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Images of AlexanderImages of AlexanderA Cure for Sick Minds?A Cure for Sick Minds?

Prof. Laura LeibmanProf. Laura Leibman

Humanities 110Humanities 110

Reed CollegeReed College

Spring 2005Spring 2005

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History as the Cure for Sick History as the Cure for Sick MindsMinds

““The study of history is the The study of history is the best medicine for a sick best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you mind; for in history you have a record of the have a record of the infinite variety of human infinite variety of human experience plainly set out experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that for all to see; and in that record you can find..both record you can find..both examples and warnings” examples and warnings” (Livy 1.1)(Livy 1.1)

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AlexanderAlexander

What examples and warnings did Alexander What examples and warnings did Alexander provide?provide?

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SourcesSources

The Alexander Mosaic, House of the Faun The Alexander Mosaic, House of the Faun (Pompeii)(Pompeii)

CoinsCoinsStatuesStatues

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The House of the FaunThe House of the Faun

 2nd c. B.C. Pompeii

Atrium house with peristyles.

Alexander mosaic found here.

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The Alexander MosaicThe Alexander Mosaic

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Detail of AlexanderDetail of Alexander

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Detail of DariusDetail of Darius

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CoinageCoinage

Portrait of Alexander shortly after his death, struck 42 years after his death in 281-280 bce.   THRACE, Kings of. Lysimachos. 323-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Lysimachia mint. Struck Head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, Athena seated left, holding Nike in her extended right hand, left arm leaning on her shield; lion head left above elephant left in inner left field; QE monogram on throne.

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Origins of ImageOrigins of Image

Portrait derived from Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress. On back of this coin was Zeus seated, holding eagle and scepter sickle and M before, monogram under throne. Minted by Alexander the Great (III) 336-323 BCE Greek - Babylon mint, struck 325-323 BCE

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CoinageCoinage

Portrait of Alexander minted by his General and friend, Ptolemy I, with in 18 years of Alexander's death. Egypt, Ptolemy I, 310-305 B.C. rare bare breast variety AR Tetradrachm, 15.67g. 28mm. struck c.310-305 B.C. Head of the deified Alexander the Great r. wearing elephant skin. Rv. Athena striding r. holding spear and shield; eagle on thunderbolt at feet; monograms in fields to l. and r.; test cut in field to l. Toned. On most reverse dies for this type, Athena is wearing an aegis which covers her torso; on this unusual die, she wears only a chiton over her torso which is open to reveal a bare breast. 

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Sculpture Sculpture

Head of Alexander the Great.  The Macedonian king is represented as a youth with luxuriantly wavy locks which rise upward from above the middle of his forehead like a lion's mane, a characteristic known from all Alexander portraits.  Probably an original work of the sculpture, Leochares, carved around 330 BCE. (Acropolis Museum, Athens)

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Pompey as Hair ApparentPompey as Hair ApparentPompey, ca. 50 B.C. (marble)

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The Hair, the Hair…The Hair, the Hair…

Portraits of Augustus served as symbols of his political agenda rather than corresponding to his physical features as described in written sources. Augustus is always shown in an ideal, classicizing style, and he never ages over the length of his reign. One constant feature of Augustus's portraits is his hairstyle, with its distinctive forked locks of hair on his forehead.

This portrait was carved about the middle of the first century A.D., after Augustus' death in A.D. 14. (Getty Museum)