Aristander of Telmessus in For other uses, see Caria (disambiguation). Caria (Greek Καρία, καρες/καρικοι kares/karikoi) was a region of Asia Minor, situated south of Ionia, and west of Phrygia Major and Lycia. Their name appears in a number... Caria was Bust of Alexander III in the British Museum. Alexander III, in Greek ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Megas Alexandros) (late July, 356 BC– June 10, 323 BC), King of Macedon ( 336 BC- 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the... Alexander the Great's favorite Seer has several possible meanings: A fortune teller or prophet The fictional character on the television series Charmed The Seasonal energy efficiency ratio standard for air conditioning appliances This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. If an... seer. The ancient sources place him interpreting Omens or portents are signs encountered fortuitously that are believed to foretell the future. Their interpretation is a form of divination. The augur and haruspex of ancient Rome were professional readers of omens. The augurs tried to read the future in the flight of birds. The haruspex sought omens in... omens from the conqueror's birth to his death. Although details are variously given, and some incidents are fictitious, Aristander was clearly an influential presence during Alexander's campaigns, and played an important role in uplifting the morale of the Macedon (aka. Macedonia from Gk. ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ) was the ancient Greek state of Macedonia in the central-northern part of ancient Greece bordering with the ancient Greek state of Epirus on the west and the ancient region of Thrace on the East. Alexander... Macedonian army. There are indications he wrote divinatory works, either before, during or after the expedition, although it is also possible these works were spuriously attributed.

Aristander in the sources

(A represents Lucius Flavius Arrianus Xenophon (c 92-c 175), known in English as Arrian, was a Roman historian. He was born in Nicomedia (now Izmit), the capital of the Roman province of Bithynia, in what is now north-western Turkey. Although he was a Roman citizen, he spoke and wrote in... Arrian, P Mestrius Plutarch (c.45-c.120) was a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist. Born in the small town of Chaeronea, in the Greek region known as Boeotia, probably during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius, Mestrius Plutarch travelled widely in the Mediterranean world, including twice to Rome. He had... Plutarch, C Quintus Curtius Rufus was a Roman historical writer in the first or second century AD, generally thought to have written under the reign of Claudius. His only surviving work, Historiae Alexandri Magni, is a biography of Alexander the Great in Latin in ten books, the first two of which are... Curtius, D Diodorus Siculus was a Greek historian, born at Agyrium in Sicily (now called Agira, in the province of Enna). Jerome dates Diodorus floruit to 49 BC (Chronica, s.a. Abraham 1968), which is supported by Diodorus own statements. The earliest date Diodorus mentions is his visit to Egypt in the... Diodorus, J Justin or M. Junianus Justinus or Justinus Frontinus, 3rd century Roman historian. Of his personal history nothing is known. He is the author of Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV, a work described by himself in his preface as a collection of the most important and interesting passages from the voluminous Historiae... Justin, S Strabo (squinty) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called Pompeius Strabo. A native of Sicily so clear sighted that he could see things at great distance as if they were nearby was also called Strabo. Strabo... Strabo, Iter. the Itinerarium Alexandri. Passages in which Aristander is mentioned by name are marked with an asterisk.)

1. Philip II of Macedon (Macedonia) (382 BC - 336 BC), King of Macedon (ruled 359 BC - 336 BC), was the father of Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedon) and Philip III of Macedon. Portrait of Philip II of Macedon, found at Vergina Born in Pella in 382 BC, he was... Philip dreams he sealed up the womb of his wife Olympias (Greek: Ολυμπιάς) (d. 316 BC) was an Epirote princess, a wife of Philip II of Macedon and the mother of Alexander the Great. According to several legends, Olympias was impregnated not by Philip, who was afraid of her and her affinity for... Olympias, and that the seal bore a lion device. Aristander interprets the dream optimistically. (*P 2.2–3; Ephorus (c. 400-330 BC), of Cyme in Aeolia, in Asia Minor, was a Greek historian. Together with the historian Theopompus he was a pupil of Isocrates, in whose school he attended two courses of rhetoric. But he does not seem to have made much progress in the art, and... Ephorus FGrH 70 217)
2. Statue of For other senses of the word Orpheus, see Orpheus (disambiguation). The head of Orpheus, from an 1865 painting by Gustave Moreau. In Greek legend, Orpheus was the chief representative of the arts of song and the lyre, and of great importance in the religious history of Greece. The mythical figure... Orpheus in Pieria sweats. Aristander interprets optimistically. (*A 1.11.1–2; *P 14.5; Iter. 17; Ps-Calisthenes 1.42)
3. Army comes across a fallen statue of Ariobarzanes, former satrap of In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of the Anatolian highlands, part of modern Turkey. It had a rich mythological heritage, as the homeland of the Great Mother Cybele, and an influential history, before it was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders, then briefly conquered by its neighbor... Phrygia. The seer “Alexander” [Aristander?] interprets predicts the victory at Granicus. (D 17.17.6–7)
4. An insistent swallow bothers the drowsing Alexander at Map of the Aegean Sea, showing the location of Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey) Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum), an ancient Greek city on the southwest coast of Caria, Asia Minor, on a picturesque and advantageous site on the Ceramic Gulf or Gulf of Cos. It originally occupied only the small island of... Halicarnassus. Aristander interprets the event to mean that a plot will be revealed to Alexander. (*A 1.25.6–8)
5. Macedonian soldiers engaged in the siege of Tyre (native Phoenician Ṣur, Latin Tyrus, Akkadian Ṣurru, Tiberian Hebrew צר Ṣōr, Greek Τύρος Týros, Arabic الصور aṣ-Ṣūr) is an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea... Tyre discover that some of the ration bread is “bloody.” Aristander forecasts that Tyre will be taken (because the bread is bloody on the inside). (*C 4.2.14; 17.41.7)
6. Alexander dreams that Heracles invited him into Tyre. Aristander interprets this to mean that the city will be captured, but with Herculean effort. (*A 2.18.1, C 4.2.17)
7. Alexander, besieging Tyre, dreams about a mocking Satyrs (Satyri) in Greek mythology are half-man half-beast nature spirits that haunted the woods and mountains, companions of Pan and Dionysus. Although they are not mentioned in Homer, in a fragment of Hesiod they are called brothers of the mountain nymphs and Kuretes, and an idle and worthless... satyr. In Artemidorus was a professional diviner and author known for an extant five-volume Greek work Oneirocritica, (English: The Interpretation of Dreams). Artemidorus was surnamed Ephesius, from Ephesus, on the west coast of Asia Minor, but was also called Daldianus, from his mothers native city, Daldis in Lycia. He lived... Artemidorus Aristander and in P “seers” play with words (“sa tyros”="tyre is thine") to decide that Alexander will take the city. In Ps-Calisthenes the Satyr also gives him a cheese (“tyros”) to trample. (Artemidorus, Interpretation of Dreams 4.23–24; P 24.3–5; Ps-Calisthenes 1.35; Artemidorus incident unnoticed by Jacoby)
8. Aristander, examining entrails, declares that Tyre will be taken that month, even though it is the last day. Alexander decrees a two day change in the calendar, but then takes the city the same day. (*P 25.1–2)
9. During the siege of Gaza, a bird drops something on Alexander and is caught. Aristander predicts personal danger for Alexander that day, and is proven right. (*A 2.26.4–27.2; *C 4.6.10–13; *P 25.3–4; Iter. 46–7)
10. Foundation of Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria (in Arabic, الإسكندرية — al-Iskandariyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the... Alexandria. Alexander outlines city with barley meal. In P, S, Itiner. and Frag. Sab. birds descend upon it. Aristander projects a prosperous future. (*A 3.1.5–3.2.2; C 4.8.6; P 26.5–6; S 17.1.6; Itiner. 49; FGrH 151=Frag. Sab. 11; others)
11. Eclipse occurs 12 days before Gaugamela. Aristander (in A) or “Egyptian soothsayers” (in C) interpret the omen favorably. (*A 3.7.6; C 4.10.2–7; see P 31.4)
12. Alexander conducts sacrifices with Aristander the night before Gaugamela. (*C 4.13.14–16; *P 31.4; FGrH 148=Pap. Oxyrch. 1798)
13. Aristander seen among Alexander’s soldiers at Gaugamela. Points out an eagle directly above Alexander’s head. (*C 4.15.26–27; *P 33.1–2)
14. Aristander sacrifices before crossing the Tanais. He reports the omens are unfavorable. He is subsequently asked to sacrifice again and (in A) proclaims another unfavorable omen or (in C) changes his mind. C relates at length how Alexander rebukes Aristander for failing to report the first forecast directly to the king. (*A 4.4.3; 4.4.9, *C 7.7.8–9; 7.722–29, Itiner. 85)
15. Cleitus interrupts a sacrifice to sample some fruit, but the sheep follow him. Alexander orders Aristander and “Cleomantis the Spartan” to interpret the event. Both interpret the event pessimistically. (*P 50.2–4)
16. Alexander, having killed Cleitus, is consoled by Aristander, who “reminds” him of his prophecy (number 14). Alexander is cheered. (*P 52.1; see A 4.9.5)
17. Petroleum is discovered. Aristander predicts that the oil portends success after toil. (*A 4.15.7–8, C 7.10.4; P 57.3; S 9.7.3; Athen. 42 f; Itiner. 97)
18. Lysimachus (c. 360 BC–281 BC) was a Thessalian Greek officer and successor (Diadochi) of Alexander the Great, later a king (306 BC) in Thrace and Asia Minor. Bust of Lysimachus, Selçuk, Turkey Son of Agathocles, he was a citizen of Pella in Macedonia. During Alexanders Persian... Lysimachus blunders into the back of Alexander’s spear. Alexander staunches the wound with his diadem. The bloody diadem impels Aristander to predict a troubled reign for Lysimachus. J has event take place in The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. India has grown significantly, both in population and in strategic importance in the last two decades. The Indian economy is... India. (* Appian (Gr. Αππιανος), of Alexandria, Roman historian, lived during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in native place, he repaired to Rome, where he practised as an advocate. When advanced in years... Appian, Syriaca 64; J 15.3.11–14)
19. Aristander scolds Macedonians for not dealing with Alexander’s body, and predicts a bright future for the city that holds it. (* Aelianus Tacticus , Greek military writer of the 2nd century CE, resident at Rome, is sometimes confused with Claudius Aelianus. Claudius Aelianus (c. 175 - c. 235), often seen as just Aelian, born at Praeneste, was a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric who flourished under Septimius Severus and probably outlived Elagabalus... Aelian Varia Historia 12.64)

Aristander's writings

Writings by Aristander are attested in: There are two famous persons named Pliny: Pliny the Elder, a Roman nobleman, scientist and historian who died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD The great-nephew of the former, Pliny the Younger, a statesman, orator, and writer who lived between 62 AD and 113 AD. This... Pliny (Natural History 17); Artemidorus was a professional diviner and author known for an extant five-volume Greek work Oneirocritica, (English: The Interpretation of Dreams). Artemidorus was surnamed Ephesius, from Ephesus, on the west coast of Asia Minor, but was also called Daldianus, from his mothers native city, Daldis in Lycia. He lived... Artemidorus (Interpretation of Dreams 1.31, 4.23-24); Origen was a Christian scholar and theologian and one of the most distinguished of the Fathers of the early Christian Church. He was born about 182, probably at Alexandria, and died at Caesarea not later than 251. Life Early training His full name was apparently Origenes Adamantius. He was educated... Origen (Contra Celsum 6.8.10); see Lucian (citation missing). It is possible that Aristander's writings were, instead, a product of an Aristandrian "school." Aristander's home town, Telmessus in For other uses, see Caria (disambiguation). Caria (Greek Καρία, καρες/καρικοι kares/karikoi) was a region of Asia Minor, situated south of Ionia, and west of Phrygia Major and Lycia. Their name appears in a number... Caria (modern Fethiye), was a proverbial font of seers. There may be some connection between the two items of "Successor Propaganda" (18–19, favoring Lysimachus and Ptolemy) and the rule of Ptolemy the Son of Lysimachus as dynast in Telmessus. Ptolemy the son of Lysimachus inherited his father's claims, but eventually made peace with the Ptolemy III Euergetes I, (Ptolemaeus III) (Evergetes, Euergetes) (246 BC-222 BC). The third ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt, he was the eldest son of Ptolemy II of Egypt Philadelphus and Arsinoe II of Egypt. He came to power in 246 BC upon the death of his father... Ptolemy III of Egypt and the Ptolemy, one of Alexander the Greats generals, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexanders death in 323 BC. In 305 BC he declared himself King Ptolemy I, later known as Soter (saviour). The Egyptians soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaohs of independent Egypt. Ptolemy... Ptolemaic dynasty.

Bibliography

• Helmut Berve, Das Alexanderreich auf prosopographischer Grundlage no. 117
• William Steven Grunewalt, “A Macedonian Mantis” AncW 5 (1982)
• C. A. Robinson “The Seer Aristander” AJP 50 (1929).
• Timothy Spalding, "Aristander the Prophet and the Alexander Historians" (Presentation at the 1997 meeting of the Classical Association of the Middle West and South), portions given here