Week 4b: Daily Blog Day 5 – Monday, February 28, 2011

Daily Blog Day 5 – Monday, February 28, 2011

Question: How did Alexander create his own myth?

            Alexander the Great actually, in a way, created his own myth. I believe that all of his actions well thought out or not were done for a purpose that is likely, in part, his way of making his myth. He purposefully took on difficult challenges and took the hard way. It is fair to believe it is possible, and in fact probably, that he did this because he wanted to be remembered as that great hero who did all these amazing and seemingly impossible things. Also, he incorporated religion a lot and participated in a lot of ceremonial acts.  Great examples of how he created his own myth are extremely common and are the Oracle of Didyma, Halicarnassus, and the Gordian knot. For starters, the oracle of Didyma was a huge step in Alexander creating his own myth. Alexander visited this oracle in Didyma and while he was there he was greeted and told he was the son of the god Zeus. If this doesn’t start a myth about someone, I am not sure what will. Plus, in Halicarnassus, Alexander defeated a Persian stronghold that was defended by the Greek mercenary.  Alexander conquering this place was a momentous occasion. It was probably a big turning point for him political and for his myth. It established a winner kind of aura around Alexander that maybe made him feel and seem godlike. Finally, Alexander untied the Gordian knot. The Gordian knot was famous knot on a cart that people could not untie. Well, Alexander can along, what exactly he did is unknown, but it is said he took his sword and simply cut it.  You may argue that this was cheating, but to the people of that day it was more than likely heroic and bold. Through these things and others, it is extremely likely that Alexander intentional created a myth for himself that could be told on for generations.