I have been unable to stay quiet about the current exhibition at the Australian Museum. I visited the gallery recently and took some notes. I am sad to say that here again, we have an public institution in Australia presenting a highly nationalist and mythical narrative of Alexander and the ancient Macedonians.
Alexander's legacy is less well known today than at any time, because of the times we live in. All of the ancient Greek and Roman sources are clear about the Kings of Macedonia, and the Macedonians. They were not regarded as Greeks, and did not consider themselves to be Greeks. All the information is there, and all of the sources are easily accessible. The problem is Modern Greek nationalism. Most Australians would have no idea they were reading propaganda. This is because there is a lot of truth in most of the narrative. They have most of the facts, the time line is accurate ...etc, but when it comes to the cultural identity of the Alexander and the ancient Macedonians, this is where the propaganda kicks in. The New Greeks (no natural historical or cultural connection to the ancient Greeks) have been trying to do two things, one, weave the ancient Macedonians into 'Greeks', and two, convince foreign leaders and the general public of it. Most Australians wouldn't care if they were told that they were reading a mythical narrative, created by the New Greeks in recent decades, around the goal of justifying the seizure of Macedonian territory in 1912 and 1913. They are there to see the jewellery, the pottery, the coins ...etc. As I noted, there is a large dose of truth about ancient people, places and events, but, woven into the fabric of this exhibition are the stock and standard nationalist myths of the Modern Greek State. This is by no means easy to spot, unless one is familiar with the specific myths of the State.
This is what the Australian Museum is presenting as 'history' and as 'fact' in this exhibition.
1. Alexander set out to ""liberate the Greeks in Asia Minor"
2. He was fighting "to free the former Greek cities of Asia from Persian control"
3. The Macedonians spoke "a Greek dialect"
4. The Macedonian army was comprised of "50,000 Greek Macedonian soldiers
5. Alexander modeled his Empire on 'Greek concepts of State' and on 'Greek institutions'
6. Alexander "spread Hellenism"
7. Alexander was on a "war of revenge" and the League of Corinth willingly supported it
Every point above is a historical lie and an outright fabrication. Alexander and the Macedonians were never in possession of Hellenism, and certainly did not spread it. The exhibition leaves out crucial details to gaining a more complete and more accurate understanding of Alexander and his Macedonians.
Here are some direct quotes from the exhibition.
Note I took great care in writing these down word for word, because Photos are not allowed in the exhibition.
Editors note: One of the features of this narrative is how ancient institutions are represented as exclusively 'Greek', suggesting no one could have them or used them, and that these were borrowed from the Greeks.
Every quote here is either an outright historical fabrication for which there is no evidence, and are in fact contradicted by the ancient sources; or a distortion of the true history of Alexander, his conquest and his Macedonians.
The true history of this individual and his men is that he hated the Greeks. He cut them down every opportunity he got where ever he found them. The evidence is clear about it. He cut down whole communities of Greeks, specifically colonies in Asia, whether they gave provocation or not. His reason for doing it was that they were Greeks. It is also a FACT of history that the ancient Greeks resisted Alexander and his Macedonians every step of the way. When the Greeks were conquered, destroyed, cities sacked, hundreds of thousands sold into slavery ... etc, the Greeks joined all the foreign Kings and the foreign armies fighting against Alexander. These simple facts are entirely missing in this nationalist exhibition. There is not a single piece of historical evidence that the Macedonians spoke 'a Greek dialect'. This is a modern myth. Thirdly, Alexander modeled his Empire on Macedonian leadership and Persian concepts and institutions (not Greek ones). Fourthly, Alexander has a small contingent of Greek troops in his army he expressly considers a foreign contingent, he compares it to his other foreign contingents (Illyrian, Thracian), but he dismisses all of them before his Persian campaign. Alexander treated all Greeks differently. He would not allow Callisthenes (Aristotle's nephew) to stand before the Macedonian court, because Alexander did not consider him to be a Macedonian, he was a Greek. Representing Alexander and his Macedonians, including countless ancient artifacts as being 'Greeks' by 'influence' or in some other way is a shameful ploy to distort history. It does not do the Macedonian justice or the artifacts themselves. This is just another example of the Modern Greek State using its power and influence, indirectly, to push its nationalist agenda in Australia, and the Australian Museum and its management (who will all eventually be named), are actively promoting the nationalist mantra of a State with a history of aggressive hostility to an innocent and inoffensive Macedonian people.
Note also that at the end of the exhibition, just outside the exit doors there is a plaque with a list of individuals and organizations endorsing the narrative of the exhibition including a number of Australian academics and including the Macedonian embassy in Canberra, which is given the shameful and degrading title of Embassy of FYROM.
I think that the Museum and specifically the individuals behind this exhibition should be alerted that their names are not inextricably tied to promoting an entirely fabricated and mythical as well as nationalist presenting of ancient history.
Alexander's legacy is less well known today than at any time, because of the times we live in. All of the ancient Greek and Roman sources are clear about the Kings of Macedonia, and the Macedonians. They were not regarded as Greeks, and did not consider themselves to be Greeks. All the information is there, and all of the sources are easily accessible. The problem is Modern Greek nationalism. Most Australians would have no idea they were reading propaganda. This is because there is a lot of truth in most of the narrative. They have most of the facts, the time line is accurate ...etc, but when it comes to the cultural identity of the Alexander and the ancient Macedonians, this is where the propaganda kicks in. The New Greeks (no natural historical or cultural connection to the ancient Greeks) have been trying to do two things, one, weave the ancient Macedonians into 'Greeks', and two, convince foreign leaders and the general public of it. Most Australians wouldn't care if they were told that they were reading a mythical narrative, created by the New Greeks in recent decades, around the goal of justifying the seizure of Macedonian territory in 1912 and 1913. They are there to see the jewellery, the pottery, the coins ...etc. As I noted, there is a large dose of truth about ancient people, places and events, but, woven into the fabric of this exhibition are the stock and standard nationalist myths of the Modern Greek State. This is by no means easy to spot, unless one is familiar with the specific myths of the State.
This is what the Australian Museum is presenting as 'history' and as 'fact' in this exhibition.
1. Alexander set out to ""liberate the Greeks in Asia Minor"
2. He was fighting "to free the former Greek cities of Asia from Persian control"
3. The Macedonians spoke "a Greek dialect"
4. The Macedonian army was comprised of "50,000 Greek Macedonian soldiers
5. Alexander modeled his Empire on 'Greek concepts of State' and on 'Greek institutions'
6. Alexander "spread Hellenism"
7. Alexander was on a "war of revenge" and the League of Corinth willingly supported it
Every point above is a historical lie and an outright fabrication. Alexander and the Macedonians were never in possession of Hellenism, and certainly did not spread it. The exhibition leaves out crucial details to gaining a more complete and more accurate understanding of Alexander and his Macedonians.
Here are some direct quotes from the exhibition.
Note I took great care in writing these down word for word, because Photos are not allowed in the exhibition.
" In 334 BC, Alexander set out for a war of revenge against the Persians and the liberation of the Greeks in Asia Minor. He took with him almost 50,000 Greek Macedonians soldiers and mercenaries plus historians, botanists, geographers and engineers."
"Liberation of Asia Minor 334-333 BC [Title heading] Alexanders first task was to free the former Greek cities of Asia from Persian control."
"Conquest of Syria 333-332 BC [Title heading] After Issus (Battle of Issus), Alexander was no longer liberating Greeks but invading parts of the Persian Empire."
"Battle Snapshot [Title] Battle of Issus - Persian dead: 110,000 (Diodorus, Curtius, Plutarch, Arrian or 71,000 and 40,000 persons (Justin)"
"The invasion of Persia 331-330 BC [Title] Alexander left Persopolis and headed north to Ecbatana ... While there, he dismissed his troops from the Greek city states. Although many re-enlisted as mercenaries, this ended the League's official involvement in the campaign."
"Burning of Persopolis palace, May 330 BC [Title] The capture of Persopolis ... marked the end of the 'war of vengeance'."
"Battle Snapshot [Title] Battle of Gaugamela, 1 October 331. Persian dead: 300,000 (Arrian); 90,000 (Diordorus), 40,000 (Curtius)"
"East of India 327-326 BC [Title] In the summer of 327 BC, Alexander led his army yet into the wilds of India and modern Pakistan. These places inspired him. To the Greeks, they were the end of the world and filled with curiosities and strange beasts."
"Alexander's legacy [Title] Alexander's campaign created an empire through which all things Greeks spread - from religions, science and government to language, art and architecture. This era which lasted about 3000 years would later be called the Hellenistic period."
"A common language [Title] With Greeks Kings, officials and settlers and trades, it was inevitable that Greek became the empires 'official language'. However, languages evolve. This Greek was not one of the ancient dialects but a new from called koine or 'common' Greek that probably arose as a shared tongue of Alexanders diverse army. Many old dialects, including the Macedonians, disappeared during this period."
"Government under kings [Title] Alexander left behind an empire initially under a single ruler. Many provinces had officials to represent the king, but also had a degree of political independence. Institutions were modeled on Greek democratic principles and included councils, assemblies and magistrates. This remained the model of government throughout the Hellenistic period, long after Alexander's death. ... Greeks occupied most official positions."
"Greek institutions such as temples, theaters, gymnasiums ... were erected."
"Alexander in the East [Title] In some regions of the far east, Alexanders legend is poor. These are the regions where his brutality was worst and the Hellenistic influence weakest."
The true history of this individual and his men is that he hated the Greeks. He cut them down every opportunity he got where ever he found them. The evidence is clear about it. He cut down whole communities of Greeks, specifically colonies in Asia, whether they gave provocation or not. His reason for doing it was that they were Greeks. It is also a FACT of history that the ancient Greeks resisted Alexander and his Macedonians every step of the way. When the Greeks were conquered, destroyed, cities sacked, hundreds of thousands sold into slavery ... etc, the Greeks joined all the foreign Kings and the foreign armies fighting against Alexander. These simple facts are entirely missing in this nationalist exhibition. There is not a single piece of historical evidence that the Macedonians spoke 'a Greek dialect'. This is a modern myth. Thirdly, Alexander modeled his Empire on Macedonian leadership and Persian concepts and institutions (not Greek ones). Fourthly, Alexander has a small contingent of Greek troops in his army he expressly considers a foreign contingent, he compares it to his other foreign contingents (Illyrian, Thracian), but he dismisses all of them before his Persian campaign. Alexander treated all Greeks differently. He would not allow Callisthenes (Aristotle's nephew) to stand before the Macedonian court, because Alexander did not consider him to be a Macedonian, he was a Greek. Representing Alexander and his Macedonians, including countless ancient artifacts as being 'Greeks' by 'influence' or in some other way is a shameful ploy to distort history. It does not do the Macedonian justice or the artifacts themselves. This is just another example of the Modern Greek State using its power and influence, indirectly, to push its nationalist agenda in Australia, and the Australian Museum and its management (who will all eventually be named), are actively promoting the nationalist mantra of a State with a history of aggressive hostility to an innocent and inoffensive Macedonian people.
Note also that at the end of the exhibition, just outside the exit doors there is a plaque with a list of individuals and organizations endorsing the narrative of the exhibition including a number of Australian academics and including the Macedonian embassy in Canberra, which is given the shameful and degrading title of Embassy of FYROM.
I think that the Museum and specifically the individuals behind this exhibition should be alerted that their names are not inextricably tied to promoting an entirely fabricated and mythical as well as nationalist presenting of ancient history.
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