Robbert Bosschart

All Alexander's Women Robbert Bosschart

In Alexander's life story, the classical sources mention some 30-odd women whose presence had a (minor or major) impact on his career. However, only his mother Olympias is amply described -always to negative effect-, while the others appear in fleeting anecdotes. This betrays the bias of Greek and Roman writers, unwilling to see women in an independent and positive role. But in 'All Alexander's Women', they are all placed in perspective, and their true importance is revealed. The most decisive is Sisygambis, queen-mother of Persia. Her relationship with the young conqueror proves that they came to share a dream: a new world empire that would combine the genius of Cyrus the Great ánd of Alexander the Great. That multi-cultural society would have advanced women's rights by 2,000 years, and the author has found that Persia's historical memory still retains this often forgotten aspect of Alexander's rule. In this expanded edition, 'Alexander's women' are explained not only in the context of the Western (Greek and Roman) sources, but also as they are portrayed in the classical Eastern -and especially, Persian- literature. After all, it was during his adult years in the domains of the former Achaemenid Empire, where Alexander evolved from young warrior hero to accomplished statesman: Persia was essential to his worldview. And so all the 'women of Alexander', from his adoptive mothers to a mysterious soothsayer, and from a Greek sex bomb to a valiant Indian queen, are the fascinating guiding lights of this book.