Today we visited an Archeological museum in Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Before visiting this site we we took a quick break in the city of Berea. Paul came and preached in this city, and we stopped at point where he supposedly spoke. Of course, no one is sure if that spot is the actual point where he spoke, but whether or not it is the actual spot, it is the spot where he is commemorated. It has become a piece of tradition.
Unfortunately, we could not visit the ruins of the palace because they were not open to visitors. At the museum we learned that Pella became the capital of Macedon when King Archelaus moved it from the old capital of Aegina. Later Phillip II and Alexander ruled in Pella. It is also the place where Aristotle came to tutor Alexander.
The city was founded on the Hippodamean plan, meaning that the city was laid out in a grid like system. A road from the palace led directly to the ancient agora. One of the main things sold at the agora was pottery. In order to make pottery they had to have clay. They got all the rock and junk out of the clay by placing the impure clay in a vessel of water. Soon the impurities would float to the bottom, and the usable clay would remain on top. After moulding and baking the clay, the vessels would be sold. Pottery was one of Pella's primary exports.
One thing that was particularly interesting was the stone mosaics. Most of the mosaics we've seen on this trip have been glass or tile, but the ones are made from stones. This makes the floor have a really interesting and natural texture, but the color range is limited. While all mosaics are detailed and impressive, these ones seem to add a whole other step to the process: they have to find the right colored rocks, with the right shapes, to put into the mosaic. One mosaic that particularly struck me was the lion hunt mosaic where a large lion was flanked by two men with swords. I'd never realized that rocks could make such beautiful scenes.
Alexander the Great is considered one of the best, if not the best, general the world has ever seen. He came, he saw, and then he conquered. This whole great legend started in Pella. Even though Pella was the birthplace for one of the greatest rulers who ever lived, ancient Pella has fallen into ruin. It's impossible for any man to stop the force of time.
This leads me to the age old discussion of the pen verses the sword. With the sword we can conquer cities, such as Troy, that will eventually fall into ruin. The pen is a little more powerful than that. Though the citizens of Athens put Socrates to death, we can still read about his life and works. Words are the monuments that have stood the test of time, while cities fall to ruin. Long live the pen.
Ultimately this shows us that ideas have stood the test of time. Men though every culture and generation want to know about the world and how it works. Worse that relate to this theme can be appreciated by all people.
Alexander the Great was considered one of the best and conquered so much, but what was interesting was in one of the monasteries the tour guide pointed out a something of him (a picture? a relic? don't quite remember) but I remember the inscription said something along the lines of "Death you could not conquer," which I thought was interesting. Although he was a great general and commander, his success was only worldly.
ReplyDelete"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6.20)"
Jesus preached that the pleasure and possessions in this life do not measure to eternal salvation. The church was clearly trying to demonstrate this idea through Alexander the Great who was so admired but would never conquer death.
Your blog and Linh's comment beg the question: how do you leave a legacy? In the Epic of Gilgamesh (was that WCI?), he realizes that immortality or legacy could be accomplished in city walls and buildings. However, you Kara asserted that its the pen, not the sword. Even Alexander the Great's cities that he conquered and even Uruk, Gilgamesh's city, were eventually destroyed. Alexander the Great does leave a legacy however. Not only is it through the writings about him, but also the impact that he made on the different cultures which still survive today.
ReplyDeleteLinh, thanks for reminding me about the "death you could not conquer" line. It's quite applicable to what I was writing about, and that is the point I was trying to get across. We've seen beautiful ruins, studied many leaders, but there is only one person who has ever conquered death. It is only by following him that we might also conquer death.
ReplyDeleteDavid, the questions of life and legacy can be seen throughout human history, it's one of the threads that binds all people together. Remember in Monkey when he ate the giant peaches from heaven? It was more than just rebellion, it was an attempt to conquer death.