Mass weddings at Susa 324BC []]==

Susa

see Paul Artus p.102

Susa is the capital of Susiana.

Alexander held an expensive marriage ceremony which the Persian Princesses and other noble women were married to Macedonian Soldiers.

The wedding ceremonies lasted 5 days, held in a luxurious tent. Entertainers were recruited from all over the Greek World

Alexander married 2 Princesses, (He had already married Roxane, daughter of a Sogdian Baron in 327BC)

This time he married Stateira (the eldest daughter of Darius III) [Stateira’s sister also married off to Hephaistion]

And he married Parysatis (daughter of Artaxerxes III Ochus)

Roxane• Daughter of Oxyartes, Bactrian princess• Captured after Alexander took over the Sogdian Rock• Bore Alexander a son, posthumously (after her death) = Alexander IV

Alessandro Varotari (1588-1648), Roxane and Alexander IV

Rubens, The Crowning ofRoxane by Alexander

…Some earlier visions of Roxane

Sodoma (1525)

The Wedding of Alexander and Roxane

Mughal Indianminiature painting

The Wedding of Alexander and Roxane

90 other marriages were celebrated. Each was given an impressive dowry by Alexander (to improve relations with his troops)

Many marriages did not last after Alexander’s death but were important as they symbolised the transfer of power to the Macedonians.

The weddings were another example of Alexander’s P___ of F____

‘for the brides’ ‘how successful was this policy’

p.102he married 90 macedoniansThis was “culmination of Alexander’s policy of fusion”

Make a movie poster!- key characters, year it will be released