Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great

Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great
Author: Jaakkojuhani Peltonen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2024
Genre: Greece
ISBN: 9781003406358

"From premodern societies onward, humans have constructed and produced images of ideal masculinity to define the roles available for boys to grow into, and images for adult men to imitate. The figure of Alexander the Great has fascinated people both within and outside academia. As a historical character, military commander, cultural figure and representative of the male gender, Alexander's popularity is beyond dispute. Almost from the moment of his death Alexander's deeds have had a paradigmatic aspect: for over 2300 years he has been represented as a paragon of manhood - an example to be followed by other men - and through his myth people have negotiated assumptions about masculinity. This work breaks new ground by considering the ancient and medieval reception of Alexander the Great from a gender studies perspective. It explores the masculine ideals of the Greco-Roman and medieval past through the figure of Alexander the Great, analysing the gendered views of masculinities in those periods and relates them to the ways in which Alexander's masculinity was presented. It does this by investigating Alexander's appearance and its relation to definitions of masculinity, the way his childhood and adulthood is presented, his martial performance and skill, proper and improper sexual behaviour, and finally through his emotions and mental attributes. Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great will appeal to students and scholars alike as well as those more generally interested in the portrayal of masculinity and gender throughout history, particularly in relation to Alexander the Great and his image throughout history"--

Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great

Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great
Author: Jaakkojuhani Peltonen
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2023-11-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 1003829872

From premodern societies onward, humans have constructed and produced images of ideal masculinity to define the roles available for boys to grow into, and images for adult men to imitate. The figure of Alexander the Great has fascinated people both within and outside academia. As a historical character, military commander, cultural figure and representative of the male gender, Alexander’s popularity is beyond dispute. Almost from the moment of his death Alexander’s deeds have had a paradigmatic aspect: for over 2300 years he has been represented as a paragon of manhood - an example to be followed by other men - and through his myth people have negotiated assumptions about masculinity. This work breaks new ground by considering the ancient and medieval reception of Alexander the Great from a gender studies perspective. It explores the masculine ideals of the Greco-Roman and medieval past through the figure of Alexander the Great, analysing the gendered views of masculinities in those periods and relates them to the ways in which Alexander’s masculinity was presented. It does this by investigating Alexander’s appearance and its relation to definitions of masculinity, the way his childhood and adulthood are presented, his martial performance and skill, proper and improper sexual behaviour, and finally through his emotions and mental attributes. Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great will appeal to students and scholars alike as well as to those more generally interested in the portrayal of masculinity and gender, particularly in relation to Alexander the Great and his image throughout history.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great
Author: Captivating History
Publisher: Captivating History
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2021-05-08
Genre:
ISBN: 9781637163269

Did you know that Alexander the Great was barely in his thirties by the time he had conquered all of Asia Minor? Alexander of Macedon was only thirty-three years old when he died, leaving behind him a sprawling empire of impressive size, which encompassed dozens of different people groups, religions, cultures, customs, and-of course-problems. Naturally, Alexander is well known as a figure, but how well do we really know him? How much of his fascinating story is true, and how much is mere legend? Historians of repute have tried, for centuries, to decode Alexander's life and answer all the burning questions above. Sadly, the common reader knows very little of the real Alexander, yet all of that is about to change with this handy little volume right here! Leafing through this book, you'll find out the real story behind Alexander, one of the most influential, capable, and lauded conquerors in ancient history. You'll find out just why so many other great politicians, generals, and future conquerors saw this Macedonian youth as the go-to inspiration to reach for the stars. And what else is there in this tome for you? Well, among other things, you'll discover the following: The early life of Alexander, how he grew up, and what influenced him How eerily similar ancient politics is to ours in modern times The motivations of Alexander and his men The fascinating private life of such a public individual The faults and foibles of Alexander that ultimately every individual is plagued with The makeup of the Macedonian military The makings of a multiethnic empire and the widespreadness of Alexander's ideals and culture The many friends and foes of the Macedonian king, complete with their own fascinating stories The many legends that sprung up from historical events The issue of succession and the passing of a bygone golden era The legacy of a figure both adored and maligned by millions And much more! Scroll up and click the "add to cart" button to learn more about Alexander the Great!

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great
Author: Erik Richardson
Publisher: Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2017-07-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 150262785X

Alexander the Great explores the background, personality, and battle tactics of a legendary conqueror, whose prowess in battle cemented his name in human history. The engaging and comprehensive text depicts Alexander's life, the lives of his soldiers, the stories of his battles, and the formations of cities and legends. Paintings, photographs, and engravings illustrate Greek culture and historical figures. Maps and diagrams depict the brilliant strategy of a commander who fought with his men. Though Alexander reigned and conquered over two thousand years ago, his battle successes and political ambitions had an enduring impact on military strategy and on the regions and cultures he ruled.

Art in the Era of Alexander the Great

Art in the Era of Alexander the Great
Author: Ada Cohen
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 425
Release: 2010-08-30
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0521769043

In her pursuit of metaphorical, transhistorical imagery, representing men as predators and women as their victims over the centuries, Cohen (Dartmouth) lays out a vast network of interpretive associations that have neither cultural nor chronological limits. Developing her analysis of three late-fourth-century BCE Macedonian monumental themes--the abduction of Helen, the lion hunt, and war--Cohen puts them into a context of large significance through her creation of an ingenious, erudite, and extended repertory of analogous images, accompanied by well-selected exempla. Her proposed network traces patterns established by anthropological perspectives of masculinity and its association with aggressive violence and by principles of feminist ideology, partly derived from Judith Butler. The book's introduction and many subsequent methodological digressions set out the conceptual lines of her approach, as do paradigmatic chapter headings, e.g., "War as Hunt: Hunt as War?" "Rape as Hunt: Hunt as Rape?" and "Rape as War: War as Rape?" Provocative indeed, her categories of enduring imagery challenge traditional views of ancient art in ways both beneficial and problematic, viz., her remark "Ovid, the premier Freudian thinker of the Roman World." Whether modern conceptions of sexuality and the struggles of contrasting genders pertain to antiquity remains as an acknowledged issue. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through faculty/researchers. Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty. Reviewed by R. Brilliant.

Alexander, Killer of Men

Alexander, Killer of Men
Author: David J. Lonsdale
Publisher:
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2004
Genre: History
ISBN:

Alexander the Great was the most successful general in the classical era, perhaps in all of human history. His career was an unbroken run of successes from his first campaign as a cavalry commander at the age of sixteen until his death at the age of thirty-three. By the end of his career he controlled an empire that stretched from the Balkans to Northern India, he has worshipped as a god, and had become the lasting epitome of worldly success. His name is still used today to frighten children in the lands he conquered. David Lonsdale has been studying Alexander's military techniques for more than ten years, as both a lecturer at the United Services Institute and at the University of Reading. Here he explores in detail how Alexander developed and adapted the war machine created by his father Philip. He shows how Alexander supplemented Greek infantry tactics with the innovative use of the specialist and elite units and how Alexander perfected the cavalry charge as a battle-winning manoeuvre based on relentless discipline and heroic leadership. Vital reading for those interested in the history of warfare, Killer of Men reflects the latest understanding of Alexander's war fighting techn

Alexander the Great, Killer of Men

Alexander the Great, Killer of Men
Author: David J. Lonsdale
Publisher: Basic Books
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2004-12-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780786714292

Alexander the Great was the most successful general of the classical era, perhaps in all of human history. His career was an unbroken run of successes from his first campaign as a cavalry commander at the age of sixteen until his death at the age of thirty-three. By the end of his life he controlled an empire that stretched from the Balkans to northern India, where he was worshipped as a god. David Lonsdale, who has studied Alexander's military techniques for more than ten years, explores in detail how Alexander developed and adapted the war machine created by his father, Philip, and shows how Alexander supplemented Greek infantry tactics with the innovative use of the specialist and elite units. Above all, he explains how Alexander perfected the cavalry charge as a battle-winning maneuver, based on relentless discipline and heroic leadership. Essential reading for those interested in the history of warfare, Alexander the Great, Killer of Men reflects the latest understanding of Alexander's strategy and fighting techniques. It describes a moment in time when the Macedonian army was the most important institution on earth and its young, terrifying commander was the fixed point around which the history of the world revolved.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great
Author: Pierre Briant
Publisher: Thameshuds
Total Pages: 175
Release: 1996
Genre: Generals
ISBN: 9780500300701

In the spring of 334 B.C., the 22-year-old King Alexander of Macedon led an army of 50,000 men on the most ambitious conquest of ancient times. This is a straightforward account of Alexander's remarkable campaigns, clearly and thoughtfully presented. A more intimate side of Alexander is also presented. 147 illustrations, 99 in color. 5 maps.

Imagining Men

Imagining Men
Author: Thomas Van Nortwick
Publisher: Praeger
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2008-08-30
Genre: History
ISBN:

Exploring models for masculinity as they appear in major works of Greek literature, this book combines literary, historical, and psychological insights to examine how the ancient Greeks understood the meaning of a man's life. The thoughts and actions of Achilles, Odysseus, Oedipus, and other enduring characters from Greek literature reflect the imperatives that the ancient Greeks saw as governing a man's life as he moved from childhood to adult maturity to old age. Because the Greeks believed that men (as opposed to women) were by nature the proper agents of human civilization within the larger order of the universe, examining how the Greeks thought that a man ought to live his life prompts exploration of the place of human life in a world governed by transcendent forces, nature, fate, and the gods. While focusing on the experience of men in ancient Greece, the discussion also offers an analysis of the society in which they lived, addressing questions still vital in our own time, such as how the members of a society should govern themselves, distribute resources, form relationships with others, weigh the needs of the individual against the larger good of the community, and establish right relations with divine forces beyond their knowledge or control. Suggestions for further reading offer the reader the chance to explore the ideas in the book.