Alexander the Great and the mystery of the elephant medallions / Frank L. Holt.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Holt, Frank Lee.

Contributor:

Gotham Book Mart Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Series:

Hellenistic culture and society ; 44.

Hellenistic culture and society ; 44

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.

Coins, Greek.

Coins, Ancient.

Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C--Numismatics.

Alexander.

Elephants in numismatics.

Numismatics.

Sikkeler, Yunan.

Sikkeler, Eski Çağ.

Filler, nümizmatikte.

Alexander, The Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.

Local Subjects:

Sikkeler, Yunan.

Sikkeler, Eski Çağ.

Filler, nümizmatikte.

Alexander, The Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.

Penn Provenance:

Gotham Book Mart (former owner) (Gotham Book Mart Collection copy)

Physical Description:

xv, 198 pages, 5 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, Calif. : University of California Press, [2003]

Summary:

"To all those who witnessed his extraordinary conquests, from Albania to India, Alexander the Great appeared invincible. How Alexander himself promoted this appearance - how he abetted the belief that he enjoyed divine favor and commanded even the forces of nature against his enemies - is the subject of Frank L. Holt's book." "Solid evidence for the "supernaturalized" Alexander lies in a rare series of medallions that depict the triumphant young king at war against the elephants, archers, and chariots of Rajah Porus of India at the battle of the Hydaspes River. Recovered from Afghanistan and Iraq in sensational and sometimes perilous circumstances, these ancient artifacts have long animated the modern historical debate about Alexander. Holt's book, the first devoted to the mystery of these ancient medallions, takes us into the history of their discovery and interpretation, into the knowable facts of their manufacture and meaning, and, ultimately, into the king's own psyche and his frightening theology of war. The result is a valuable analysis of Alexander history and myth, a vivid account of numismatics, and a look into the age-old mechanics of megalomania."--Jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1: Man of mystery

Chapter 2: A treasure

Chapter 3: Picking a fight

Chapter 4: Whose pachyderm, whole or halved?

Chapter 5: Another treasure

Chapter 6: A closer look

Chapter 7: A dark and stormy night.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 175-189) and index.

ISBN:

0520238818

9780520238817

0520244834

9780520244832

OCLC:

52086203

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description