The History Book Club discussion
This topic is about
Ghost on the Throne
ROMAN EMPIRE -THE HISTORY...
>
SPOTLIGHTED BOOK - GHOST ON THE THRONE - Week Eight - August 31st, 2020 - September 6th, 2020 - 8. The War Comes Home (pages 197 - 227) - No Spoilers, please
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
The eighth week's reading assignment is:
WEEK EIGHT - August 31st - September 6th -> 8. The War Comes Home (197 - 227)
Chapter Overview and Summary
Chapter 8
Back in Macedon, Antipater, being very ill, designated Polyperchon as his replacement as regent. This outraged Antipater’s son Cassander, who had assumed he would get the post. After Antipater’s death, Cassander crossed the Hellespont to join forces with Antigonus. In order to improve his standing in Greece, Polyperchon reversed the order for Greek cities to become oligarchies and allowed the return of democracy. The lower classes, who had been expelled from Athens, returned in force and had revenge on the oligarchs, condemning many of them to death, in particular Phocion.
Meanwhile in Asia, Eumenes was going to join Antigonus after signing an oath to uphold the royal family, but he got a better offer from Polyperchon and Olympias to be chief defender of the royal house and commander of the Silver Shields, an elite infantry corps. In order to overcome the suspicions his new officers might have of him, he told them of a dream he had that Alexander was alive again and had told his generals only to meet in his royal tent. Eumenes had such a tent made and installed a golden throne, with a diadem, scepter and crown. Meetings were held in the tent and there were no disagreements with Eumenes.
Mod
Fight of Eumenes and Neoptolemus, illustration from book dated 1878
Discussion Topics and Questions:
1. Do you think Eumenes was correct in not wanting to head the Macedonian government, and just looking to be second-in-command?
2. Would Eumenes have been better off allying with Antigonus? After all, the last map in the book (p. 244) shows that Antigonus had control of pretty much all of Asia.
3. Did the commanders of the Silver Shields really believe that Alexander visited Eumenes in a dream, so that if they all met in a royal tent as described in the dream there would be no strife among them?
1. Do you think Eumenes was correct in not wanting to head the Macedonian government, and just looking to be second-in-command?Seems like he knew being Greek put limits on him. He could rise by fighting and through alliances but never to the top. A Greek wasn’t going to be King of Macedonia.
2. Would Eumenes have been better off allying with Antigonus? After all, the last map in the book (p. 244) shows that Antigonus had control of pretty much all of Asia.Eumenes’ legitimacy was as defender of the royal household; esp. with the Silver Shields. Not sure his army would have followed him if he attacked the royals. On the other hand, Antigonus was a friend and may have been more trustworthy in an alliance.
1. Yes, I think Eumenes was correct in not wanting to head the Macedonian government. His temperament was not suited for such a position. He was not obsessed with a lust for power. Also, he realized that the people would never accept him because of his being Greek. 2. Yes, Eumenes would have been much better off allying himself with Antigones, but he felt morally obligated to align himself with the royal Argead house. He seemed to be a man more driven by duty than power.
3. I think that some of them did believe that he appeared to Eumenes in a dream. A belief in dreams was a very powerful notion in that day. As far as the tent with the altar, I do believe that many were spellbound by it. You can still see such tendencies today in altars erected to religious leaders.
3. Not sure that they believed Eumenes’ dream, but it served as a good rationalization for following the Greek. Why did you follow the Greek? Alexander wanted us to.
Mod
Totally agree with everyone!! There is no way the Macedonians would follow a Greek for many reasons, of course, mainly, because he wasn't Macedonian, from a defeated nation, not royalty. Perhaps only if he defeated the Macedonians and killed off the existing royalty, but that's just not reality!As for believing his dream, well, I think for some, yeah, for others, ok, we can live with this. We have to remember to put ourselves in their times, without our knowledge. Jesus wouldn't be born for 300 or so years, science is pretty much rudimentary, philosophy still near the dawn, so today, we would think, haha, no way, but heck, even today we know of people who follow the craziest stuff, neglecting politics, we had Charles Manson followers, those who drank the Koolaid (Jim Jones in Jonestown Guyana), those comet UFO people (Heaven's gate), which was only a little over 20 years ago... so even education and our modern times isn't necessarily the antidote for crazy bs...
message 10:
by
Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief
(last edited Sep 06, 2020 01:44AM)
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Mod
Here is the link to the Week Nine thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Bill wrote: "2. Would Eumenes have been better off allying with Antigonus? After all, the last map in the book (p. 244) shows that Antigonus had control of pretty much all of Asia.Eumenes’ legitimacy was as d..."
Good point Bill! Such things then mattered more than today.
Bill wrote: "3. Not sure that they believed Eumenes’ dream, but it served as a good rationalization for following the Greek. Why did you follow the Greek? Alexander wanted us to."Totally agree! Apart from divinations. dreams, oracles etc being taken seriously at the time, this stratagem was convenient to all for saving face.
I pretty much agree with what has been said above and I don't think I have anything to add to this discussion.
Hello Everyone,
For the week of August 31st - September 6th, we are reading Chapter 8. The War Comes Home of Ghost On the Throne by James Romm.
The eighth week's reading assignment is:
WEEK EIGHT - August 31st - September 6th -> 8. The War Comes Home (197 - 227)
We will open up a thread for each week's reading. Please make sure to post in the particular thread dedicated to those specific chapters and page numbers to avoid spoilers. We will also open up supplemental threads as we did for other spotlighted books.
This book was kicked off July 13th.
We look forward to your participation. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders and other noted on line booksellers do have copies of the book and shipment can be expedited. The book can also be obtained easily at your local library, or on your Kindle.
There is no rush and we are thrilled to have you join us. It is never too late to get started and/or to post.
Vicki Cline will be moderating this selection.
Welcome,
~ Bentley
TO ALWAYS SEE ALL WEEKS' THREADS SELECT VIEW ALL
REMEMBER NO SPOILERS ON THE WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREADS - ON EACH WEEKLY NON SPOILER THREAD - WE ONLY DISCUSS THE PAGES ASSIGNED OR THE PAGES WHICH WERE COVERED IN PREVIOUS WEEKS. IF YOU GO AHEAD OR WANT TO ENGAGE IN MORE EXPANSIVE DISCUSSION - POST THOSE COMMENTS IN ONE OF THE SPOILER THREADS. THESE CHAPTERS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION SO WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK WITH THE CHAPTER OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY TO RECALL WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS ARE ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC. EXAMPLES OF SPOILER THREADS ARE THE GLOSSARY, THE BIBLIOGRAPHY, THE INTRODUCTION AND THE BOOK AS A WHOLE THREADS.
Notes:
It is always a tremendous help when you quote specifically from the book itself and reference the chapter and page numbers when responding. The text itself helps folks know what you are referencing and makes things clear.
Citations
If an author or book is mentioned other than the book and author being discussed, citations must be included according to our guidelines. Also, when citing other sources, please provide credit where credit is due and/or the link. There is no need to re-cite the author and the book we are discussing however.
Here is the link to the thread titled Mechanics of the Board which will help you with the citations and how to do them.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Also, the citation thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Introduction Thread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Table of Contents and Syllabus
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Glossary
Remember there is a glossary thread where ancillary information is placed by the moderator. This is also a thread where additional information can be placed by the group members regarding the subject matter being discussed.
Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Bibliography
There is a Bibliography where books cited in the text are posted with proper citations and reviews. We also post the books that the author may have used in his research or in her notes. Please also feel free to add to the Bibliography thread any related books, etc with proper citations or other books either non fiction or historical fiction that relate to the subject matter of the book itself. No self promotion, please.
Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Book as a Whole and Final Thoughts - Spoiler Thread
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Link: