The murder of cleitus 328BC

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The murder of cleitus 328BC

• Video clip 26

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Who was Cleitus?

• Called Cleitus the black a naturally surly
  person with a bad temper (Plutarch)
• Cleitus sister had been a nurse of Alexander when
  he was a baby
• Commander of royal squadron of companion cavalry
• Alexanders family friend, friends with his
  father, Philip. He was 20 years older than
  Alexander
• Had saved Alexanders life at the battle of
  Granicus by cutting Spithridates arm.

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Symposium
1) Deipnon (meal) 2) Cleansing/wreathing,
libation/hymn 3) Symposium proper The type of
night and discussion whether it was politics,
philosophy, friendship, entertainment, wildness
depended on the wine/water ratio

• drinking together

Male symposiasts Female entertainers/slaves
(music, dancing, service, sex)
To those who mix and drink wine moderately, it
gives good cheer. Mix it half and half, and you
get madness unmixed, bodily collapse.
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Drinking games
Balancing games
Kottabos (flicking the dregs)
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Cleitus the Black in Samarkand,
after the execution of
Bessus, 328 BC
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What happened?

• See Study materials 10 p.17
• A drinking symposium
• Both Alexander and Cleitus were very drunk

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After

• Alexander lay in his room refusing to eat or
  drink for 3 days
• He felt terrible for killing his friend
• The army also convicted Cleitus of treason after
  his death, thereby making Alexanders action
  quite lawful
• This quarrel highlighted the deep divisions
  between Alexander and the older Macedonians

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Alexanders response

• In the heat of the moment, he pulled the spear
  out of the corpse and made to kill himself,
  before being carried out forcibly to his bedroom.
• He isolated himself (as Achilles), refusing to
  eat and drink for three days.
• He was persuaded by soothsayers that the deed was
  caused by the wrath of Dionysus and consoled by
  the sophist, Anaxarchus, who said all acts of a
  king were just.

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Plutarch stands up for Alexanders actions

• Alexander did not act intentionally.
• He was provoked, when drunk, by Cleitus evil
  genius. Cleitus was naturally surly and had a
  savage temper.
• Alexander was stung by Cleitus very personal
  taunts about his relationship to Zeus Ammon.
• Alexander was concerned that Cleitus was
  creating divisions among the Macedonians.
• Cleitus was uncompromising he would not give
  way he would still not give way.