1. The murder of cleitus 328BC
Video clip #26

2. Who was Cleitus?
Called ‘Cleitus the black’ “a naturally surly person with a bad temper” (Plutarch)
Cleitus sister had been a nurse of Alexander when he was a baby
Commander of royal squadron of companion cavalry
Alexander’s family friend, friends with his father, Philip. He was 20 years older than Alexander
Had saved Alexander’s life at the battle of Granicus by cutting Spithridates arm.

3. Symposium ‘drinking together’ 1) Deipnon (meal)
2) Cleansing/wreathing, libation/hymn
3) Symposium proper
The type of night and discussion whether it was politics, philosophy, friendship, entertainment, wildness…
… depended on the wine/water ratio
‘drinking together’
Male symposiasts;
Female entertainers/slaves
(music, dancing, service, sex)
‘To those who mix and drink wine moderately, it gives good cheer. Mix it half and half, and you get madness; unmixed, bodily collapse.’

5. Drinking games
Balancing games
Kottabos (flicking the dregs)

6. Cleitus the Black – in Samarkand, after the execution of Bessus, 328 BC

7. What happened? See ‘Study materials 10’ p.17 A drinking symposium
Both Alexander and Cleitus were very drunk

8. After… Alexander lay in his room refusing to eat or drink for 3 days
He felt terrible for killing his friend
The army also convicted Cleitus of treason after his death, thereby making Alexander’s action quite lawful
This quarrel highlighted the deep divisions between Alexander and the older Macedonians

9. Alexander’s response
In the heat of the moment, “he pulled the spear out of the corpse and made to kill himself”, before being carried out forcibly to his bedroom.
He isolated himself (as Achilles), refusing to eat and drink for three days.
He was persuaded by soothsayers that the deed was caused by the wrath of Dionysus and consoled by the sophist, Anaxarchus, who said all acts of a king were “just”.

10. Plutarch – stands up for Alexander’s actions
Alexander did not act “intentionally”.
He was provoked, when drunk, by Cleitus’ “evil genius”. Cleitus was “naturally surly” and had “a savage temper”.
Alexander was “stung” by Cleitus’ very personal “taunts” about his relationship to Zeus Ammon.
Alexander was concerned that Cleitus was “creating divisions among the Macedonians”.
Cleitus was uncompromising – “he would not give way … he would still not give way.”