hunter, Heracles. 34 Two Macedonian coins depict the head of Heracles with a lion headdress.
Though there is no specific association with Alexander or the monarchy, it is evident that this
motif was circulating within Macedonia. 35 Alexander certainly embodied this image, as
iconography of Alexander often presented him as the wearer of a lion-skin helmet to further
align himself with his mythological ancestor. 36 It would have been extremely embarrassing
for a king to be saved, because it implied that they were a poor hunter and thereby a weak
warrior. 37 This embarrassment would have been amplified for Alexander, a descendant of
the great warrior Heracles, to have been bested by a mere Page. Though, if this was the
reason for Hermolaus’ extreme punishment, it certainly implies that either Alexand er was
losing dominance of his courtiers, or that he at least felt threatened, because he exerted
such a strong exhibition of power upon a misbehaving Page.
There is a discrepancy with Alexander’s behaviour, as it was certainly erratic when
someone intervened in the hunt. For example, in a hunting expedition accounted by Curtius,
a ‘lion of extraordinary size rushed to attack the king’ and Lysimachus raised his spear to the
wild beast in protection of the king. 38 Unlike Hermolaus, Lysimachus was not flogged nor was
his horse removed, but he did suffer for his attempt to save Alexander. 39 One possible
reason for this shift in reaction is due to Lysimachus’ higher status. With Hermolaus there
was less chance of receiving criticism for ordering a severe punishment. 40 This theory does
have some rationality if one is considering the fact that though the Pages joined the plot, no
34 Carney, ‘ Hunting ’ , p. 60 35 Carney, ‘ Hunting ’ , p. 61 36 Ada Cohen, ‘Turning Heads: Alexander and the Animals’, Illinois Classical Studies, 43. 1 (2018), pp. 88 – 136 (p. 112) 37 Carney, ‘ Hunting ’ , p. 64 38 Curtius, History of Alexander 8.1.14-19
39 Carney, King , p. 215 40 Carney, King , p. 215
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