Dear Professor, as we know, our literary tradition for Alexander and for Macedonia comes almost entirely through Greek or Greco‑Roman authors, often writing from an Athenian perspective that tends to misread or flatten (some of) Macedonian cultural practices. And, conversely, those same authors describe the Persian court through long‑standing anti‑Asian stereotypes that distort Achaemenid culture just as much.
So I was wondering how different our picture of the Argead court might be if a Persian narrative tradition had survived. Based on what we know of Achaemenid court culture and of Macedonian customs, which aspects of Macedonian practice do you think Persian observers would have highlighted most strongly - for better or for worse?
If instead of Plutarch's we had the Parallel Lives of, say, an Achaemenid court scholar writing during Darius III reign or somewhen else down the line, what traits of Alexander (and/or of Macedonian culture) do you think he would have praised, and which would he have condemned?
I had this about half-written, then decided it might make a better short video. So here you go. The answer may surprise you, and it doesn't quite answer your question, but maybe it does. Sideways:
