Anti-Alexander? The Image of Demetrius Poliorcetes in Plutarch’s “Life of Demetrius”

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.24.02

Keywords:

Demetrius, Alexander, Plutarch, Macedonia, Imitation

Abstract

The assumption that imitation of Alexander the Great played a key role in the image of Demetrius Poliorcetes has been broadly accepted by many researchers. The main source on this subject is Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius where the author directly compares these two Macedonian kings and depicts Demetrius as a failed imitator of Alexnader. However, the juxtaposition of numerous other parts in that biography with fragments of Life of Alexander demonstrates that Plutarch purpose was creating the image of Demetrius as a sort of anti-Alexander.

Author Biography

Tomasz Zieliński, Uniwersytet Jagielloński

Mgr Tomasz Zieliński – born in 1994 in Nowy Sacz (Poland). In 2018 he graduated in Historical Studies at the Jagiellonian University on the basis of thesis Diadochi and their armies. Troop’ strenght and provenance during the diadochi wars (323–301 B.C.). His scientific interests are focused on history of Hellenistic world, especially on diadochi wars and reign of Demetrius Poliorcetes.

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Published

2021-12-28

How to Cite

Zieliński, T. (2021). Anti-Alexander? The Image of Demetrius Poliorcetes in Plutarch’s “Life of Demetrius”. Collectanea Philologica, (24), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-0319.24.02

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No. 24 (2021): Ad fontes. Tradycja antyczna i jej recepcja

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