Alexander the Great - Source Analysis
Source 1: Justin 9.7.1-3
Who does the source blame for the death of King Philip II?
This source blames Olympias, Alexander's mother, for the death of Philip. It discusses how Olympias encouraged Pasuanias to kill Philip because she was angry that Philip had divorced her and that he preferred Cleopatra over her. This source also states that Alexander knew about the plan to kill his father, and was ok with it because he was afraid he would lose the throne.
How is the source biased?
Justin wasn't known to write particularly reliable sources, as he used secondhand information from another secondary source, rather than from primary sources like other writers. This source doesn't include a lot of detail and could have been made up, as there were a few other people who had motives just as Olympias and Alexander did.
Source 2: Plutarch, Alexander 10
Who does the source blame for the death of King Philip II?
This source also blames Olympias for the death of Philip. It discusses how she persuaded Pasuanias to kill Philip by encouraging his anger towards him. Pasuanias was angry because Attalus and Cleopatra sent people to abuse him, and Philip did nothing about it. The source also states that Alexander also played a part in the murder, as when Pasuanias came to him after the abuse, he quoted Medea threatening "the bride and groom, and the father of the bride."
How is the source biased?
Plutarch was known for writing anecdotes that were sometimes made up in order to make his writing more interesting. He got his information on Alexander from the writings of Callisthenes and Cleitarchus. Alexander restricted what Callisthenes wrote about him, and Cleitarchus didn't accompany Alexander and wrote a long time after Alexander died, therefore his information could have been wrong. This source doesn't include any motives, so it doesn't give us a lot of information.
Do you believe either source?
Although there are many other sources that document this event differently and no-one will ever know who actually killed Philip, it is likely that Olympias and Alexander did have something to do with the death, but I don't know if they were the instigators or solely responsible.
