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Classical Biography, Selected [and Tr.] From 'plutarch's Lives'.
Classical Biography Selected From 'plutarch's Lives' - and Tr. Author:Plutarchus General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1865 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: ALEXANDER. BORN B. C. 355 -- DIED 323. LEXANDER was born on the sixth of Hecatom- boeon [July], which the Macedonians call Lous, the same day that the temple of Diana at Ephesus was burned; upon which Hegesias the Magnesian has uttered a conceit frigid enough to have extinguished the flames. " It is no wonder," said he, " that the temple of Diana was burned, when she was at a distance, employed in bringing Alexander into the world." All the Magi who were then at Ephesus looked upon the fire as a sign which betokened a much greater misfortune : they ran about the town, beating their faces, and crying, " That the day had brought forth the great scourge and destroyer of Asia." Philip had just taken the city of Potidaea, and three messengers arrived the same day with extraordinary tidings. The first informed him that Parmenio had gained a great battle against the Illyrians; the second, that his racehorse had won the prize at the Olympic games; and the third, that Olympias was brought to bed of Alexander. His joy on that occasion was great, as might naturally be expected; and the soothsayers increased it, by assuring him that his son, who was born in the midst of three victories, must of course prove invincible. The statues of Alexander that most resembled him were those of Lysippus, who alone had his permission to represent him in marble. The turn of his head, which leaned a little to one side, and the quickness of his eye, in which many of his friends and successors most affected to imitate him, were best hit off by that artist. Apelles painted him in the character of Jupiter armed with thunder, but d...« less