Post by Laralon the Mad Looter on Jun 18, 2003 9:06:22 GMT -5
The story of Alexander the Great (short version):
Alex: I'm gonna beat the crap out of everyone to take over the world!
Phillip: That's not how you do it, though.
Alex: *beats the crap out of everyone to take over the world*
Phillip: I'm proud of you, son.
The story of Alexander the Great (long version):
While in most places Alexander was revered as a hero, (hence the suffix 'The Great') in others, he was the very incarnation of the devil. Sure, he conquered vast lands and was strong enough to hold them together until he died. But exactly HOW did he come by those lands?
For those of you who don't know, Alex The Great was originally Alexander of Macedonia, son of Phillip of Macedonia. Obviously, he lived in Macedonia. When he was about nine, his father was having trouble taming an aberrant horse. Alexander asked to try, and dear old dad let him. Amazingly, Alexander was able to ride the horse and calm him. It is said that Phillip, with tears in his eyes, said to his son, "You must find a kingdom larger than Macedonia to suit you, bla bla bla bla." (I forgot the rest. Bad Sharkie!)
Alexander did indeed find a kingdom larger than Macedonia. At the ripe old age of 21, he set out to conquer the world. He never came home. While he was out there a-conquerin', he triumphed over Greece, Egypt, and the Middle East. Hell, he even got to a sizable chunk of India.
That sounds impressive and like a great thing, but Alexander didn't just march in and duel the king of whatever province he was fixing to add to his hodgepodge. Nooo, he burned cities. He (probably) raped women. He sold survivors into slavery. He killed people. He was also a reckless, bad-tempered general who treated his soldiers badly. He died of a fever at age 32 in Babylon on the way back to Macedonia.
I'll leave you to debate the hero status of Alexander the Great. Was he a hero? A villain? Both? What do you think?
Alex: I'm gonna beat the crap out of everyone to take over the world!
Phillip: That's not how you do it, though.
Alex: *beats the crap out of everyone to take over the world*
Phillip: I'm proud of you, son.
The story of Alexander the Great (long version):
While in most places Alexander was revered as a hero, (hence the suffix 'The Great') in others, he was the very incarnation of the devil. Sure, he conquered vast lands and was strong enough to hold them together until he died. But exactly HOW did he come by those lands?
For those of you who don't know, Alex The Great was originally Alexander of Macedonia, son of Phillip of Macedonia. Obviously, he lived in Macedonia. When he was about nine, his father was having trouble taming an aberrant horse. Alexander asked to try, and dear old dad let him. Amazingly, Alexander was able to ride the horse and calm him. It is said that Phillip, with tears in his eyes, said to his son, "You must find a kingdom larger than Macedonia to suit you, bla bla bla bla." (I forgot the rest. Bad Sharkie!)
Alexander did indeed find a kingdom larger than Macedonia. At the ripe old age of 21, he set out to conquer the world. He never came home. While he was out there a-conquerin', he triumphed over Greece, Egypt, and the Middle East. Hell, he even got to a sizable chunk of India.
That sounds impressive and like a great thing, but Alexander didn't just march in and duel the king of whatever province he was fixing to add to his hodgepodge. Nooo, he burned cities. He (probably) raped women. He sold survivors into slavery. He killed people. He was also a reckless, bad-tempered general who treated his soldiers badly. He died of a fever at age 32 in Babylon on the way back to Macedonia.
I'll leave you to debate the hero status of Alexander the Great. Was he a hero? A villain? Both? What do you think?