about Alexander’s court in consideration to both Macedonian and Persian traditions. This is
a crucial aspect to lend more focus to because the hunting incident and the subsequent
responses at court hig hlight the lack of stability and order within Alexander’s court. In
addition to this, the Page’s Conspiracy hunting motif is an excellent comparison point to
other moments in Alexander’s reign, where hunting and court protocol had a predominant
focus such as with Craterus and Lysimachus.
As previously mentioned, scholars usually conclude that Hermolaus was enraged
because Alexander embarrassed and berated his attempt to reach manhood by striking a
boar. 20 This notion is not only based on assumptions, but it also neglects one Macedonian
protocol for another. Royal Youths were not powerful entities in Macedonian court, they
were considered as ‘hostages’ to ensure obedience from their elite families, and the king
was allowed to flog basilikoi paides as a form of punishment for misconduct or negligence. 21
Philip II was notorious for enacting severe punishments on Royal Youths, and yet Alexander
was viewed as tyrannical by Hermolaus and his fellow Pages. 22
Sabine Müller suggests that the Pages’ reacted differently to Alexander because they
viewed him as hubristic for removing Hermolaus’ horse. This act supposedly went beyond
punishment, Alexander in affect had removed Hermolaus’ status as an elite individual. 23 This
notion is quite reasonable considering the overall importance of hunting to elite men.
Nevertheless, it does disregard the significance of the flogging element in the hunting
episode. In the Hellenic world flogging occurred between teacher and student, husbands to
20 Carney , ‘ Hunting ’ , p. 62; Carney, King , p. 215 21 A. B. Bosworth, ‘Alexander and the Iranians’, The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 27 (1980), pp. 1-21 (p.13); Carney, King , p. 209; Müller, pp.26-27; Tony Spawforth, p. 85; Curtius, History of Alexander 8.6.5-6 22 Müller, p. 27; Carney, King , p. 213-214; Hammond also provides examples of Philip punishing basilikoi paides for disobeying orders, pp. 264-265 23 Müller, p. 27
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