the Great really believed he was a son of Zeus? Or was it a cynical political plot to assume that title?

What do the sources say?

Really depends how strong his Megalomania was!

Was that measured in inches? Smell? Aura? Being a successful target of eagle droppings?

Zeus wasn't known to be an not before marrige kina guy, who knows how many sons he had, I mean if you look at some of those golfers around today, I wouldn't put it past Tiger Woods to be a demi god, he also seemed to have inherited his fathers love of women.

"See, Zeus couldn't keep it in his pants, so he made bags and bags of heroes." -The Octopus

Interesting question. I am just finishing Worthington's book on Phillip II, and Worthington points out that it was fairly common for Macedonian kings to be posthumously defied. Greek gods in general were believed closer to humanity than we currently like our gods to be; the perceived separation was less. In Alex's case, he believed himself a descendant of gods, and for such a man to become a god was by no means unheard of. Then Alex conquered the world.

Folks believing themselves divine nowadays (except maybe Phil Barker) generally get locked up. In Ancient times, things were different, and such things were accepted to be rare, but possible.

Really believe? Well, maybe, but it seems to me that the whole concept is so foreign to us we are likely to be missing some nuance here; something like simultaneously believing all men to be children of God, but knowing Mom & Dad had a fairly significant role as well. My guess is that Alex came to believe that he was really, really special and not like other men. He may have explained this belief in "son of Zeus" terms. Doubt he ever tried tossing thunderbolts, though.

Well, Angelina brainwashed him pretty badly growing up

I think it likely that he did believe himself the son of a god, if not divine totally himself. He certainly seemed to believe in his own invincibility. His megalomania was a very important part of his career.

And ended up contributing to his many successes. Imagine if he thought he hatched from a rock…

Well, Angelina brainwashed him pretty badly growing up

She can brainwash me any time she wants…

Brainwash? Take a number…

Yes.

Yes. In Classical Era mores he had a pretty good claim. Hail Alexandros!

Actually, I think he identified even more with Achilles and Herakles. Especially Achilles, as he was supposedly descended from him on his mother's side (through Neoptolemos?). Supposedly he and Hephaestion ran naked around the burial mound of Achilles when they visited Troy. Subtle hint there Relic!

NOBODY will ever run naked around me when I'm in the urn.

But they might in it.

Sigh….

Που ειναι ο μεγαλέξανδρος;
Ζει και βασιλεύει και τον κόσμο κυριεύει.

Yes. Why would he not believe it?

Doug

"Supposedly he and Hephaestion ran naked around the burial mound of Achilles"

is that a dodgy euphimism or what ?

'a god is as a god does'

The following link is tangentially relevant to this discussion. I'm not posting it to start a religious debate or attack anyone's religion:

link

the Arabic legendary title 'the horned one' started from the coins showing Alexander with horns – as the god Baal-Hamon.

What was his quote on the subject? Something along the lines of, sex and sleep are both reminders that he is mortal. I know I'm mangling that.

I think it's hard to say what he truly believed. I think he definitely found it to be a useful tool for motivating men to do amazing feats. As to whether he truly believed it… Well, I think it would be hard not to believe it when everyone around you kept telling you that AND you went on to win unprecedented conquests at such a young age. People nowadays believe some pretty crazy things, sometimes even running for public office, and nobody bats an eye.

Do you think Alexander the Great really believed he was a son of Zeus?

Or was it a cynical political plot to assume that title?