Friday, September 23, 2011

Image: Alexander et Lacedaemonii


M0975 - M0976 - M0977

976. Alexander et Lacedaemonii. Alexander, superato Dario et Persarum regno in suam potestatem redacto, sapiens altum et, ob prospera fortuna qua tum usus fuerat, divinos spiritus gerens, Graecis scripsit, ut se deum facerent; satis equidem stulte, neque enim quae natura ei largita non fuerat, haec ab hominibus petendo consequebatur. Itaque, aliis aliter statuentibus, Lacedaemonii decretum eiusmodi fecerunt: “Quoniam Alexander deus esse vult, esto deus.” Laconice simul et patrio more redarguentibus Lacedaemoniis stuporem et vecordiam Alexandri.



M0976 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 2.19. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. For other stories about Alexander, see #82, #872, or #913. For a note about Sparta and the Spartans, see #878.