Philip and Olympias: A Novel of Ancient Macedon

by Peter Messmore

  Great King Ochus awaited in Susa the arrival of his eunuch Grand Vizier. Soon after Ochus seized the Achaemenid throne, he had empowered his Grand Vizier, Bagoas, to control day-to-day operations of his kingdom. Bagoas, an Egyptian brought to Susa in his youth, was as beautiful as the most stunning of the Great King's harem women. It was common practice among the Persians to allow only castrated men into the harems that Persian kings had always kept. Most, but not all, of these eunuchs were of sweet disposition and had been highly trained as youths in the softer aspects of Persian society. Some were beautiful singers and were often heard filling the palace halls with sweet melodies. Others could dance with unrivaled grace that was the envy of the most lithesome harem members. A few recited poetry and played musical instruments.

  Bagoas walked swiftly to Ochus's throne room. His soft, round body was beginning to show excessive weight as he approached middle age. He wore the long Persian pleated robe and mantle with multicolored trousers on his legs. On his feet were boots with high heels, making him look much taller than he was. Each ear was adorned with several golden earrings, studded with tiny precious stones and gems. Around his sash was a gold chain connected to an alabaster vial. In the vial were two darkened and shriveled objects, no larger than the thumbnail of a man. The eunuch had been given his testes immediately after castration, when he was twelve. They moved alternately left and right as he entered the presence of the Great King. He lay prostrate on the floor before Ochus, giving the Great King the required Persian obeisance called proskynesis.

  The Persian throne room was larger and more opulent than any royal structure in the Greek world. Its end-walls were adorned with blue, glazed-brick tile reliefs. Its floors were a deep pattern of malachite and marble. The floor surface announced to those seeking an audience with Ochus that they were about to enter the presence of a living god. A granite forest of columns lined both sides of the main corridor. Each was trimmed in malachite and gold, and had ivory rings fastened to it. White, flaxen, and violet cords made of linen and purple thread formed canopies that wafted gently in a cool breeze. Each column was inlayed with figures of Persian bulls, unicorn-like animals, horned lions, and winged griffins. Behind both rows of columns, were rows of colorfully-clothed Persian archers.

  Ochus, sitting imperiously beneath the legendary golden plane tree, allowed the eunuch to remain in his subservient position, then finally gave permission for him to rise.

  The Grand Vizier addressed the king in Aramaic. "Great King," he said in his high-pitched voice, "crucial matters have come to my attention."

  Ochus already seemed bored. Had he not told the plump eunuch that he only wanted to hear news of substantial import? This had better not be another palace scandal that Bagoas could have handled. "Have we conquered Egypt, Bagoas? Have the Greeks invited me to become their Great King, or have his generals killed that upstart Philip? Why do you take me away from my morning pleasures?"

  Ochus was notoriously sarcastic; Bagoas was used to dealing with it. "No, Great King, it's none of those matters. It does concern the Greeks. We have learned from our Athenian agents that they are attempting to reestablish their confederation. In the past, we have tolerated them flexing their feeble naval muscle in the Aegean. But now there is serious discussion of Greek unification. Greek unification means an eventual invasion of Persia. As you see, my visit is one of Great King importance."

  "The Greeks will never unify, soft one. I'm aware that they talk of it constantly. The biggest mistake my predecessors ever made was to let Xenophon escape with his accursed ten thousand decades ago. His retreat made an indelible imprint on the Greek soul."

  "The event is a powerful force behind the nationalists, Great King. Yet we have always been successful in hiring their best mercenaries and using them to lead our armies. These purchased-Greeks know their brothers' tactics."

  Ochus, still sitting on his high throne, waved his hand in a gesture of annoyance. "Purchase more mercenaries! I also want the bribes of our Athenian agents increased. Send ten camels loaded with gold to Ephesus. Our satrap there will arrange the payments. We'll use the weakness of their interminable debates in the boule and ecclesia to our advantage. All we need is a few of their lawmakers urging wars of disunity to disrupt their plans. I don't want any difficulty with Greece until Egypt has been retaken. The wrath of Darius invades my sleep because Persia has not regained the land of the Nile."

  "The gold will be on the Royal Road before the day is out," Bagoas replied. He started to prostrate himself and leave when Ochus raised another issue.

  "What's going on with the Macedonian? Can he be bribed as easily as the Greeks?"

  "Every man can be bribed, Great King. Philip is besieging Amphipolis in Thrace. If he is successful, our gold will mean little. Our agents tell me that he has already established impressive mining operations at Crenides, near Mount Pangaeus. Given enough time, he will have more gold and silver than anyone else in Greece. Persia will soon have reason to fear the barbarian."

  "None of the Greeks, including Philip, can ever invade us if they are fighting each other. Your responsibility, Vizier, is to keep them at each other's throats. When I've retaken Egypt and put down the other rebellions, I'll lead a third expedition over there. This one will send Greeks back to living in caves." He paused in his tirade, and then became thoughtful. "Better yet, make contact with our spies in Macedon. Have them try to bribe Philip with our gold. Tell him that Persian gold is more pure than the rocks he will begin taking from Pangaeus. Start the rumor that his new Thracian gold is inferior. Perhaps the fool is ignorant enough to believe it."

  "It will be done, Great King. Bagoas knew that neither Philip nor anyone else would believe Ochus’s ridiculous rumor. The eunuch had just employed the services of three Greek engineers who had told him that Mount Pangaeus's gold and silver were as pure as any sources Persia had. He also knew that what mattered was not the gold and silver extraction but how it was smelted after it was mined. Only Persian and Greek metallurgists and engineers, mostly Athenian ones, knew how to smelt the precious metals so that near pure results were assured. If Persia were successful with its agents in Athens, no Greek mining engineers would ever be sent to Macedon. Philip would thus be deprived of the smelting knowledge. He might have the gold and silver ore, but if Persia could guarantee that its purity was low, then the economic power that went with the precious metals would be reduced.

  Bagoas bid the king farewell, displayed proskynesis, and left the throne room. There was much to do in the days ahead. The Great King's commands would be carried out, because Bagoas felt that they were needed. This was to be the easiest part of his Grand Vizier responsibilities in the foreseeable future. Most of his energies in the months ahead would focus on the formulation of a plan that would have Ochus conquering rebellious Egypt and being killed on a Sinai battlefield. If that didn't work, he could always resort to his specialty: royal poisoning.

  When Bagoas left Ochus, the Great King went to his bedchamber for his morning assignation, a regular event when he was in Susa. The bedchamber walls were covered with white, blue, and green wall hangings. They were draped from the wall to marble pillars and fastened with cords of the finest linen and royal purple cloth. Furniture and the king's bed rested on a striking red, blue, white, and black marble floor. Lapis lazuli vases and statuary were everywhere.

  The Great King's romp always occurred in the morning after he had replenished his physical and sexual energy with a good night's sleep. Although he sometimes varied the debauch, his preference involved six harem beauties. Chosen personally by Ochus the night before, each had been taught unique sexual techniques. After the king's morning bath, they were to enter his bedchamber, dressed in diaphanous silk gowns. Four of them were to function in a peripheral sexual role while servicing the king. Two of these four crouched over the king's feet and allowed him to insert his toes, most often his big toes, into their vaginas. The other two peripherals crouched over the king's outstretched hands and allowed him t
o fondle their hair-trimmed genitals. The fifth partner, always the youngest harem member in her early-to-midteen-age years, was required to crouch over Ochus' head and face while he nibbled and licked her sexual organs.

  Finally, the woman who was the most experienced was honored by being the one who performed intercourse with the monarch. These sessions, on a bed made of gold and silver, often lasted until midmorning.

  Ochus, after his explosive final burst of sexual energy, was again bathed, scented heavily with exotic perfumes, and allowed to sleep. The oppressive heat of the day rarely allowed a deep sleep, but his attendants knew that the king was replenishing his energy for the next day's tryst.

  CHAPTER 11

  Eighteen months after they met at the Samothracian Cabiri rites, Philip of Macedon and Myrtle of Epirus announced their marriage. Myrtle’s Uncle Arybbas and Philip’s marriage negotiator, Oentius, had carefully negotiated it. The coupling benefited both countries. However, more than politics was involved.

  During the eighteen months Philip had not seen Myrtle, he never had her out of his mind for very long. An indelible image of the nude woman on Samothrace had seared its way into his psyche. The king was intrigued and troubled by the strength of his emotions. Women weren't supposed to affect men this way. It was widely regarded as a serious character deficiency in the Greek world for a man to crave a woman the way he craved exquisite Myrtle.

  Myrtle also felt a strong physical and emotional attraction for the rising monarch. But more than physical and emotional attraction was involved when she consented to marry him. She saw in Philip the chance to realize her personal and religious goals. Other women might be motivated to marry only for love, but not Myrtle of Epirus. She had spent the eighteen months since Samothrace in near constant devotion. Visits to the meager dwelling of Nereid, her childhood mentor, had convinced her that marriage to Philip was in her best interest. The old woman, approaching the end of her life, had listened to the excited young princess's descriptions of the King of Macedonia. Eventually, she validated Myrtle's longings and told her that the marriage to Philip was the single way that she could achieve her destiny. Both agreed that Zeus's profound message, delivered years ago, could only be realized through the rising Macedonian monarch.

  Weeks before the wedding, Philip sent announcements to the nations and regions maintaining friendly relations with Macedon. Representatives from Illyria, Paeonia, Thessaly, primitive Triballi, and even paid agents from Thebes, Athens and, Euboea made plans to attend the ceremony. The king decreed three days of athletic games, art exhibitions, and theatrical presentations were to be held before the marriage. Everyone who saw Pella's frenetic activity was impressed with the intellectual and cultural vibrancy that suffused the city.

  The Macedonian capital had changed dramatically in recent years. Public buildings, reflecting the architectural traditions of southern Greece, now graced the palace district. Merchants, growing rich from Philip's military buildup, had constructed exalted homes on the hilltops around Pella. Work had just been completed on an expansive new outdoor stadium, where athletic events were to be held. Pella's agora was filled with copious food produce. Hundreds of pieces of Macedonian jewelry, wrought in silver and gold, were on display and for sale. Pella’s artisans excelled in making exquisite jewelry miniatures; delicate filigree was their crowning achievement. All of Greece marveled at their ability to show marvelous detail in the smallest of jewelry pieces. The king himself had often examined the tiny jewelry pieces and was astounded at how gold could be lattice-worked with such clarity and beauty.

  New clothing styles, reflecting the dress of Macedon's more cultured southern neighbors, were seen in open-air booths. A rear area of the agora was set aside for viewing and trading fine horses. Philip had established a national policy that Macedon would breed and develop the finest horses in the Aegean world. The results were just beginning to show. Only the great steeds of Persia and Thessaly could surpass the fine equines that moved nervously in their roped-off enclosures.

  Princess Myrtle arrived in Pella five days before the marriage festivities. She was given a suite of three rooms in a secluded and ornate wing of the royal palace. It was the only space large enough to hold her many trunks and religious accouterments. The palace she entered was grand beyond any building in Epirus. Now fifty years old, it had been built by King Archelaus. She was led through an open courtyard that had an immense pebble-mosaic, sixteen-pointed starburst design on its surface. It had taken a hundred slaves and artisans nearly a year to set the thousands of multicolored stones in the design, creating the national symbol of her new country. Her entourage proceeded into the peristyle courtyard, the serene heart of the palace.

  Over fifty statues of the Greek gods, Dionysus, past kings of Macedon, King Philip, and figures of Macedonian myth and folklore looked down on a square courtyard. More statues were seen in alcoves and hallways. Never had Myrtle seen so much statuary in a single building. A large marble fountain shot eight jets of water high above the courtyard. She approached her suite, which was immediately beside King Philip's. Every palace wall, hallway, and private room was covered with larger-than-life frescoes. They depicted Macedonian military, social and, religious life. Zeuxis had painted each over a period of years. The great artist's work was renowned throughout Greece. The new queen was told that birds and bees tried to get nourishment from his fresco fruits and flower depictions.

  When Myrtle entered her rooms, twenty royal attendants, young women in their middle and late teen-age years, awaited her. Ten slave women stood behind them . Smiling, she looked about. Each room had a small warming fireplace. Waist-high braziers, supported on bronze tripod legs, stood in the corner. Although expecting surroundings superior to anything that Passaron had to offer, she was astonished as she toured the suite. Her personal bath was a marvel, complete with running water and waste removal plumbing. Toilette articles covered a large marble tabletop. She examined them and was pleased; she might have chosen them herself. There were mirrors, hairpins of various sizes, combs, bottles of exotic scents, and large and small tweezers.

  To this array Myrtle added her personal collection of cosmetics, brought from Epirus in three chests. They contained a mélange of facial and body cosmetics, each in small pots. She placed a pot containing crushed antimony on the marble top. It was used to outline her captivating blue eyes. Another contained oil of mastic, an underarm cream used to prevent perspiration odor. More pots were taken from her chests and placed on the table. One had alkanet root in it, used for lip painting. Another contained a cream mixture of kohl and antimony, used for eyelid shading. A larger one had a special cream that Epirote women used to prevent wrinkles.

  One day after her arrival, Myrtle requested an audience with Philip. She wore the identical white peplos that she had worn when she had disrobed in front of him at the Cabiri rites. Her auburn hair was pulled up and back, revealing her strikingly contoured high cheekbones and flawless alabaster skin. Walking to the king's chamber, she considered her first words. A serene smile graced her face as she was presented to her future husband.

  "I trust that my appearance matches the image you have held of me during these eighteen months, Philip."

  Philip felt as though his bride were reading his mind. If anything, she exceeded that image. Myrtle had matured and was at her peak. Although pleased and sexually excited, he withheld comment. Arising from his couch he approached the princess, took her hand, and turned her around. "That image is surpassed. I feast on the countenance of the most alluring woman since Helen of Troy. You'll glorify Philip of Macedon."

  "You know of my ancestry ?".

  "I know everything about you."

  The princess smiled and looked penetratingly into the king's eyes. "Only Zeus knows everything about me. He has told me that I have a unique mission in life. Our marriage begins that mission. You and I must play our roles, but the fates have decreed our futures. It will culminate when I give you a son who will rule all."

  Th
e king, not knowing what else to do, laughed and let go of her hand. "I know little of the gods' ways. They have smiled on me so far; that's been enough. I know that I'll need their assistance as my conquests continue. Why don't you become my god liaison? Be my advisor and keep me attuned to Zeus's expectations."

  "I will," Myrtle answered haughtily. Then she launched into her agenda. "There's another important subject that we must discuss. You have another woman who is your concubine. Your marriage negotiator told me that you plan more concubines. But he told me that you would only take a single queen. He assured me that I was to be that queen, the mother of your son and eventual successor. I must hear from your lips that this is true. I must have the official title of Macedonian queen, unshared with any other woman. For if this isn't the basis of our marriage, there will be no ceremony and I'll return to Epirus."

  Philip had anticipated Myrtle's concern. He grabbed her hands and gave her the answer that she demanded. "When the heralds carried our marriage announcements, your title was written in gold. It read: ‘Myrtle, former Princess of Epirus, member of the royal Molossian family, future Queen of Macedon and mother of Philip's successor.’ Does that wording please you?"

  Myrtle rose, smiled, and answered confidently. "We are of like mind, Philip. I will be your queen in five days. You and Macedon will be proud that I have united with you."

  The groom stood and embraced his betrothed warmly. Then, unable to play the game any longer, he grasped Myrtle's firm buttocks with both of his scar-ridden hands. His queen-to-be allowed the action briefly then backed away, pointing a playful finger at the king of Macedon.