siwah

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siwah
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Siwah Oasis (western Egypt)
Coin of Ptolemy I, showing Alexander
wearing elephant-scalp headdress and therams
horns of Zeus-Ammon
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The visit to Siwah document analysis

• The oasis is south-west of Alexandria, in the
  Libyan desert.

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Reasons for the visit

• a. his passionate desire to visit the temple of
  Ammon (Arrian) pothos
• b. the infallible reputation of the oracle
• c. rivalry of Heracles and Perseus
  out-performing legendary heroes who had visited
  the oracle
• d. to learn more clearly about his affairs
  (Arrian) i.e. clarification of his family
  background
• As well
• e. propaganda advantage of leading his army as
  son of Zeus Ammon Macedonian morale, Persian
  demoralisation

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Divine favour en route

• As the men rode through featureless desert, heavy
  rain fell to provide them with water.
• When they became lost two talking snakes
  (according to Ptolemy) or two crows (according
  to Aristobulus) guided them to the oracle.

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Alexanders questions, according to Plutarch

• Q. Have any of my fathers murderers
• escaped me?
• A. No mortal is your father.
• Q. Have Philips murderers been punished?
• A. Yes completely avenged.
• Q. Would Ammon grant him
  rule over all
  lands.
• A. Yes.

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Circumstances and signficance

• The consultation was private.
• Alexander was openly addressed
• by the priest as son of the god
• he was, however, at an Egyptian
• oracle where (as pharaoh) such
• an address would be expected.
• Alexander was deeply affected to the end of his
• reign, in word and action, Alexander
• commemorated his divine paternity. (Bosworth)

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Deification SM27

1. Philip had constructed a temple-like Philippeum
   at Delphi and had a statue of himself carried
   alongside the Olympians at his daughter
   Cleopatras wedding. Was he claiming more than
   human status?
2. Heracles, the son of Zeus himself and therefore a
   hero, was received among the Olympians because of
   his labours of benefaction. Did Alexander not
   outstrip his legendary ancestors?

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• 3. At Siwah he had been addressed by the high
  priest as son of the god, destined to exercise
  world dominion.
• 4. Did not the Persians honour of their own free
  will by proskynesis an act of veneration
  appropriate in the presence of gods?