Opis: Alexander the Great and Macedonians Essay

Submitted By geothan
Words: 1308
Pages: 6

The banquet at Opis, north of Babylon in modern Iraq, was held by Alexander III of Macedon, who is also known as Alexander the Great, to unite the Macedonians and Persians. This event has become a symbol of the unification of the two peoples. It is known that Alexander was a great warlord and his main goal was to own as much land area as possible, namely the creation of a world empire. During his short life (namely, 33 years), he created a huge power that included a large part of Asia. Also, Alexander was still quite a difficult person, arrogant and proud, purposeful and self-confidence that helped him to control his troops and become a leader, as well as intellectually rich as it is evidenced by his military strategy, for which he is one of the great generals. After another Macedonians’ battle with the Persians, he decided to integrate the winners and losers. Alexander figured out quite dramatically with his army. He decided the oldest soldiers to let go home, rewarding them and promising to leave good memories about their service and ordered to replace them with Persian soldiers. But those few who would stay with Alexander, revolted. They interpreted the strange placement of horsemen in some measure as a betrayal. The soldiers broke down and cried to fire them all and advised Alexander to continue the war in company with his father. And Alexander, after having heard this, ordered the execution of explicit troublemakers and agitators, namely the 13 people who were just as innocent as the rest. And then the king made up his mind on an incredible in scale and in plans experiment, namely, the banquet, whose goal was the unification of the equation and the emergence of two opposing nations. Thus, Alexander has expanded its territory, took the throne of the Persian kings, and strengthened his army, which was necessary for him to gain new and new territories. During the banquet, he located the Macedonians nearer to himself, showing in such a way the fact that he would not abandon his men. Then there were the Persians, and after them the people of other nationalities, who also admired Alexander and were ready to give themselves to his troop, were set.
During the banquet, Alexander tried to do his best to do everything so that the Macedonians and Persians seemed to be under the same conditions. He honestly offended Macedonians to be set closer to him. He also granted their request to salute him with kiss. This request arose when the Macedonians, offended by their leader, but still remaining loyal to him, learned that Alexander ordered Persians to protect himself, selecting them among the captains and shield-bearing guards. He summoned the selected Persians within. Among them he distributed the commands of the brigades. He also made a rule, that only those who were proclaimed his kinsmen should have the honor of greeting him with a kiss. The Macedonians, who heard this speech, were astonished. They were yet unwilling to retire, because they had nothing else to do in their lives. They were no longer able to keep themselves in hands, that’s why they ran in the palace and cast their weapons there on front of the gate. It was the sign of supplication to the king. They were shouting too loudly, praying to be allowed to enter, as they were willing to surrender the men who had been the instigators of the protest and those who had begun the clamor. Also they declared they would not step back from the gates either