Eugene N. Borza (1935–2021)

This is a rather mixed collection of articles some of which have little in common save that they are related in some way to the history and culture of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia. I gather some were regarded as ground-breaking in their time, but they are less significant now as some of the ideas have been absorbed into the mainstream of historical thought on the subject, while others may be less significant. Certain themes recur. He argues the Macedonian royal house was less Greek than its legends liked to claim, and less important as patrons of Greek culture, even in the time of Alexander. He argues that natural resources (notably timer for ships) were significant for Macedon's relations with other states. he argues malaria was endemic in part of Macedonia in ancient times as it is now (or was until after World War 2). These points were less interesting to me than others arguing that the philosopher Anaxarchus deserved a better press than partisans of his rival Callisthenes allowed, that Alexander had good communications with Greece even when he was deep in Persia (especially in regard to the revolt of Agis III of Sparta), that Alexander's primary motive in burning Persepolis was to discredit Darius III, who was still at large at the time, and that the main tomb in the famous (and then recent) Vergina discoveries was more likely that of Arrhidaeus rather than Philip II, but might invite some of Alexander the Great's own armor and regalia, while a less impressive tomb might be that the Philip II with the young wife and child whom the jealous ex-wife Olympias had murdered.… (more)