Source Analysis of Plutarch’s The Life of Demetrius
by The Life of Demetrius, which was written as a biography to one of Alexander the Great’s successors Demetrius I Poliorcetes, the King of Macedonia. Plutarch wrote The Life of Demetrius as one in a series of biographies about some of the most important people after the death of Alexander the Great.
The information about the siege of Rhodes stands up well to being examined in conjunction with other accounts of these events. In section 23 of The Life of Demetrius Plutarch portrays D as being an implacable enemy of Cassander. There is a great deal of surviving evidence about his bitter rivalry between D and Cassander that verifies Plutarch’s account of what happened. Plutarch rightly mentions Demetrius I Poliorcetes’s grim determination to carry on the struggle even after the shattering defeat at Ipsus; he would aim to regain all that he had lost and more besides. As far as Plutarch was concerned that way in which Demetrius I Poliorcetes waited to avenge Cassander by taking Macedonia off the latter’s son was a typical example of his political astuteness, not to mention ruthlessness. Finally, section 24 of The Life of Demetrius is a sound evaluation of the reasons why Demetrius I Poliorcetes lost some of his territories especially Macedonia in the last few years of his life. However, losing favour amongst his subjects was arguably not as harmful as the emergence of new and younger rivals that were determined to wrestle control of Macedonia away from him, which they actually achieved in 88BC.29
Unfortunately for Demetrius I Poliorcetes the gaining control of Greece, parts of Asia Minor and also Macedonia was still an attractive proposition for men with great ambitions to subdue or conquer. Wherever he went he faced rivals and enemies with similar skills, and levels of determination to succeed that match his own. Demetrius I Poliorcetes as a highly experienced military leader made such meticulous preparations before attacking the Rhodeans as he expected them to put up a stem resistance to his army’s attacks against them. He was also well aware of the difficulties he faced before he had any realistic chance of finally taking the island. Plutarch implies that Demetrius I Poliorcetes was well aware of the difficulties he faced in defeating the Rhodeans due to his previous experience of warfare and sieges in particular. Demetrius I Poliorcetes knew that the Rhodeans were actually in some very strong defensive positions and were well led before he decided to attack them. Demetrius I Poliorcetes had shown his skills as a military leader he was unable to take the wealthy prize of Rhodes after all. Plutarch’s account of the siege of Rhodes seems to tally pretty closely in detail to other descriptions given by other writers and remaining witness accounts. Throughout his military and also his political career Demetrius I Poliorcetes had seen his position wax and wane with each successive victory or defeat. He had defeated and had also been defeated by Ptolemy and Cassander two of his greatest rivals, yet neither defeated him completely.
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Crystal D, (1998) The Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Hammond N, (1991) The Miracle that was Macedonia, Sidgwick and Jackson, London
Lane Fox R, (2005) The Classical World – An epic history of Greece and Rome, Penguin, London & New York
Lenman B P (2004) Chambers Dictionary of World History 2nd edition, Chambers, Edinburgh
Speake, (1994) The Penguin Dictionary of Ancient History, Penguin, London
1 Speake, 1994 p. 197
2 Hammond, 1991 p. 92
3 The Hellenistic Age-Tarn,W.W.
4 Warry, 1998 p. 114
5 The Hellenistic Age-Tarn,W.W.
6 The Greek Questions of Plutarch-Plutarch.Arno Press Plutarchs Lives-Wardman, London
7 Lane Fox, 2005 p. 244
8 Hellenistic Civilisation-Tarn,W.W.
9 Hellenistic Civilisation-Tarn,W.W.-
10 Warry, 1998 p. 117
11 Speake, 1994 p. 197
12 The Greek Questions of Plutarch-Plutarch.Arno Press Plutarchs Lives-Wardman, London
13 Crystal, 1998 p. 750
14 Lane Fox, 2005 p. 247
15 Lane Fox, 2005 p. 246
16 www.attalus.org/old/demetrius1.html
17 Warry, 1998 p. 118
18 Speake, 1994 p. 197
19 Lenman,2004 p. 120
20 Warry, 1998 p. 119
21 www.attalus.org/old/demetrius1.html
22 Lane Fox, 2005 p. 249
23 Speake, 1994 p. 197
24 www.attalus.org/old/demetrius1.html
25 www.attalus.org/old/demetrius1.html
26 www.attalus.org/old/demetrius1.html
27 Hellenistic Civilisation-Tarn,W.W
28 Speake, 1994 p. 197
29 The Greek Questions of Plutarch-Plutarch.Arno Press Plutarchs Lives-Wardman, London
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