The Olympic Games of 324 B.C. and the unification of lands under Alexander’s sway
Ivan Ladynin
Mésogeios: 24 (2004), p. 161-183
Abstract
In August 324 B.C. at the Olympic Games a herald read to more than 20.000 exiles from Greek poleis a declaration by the Macedonian king which was brought from his headquarters in Asia by his special envoy Nicanor of Stagira : « King Alexander to the exiles from the Hellenic cities. We have not happened to be the rea- son of your exile but we will be [that] of [your] returning to your fatherlands, except for those guilty of sacrilege. We have written about it to Antipater, so that he force [those] unwilling [to accept this decision] among the cities » (Diod., XVIII.8.4). This fragment has been repeatedly commented by students of Alexander’s time. Most of them found it authentic, probably coming back to the text of Hieronymus of Cardia. This episode at Olympia is related or alluded to by other narratives as well (Diod., XVII.109.1, speci- fying that the exemption from Alexander’s decree concerned also murderers ; Dinarch., C.Dem., 81-82 ; Hyper., C.Dem., XVIII ; Curt., X.2.4-7 ; Just., XIII.5.2-5 ; Plut., Apopht. Lac. Eudamid., 9).
The course of the events which led to this episode and followed it, the compatibility of Alexander’s decision with the foundations of the Corinthian League, and the material effects of this act (which would have been especially strong for Athens and Aetolia) have already been studied quite at length 3. It is a general 4 (and undoub- tedly true) opinion that Alexander’s decision on exiles contradicted to the Covenant of Corinth : it violated the principle of non-interfe- rence in the internal life of the Greek cities, which was a cornersto- ne of koine eirene within the Corinthian League since its foundation (IG2.II-III.1, n ̊ 236.11-14: a provision of the Covenant that the political situation existing at the time of its conclusion in all the member-states of the League, including Macedonia, should not be changed, cf. [Ps.]Dem., XVII.10, 15 ; id., 4 : the return of the exi- led sons of the tyrant Philiades to Messene by Alexander being trea- ted as a violation of the Covenant), and its realization was carried out immediately by Antipater without any confirmation by the Lea- gue’s synedrion (cf. [Ps.]Dem., XVII.15, on the synedrion’s prero- gatives).
The Olympic Games of 324 B.C. and the unification of lands under Alexander’s sway
Ivan Ladynin
Mésogeios: 24 (2004), p. 161-183
Abstract
In August 324 B.C. at the Olympic Games a herald read to more than 20.000 exiles from Greek poleis a declaration by the Macedonian king which was brought from his headquarters in Asia by his special envoy Nicanor of Stagira : « King Alexander to the exiles from the Hellenic cities. We have not happened to be the rea- son of your exile but we will be [that] of [your] returning to your fatherlands, except for those guilty of sacrilege. We have written about it to Antipater, so that he force [those] unwilling [to accept this decision] among the cities » (Diod., XVIII.8.4). This fragment has been repeatedly commented by students of Alexander’s time. Most of them found it authentic, probably coming back to the text of Hieronymus of Cardia. This episode at Olympia is related or alluded to by other narratives as well (Diod., XVII.109.1, speci- fying that the exemption from Alexander’s decree concerned also murderers ; Dinarch., C.Dem., 81-82 ; Hyper., C.Dem., XVIII ; Curt., X.2.4-7 ; Just., XIII.5.2-5 ; Plut., Apopht. Lac. Eudamid., 9).
The course of the events which led to this episode and followed it, the compatibility of Alexander’s decision with the foundations of the Corinthian League, and the material effects of this act (which would have been especially strong for Athens and Aetolia) have already been studied quite at length 3. It is a general 4 (and undoub- tedly true) opinion that Alexander’s decision on exiles contradicted to the Covenant of Corinth : it violated the principle of non-interfe- rence in the internal life of the Greek cities, which was a cornersto- ne of koine eirene within the Corinthian League since its foundation (IG2.II-III.1, n ̊ 236.11-14: a provision of the Covenant that the political situation existing at the time of its conclusion in all the member-states of the League, including Macedonia, should not be changed, cf. [Ps.]Dem., XVII.10, 15 ; id., 4 : the return of the exi- led sons of the tyrant Philiades to Messene by Alexander being trea- ted as a violation of the Covenant), and its realization was carried out immediately by Antipater without any confirmation by the Lea- gue’s synedrion (cf. [Ps.]Dem., XVII.15, on the synedrion’s prero- gatives).
Click here to read this article from Mésogeios
Sponsored Content