Finally, although this is a true story, albeit embellished by the author, there is no historical evidence to suggest that Ptolemy I was a time traveler.
April 15, 2019
Alexander Geiger
Additional Materials
Additional materials, including sources, illustrations, maps, battle depictions, an author’s blog, and descriptions of upcoming volumes, are available at AlexanderGeiger.com.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to express his gratitude to the following individuals who kindly read (and, in some cases, re-read) the manuscript of this novel and offered numerous helpful suggestions and corrections, ranging from fixing typographical errors to pointing out infelicitous phrasing to urging a restructuring of plotlines: Helene Geiger, Kathy McGowan, Aviva Schwarz, David Schwarz, Alan Unsworth, Michelle Alterman, Larry Bruck, Susan Falk, Ken Krevitz, and George Rifkin. Special thanks to Scott Schmeer of Prometheus Training, LLC for the cover design.
Any remaining mistakes are attributable solely to the obduracy of the author
.
About the Author
The author is a history buff who has always wished he could travel back in time to visit some of his favorite historical figures, places, and events. The entire Ptolemaios Saga is an account of one such extended trip, intended to witness the dawn of the Hellenistic world. The men and women who lived, strived, fought, and loved during this seminal age didn’t know their ideas, exploits, and accomplishments would reverberate all the way to the present day but, boy oh boy, did they leave a mark. Imagine being able to see, through the eyes of Ptolemaios Metoikos – who was actually there – all the adventures, sights, and colorful figures of that vibrant, memorable, and thrilling era. It’s the author’s hope that you will enjoy the ride.
In real life, the author is a graduate of Princeton University and Cornell Law School and a retired commercial litigator. He lives with his wife in in Bucks County, PA.
Please email all comments, questions, suggestions, or requests for author interviews and appearances to [email protected].
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[1] William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3.
[2] Numbers refer to year of birth and year of death, respectively. All years are B.C.E. In some cases, the actual dates are either uncertain or in dispute. In those cases, the year in question is preceded by a c.
[3] Numbers refer to years of reign.
[4] The date of Kleitos’s birth is uncertain, but he was probably several years older than depicted in this book.
[5] “Aniketos” was Alexandros’s nickname. It meant “invincible.”
[6] The Prime Directive was the paramount commandment, drummed into the heads of all time travelers, to do nothing that might influence, interfere with, or change the future course of events.
[7] Virtual Chronoportation Simulator
[8] Zoroaster Era, calculated from Zoroaster’s purported date of birth
[9] The Assyrian Empire had long since fallen to the combined assault of the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians. It was eventually absorbed into the Persian Empire. Two Persian satrapies, however, continued to use the name.
[10] For maps of locations mentioned in this book, visit AlexanderGeiger.com.
[11] 356 B.C.E.
[12] See Map 5 at AlexanderGeiger.com.
[13] See Map 6 at AlexanderGeiger.com.
[14] Koinos was Parmenion’s son-in-law. At times it seemed as if most of our commanders were related to the old man.
[15] For maps of locations mentioned in this book, visit AlexanderGeiger.com.
[16] The geographic term “Asia” had a somewhat variable meaning back then. To the Greeks, whose knowledge of Asia came principally from Herodotos, it covered a hazy expanse of land stretching eastward from the Aegean Sea but how far it extended, nobody knew. When Alexandros first crossed the Hellespont “to conquer Asia,” what he really meant was conquering the maritime provinces of Anatolia and, in his heart of hearts, he would have been pleased simply to gain control of the Troad and Ionia.
[17] The Persian Immortals were very good, highly trained, dedicated infantry soldiers. However, they were as mortal as the rest of us. They acquired their appellation as a result of the practice instituted by an early emperor of keeping additional unit members in reserve, which made it possible to replace any fallen soldiers immediately, in the midst of battle, thus maintaining the unit’s strength at 10,000 fighters, regardless of the extent of their casualties. By Dareios’s day, there was no reserve, just the 10,000 Immortals. Their numbers were likely to diminish in the course of battle.
[18] That was not their official name.
[19] See Map 7 at AlexanderGeiger.com.
[20] For an animated depiction of the Battle of Issos, visit AlexanderGeiger.com.
[21] Leukonides was the drill sergeant charged with the responsibility of turning young Alexandros and his mates into soldiers during their years at the Mieza boarding school. He was notoriously intolerant of any indulgence in luxuries.
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