Reginald Walter Macan, Herodotus, The Seventh, Eighth, & Ninth Books with Introduction and Commentary

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Ἀλέξανδρος ὧδε ἐγένετο, ‘the generation of Alexander was on this wise.’ The pedigree of Alexander compares favourably with the Achaimenid, Perdikkas the founder ranging exactly with Achaimenes, while by the affiliation on to the Temenid and Herakleid genealogies it leaves the Achaimenid far behind. If the Makedonian genealogy be placed side by side with that of the Spartan Herakleids, Perdikkas appears almost contemporary with the kings Polydoros (Agid) and Theopompos (Eurypontid), at the epoch of the Messenian war, or circa 730 B.C. (7 names=circa 230 years). Eusebius (Chron. p. 169= Diodor. 7. 16) gives only 199 years from the accession of Perdikkas to the death of Amyntas, but prefixes 101 years for the three predecessors of Perdikkas, and so reaches about 800 B.C. as the epoch of the Makedonian mouarchy instead of 700 B.C.; see below. The figures in Clinton Fasti ii.3 274 work out lather differently.

Ἀμύντεω: cp. 5. 17 supra, where Amyntas I. has something of a distinctive character, in contrast to his hot-headed son. Before him the kings, back to Perdikkas, are mere names. He is given a reign of 49 years: ob. circa 498 B.C.

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Ἀλκέτεω: the name (Ἀλκἐτας, Ἀλκέτης) appears Greek enough, and is not confined to the Makedonian pedigree, in which it frequently recurs; a Lakedaimonian of the name in Xenoph. Hell. 5. 4. 56. The king is given a reign of 18 years.

Ἀέροπος: on the name cp. c. 137 supra. He is given a reign of 20 years by the Chronicon. The name recurs as that of a reigning king in the fourth century, who, according to Polyain. 2. 1. 17, attempted to bar the return of Agesilaos (in 394 B.C.).

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Φίλιππος is given a reign of 33 years. The name occurs in the family during the fifth century, cp. Thuc. 1. 57. 3 etc. (a son of Alexander), and was not uncommon elsewhere (cp. 5. 47). In the fourth century it was destined to be eclipsed only by the name Alexander itself.

Ἀργαῖος is given a reign of 31 years (Euseb. l.c.). The name is Greek enough, and comes near the Ἀργεάδαι, Ἀργαῖοι, or Ἀργεῖοι, who play so important a part in the whole story (cp c. 137 supra). It recurs as the name of an authentic king in the fourth century: Diodor. 14. 92. 4 “ἔνιοι δέ φασι μετὰ τὴν ἔκπτωσιν τοῦ Ἀμύντου” (383 B.C.) διετῆ χρόνον Ἀργαῖον βασιλεῦσαι τῶν Μακεδόνων, τότε δὲ Ἀμύνταν ἀνακτήσασθαι τὴν βασιλείαν.

Περδίκκης: on the name cp. c. 137 supra. He is given a reign of 48 years, which would make the epoch of the kingdom 697 B.C., or circa 700 B.C. To this date the Chronicon, following the story as given in Theopompos (see c. 137 supra), adds 101 years (=798 B.C., or circa 800 B.C), allowing Tyremmas 43 years, Koinos 28, and Karanos, the founder according to that story, 30. The pedigree here given is doubtless official, and was, perhaps, constructed for Alexander I., though the prominence of the name Perdikkas might tempt one to depress the genealogical essay to a date after the accession of Perdikkas II. The pedigree may, nevertheless, be authentic, at least in its later members. Alexander must have produced a pedigree before he was admitted to compete at Olympia (cp. my notes to 5. 22), not later than 500 B.C. But the legendary apotheosis of Perdikkas may be an afterthought; or else Alexander gave his (eldest?) son the name of the reputed Founder of the House, in order the better to publish his claims.