Alexandros és a barbár nők
Alexander the Great and the Barbarian Women

Summary/Abstract: In Greek and Latin literature the notion barbarian was usually coupled with negative stereotypes: immorality, savageness and unrestraint. Whenever an author deviates from this negative representation we can always ask: why? The starting point of our paper is an example of such deviation: the way Curtius Rufus sees barbarian women, his motives to depict such women in line with or contradicting this topos. As all used Cleitarchus as a source, I also compare Curtius Rufus’ account with the parallel passages from Diodoros and Justin. On the basis of the comparison, we can establish that Curtius Rufus used the representation of women as a means to portray Alexander whose metamorphosis into a despot was due to luck and Eastern morals. The negative stereotype of the barbarians is used as a vehicle for this in the case of Cleophis, Thais, Thallestris and the wifes of Sisimithres and Spitamenes. But the representation of beautiful and moral barbarian women is equally deliberate. The appearances of Sisygambis and Stateira highlight Alexander’s initial eminence. While the wife of Hystaspes can still provoke generosity in the ruler, with the appearance of Rhoxane we already see the Alexander turning into a tyrant. Semiramis, who urges Alexander into constant rivalry, is also included with a purpose. In conclusion, we can claim that Curtius Rufus skillfully uses the opportunities offered by the topos. Whenever they support his message, he accept them, and when they do not fit into his historiographic concept, he makes modifications, in line with the objectives of moralizing historiography, so as to instruct his readers rather than just providing a chronicle of events.

• Details
• Contents