References to Alexander the Great and their Role in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius Cover Image

Odwołania do Aleksandra Wielkiego i ich rola w Żywocie Demetriusza Plutarcha z Cheronei
References to Alexander the Great and their Role in Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius

Author(s): Tomasz Zieliński
Subject(s): History, Studies of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: Demetrius; Alexander; Plutarch; Macedonia; imitation

Summary/Abstract: Among all Plutarch’s Lives of men that lived after IV B.C., the biography of Demetrius Poliorcetes contains the most references to Alexander the Great. It is noteworthy that references to this figure in comparison to other Plutarchean biographies occur in greater numbers and in various contexts. The article is an attempt to demonstrate that the references to Alexander the Great played an important role in the construction of the Plutarch’s Life of Demetrius. Thus their purpose was to portrayal Poliorcetes as a failed imitator of famous Macedonian king. The considerations presented in the article can be used as an argument for changing the image of Demetrius in scholarly literature.

  • Issue Year: XXIII/2020
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 73-89
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish