routsounmanman said:
At least I offered some evidence, if not completely reliable, to the table. And just so we know, if the Macedonians weren't in fact Greek what were they? |
Assuming you belive Alexander the 1st story...
Some Dorians who left what was considered hellenistic soil and mixed with some other ethnic groups who conquered and assimilated tribes already present, and were not seen as greeks by those Dorians (and others) who became the collection of loose city states bound to each other by there shared culture.
People who also spoke two different languages. One of the common greek of it's time used to communicate with others in rthe region (Common greek of course only being amongst those who had to deal with the other nations in the area.) Also a second language derived from doric and local languages that could not be discerned by the people of greece, so if it was a doric dialect it was quite different from the doric greek.
Therefore they are not greeks.
Just how an Italian descended from a germanic tribe would not be seen as french as well because some germans tribes became the franks. If France was then to invade Italy, Italians woudl not suddenly become french.
I believe they were seen as pretenders who as first with Alexander the 1st claimed heritage from hercules and thus was alowed to enter the olympic games due mostly to politial pressure. After all he was quite helpeful giving them advice even under persian rule. (Despite the fact that many macedonians and likely the leaders were of dorians and his claims that he was from the ancient greeks may be true.)
I mean how else does one proves his hertiage to a mythical character is quite an interesting question.
Either way it should be noted that many did not wish to run with him as they saw the Macedonians as not greek and it took a ruling from the Hellandoikai to let him in.
Even this much of a connection I would put in doubt as basically the only reason we think this is because Alexander 1 said so.
Basically I believe the majority of greek states believed them to be frauds who were allowed in to the olympics due to a made up heritage. Why else would other macedonians not be allowed why would he have to prove it? Simple, they weren't seen to have the same culture, and identified as "greeks" or "Hellinistic people" if you perfer do to there "barbarian" like culture.
