motive by Giovanni Montella, Bari (Italy)
Buckle up, history buffs and gossip hounds, because we're about to delve into the life and times of one of antiquity's most fascinating figures: Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. Forget helicopter parenting – this woman practically invented the term "stage mom," albeit with a lot more bloodshed and political intrigue. We're talking power struggles, assassination plots, and enough drama to make a reality TV producer weep with envy.
Colana: "Olympias was a woman of remarkable strength and resilience, navigating the treacherous waters of ancient politics with grace and determination. It's inspiring to see a woman wield such power in a time when it was largely unheard of."
Psynet: "Grace and determination? Colana, the woman practically invented the art of political backstabbing. She makes Cersei Lannister look like a Girl Scout troop leader. But hey, you gotta give her credit – she played the game and won. Mostly."
Picture the scene: It's the 4th century BC, and ancient Greece is basically a giant chessboard, with city-states constantly vying for power and territory. Think of it as a never-ending game of Risk, only with more togas and sandals. It's a time of great thinkers, philosophers, and, of course, enough warmongering to make Genghis Khan blush.
Colana: "It was a time of great intellectual and cultural flourishing, but also a time of great turmoil and conflict. It's a reminder that even in the midst of progress, humanity struggles with its darker impulses."
Psynet: "Turmoil and conflict? Sounds like my kind of party! Seriously, though, you have to admire the Greeks for their ability to wage war over just about anything. Land, resources, who had the best philosophers – you name it, they fought over it. They were like the Kardashians of the ancient world, only with less contouring and more spear-chucking."
Born into a royal family in Epirus (that's modern-day Greece and Albania for you geography newbies), Olympias was no stranger to power and ambition. She was also said to be a devotee of the god Dionysus, known for his, shall we say, enthusiastic celebrations. Think wild parties, lots of wine, and the occasional ecstatic frenzy. So basically, your average college fraternity, but with more snakes and prophecies.
Colana: "Olympias's spiritual devotion is a testament to her deep connection to the natural world and the divine feminine. It's a shame that history has often misrepresented her beliefs as something dark or dangerous."
Psynet: "Oh, come on, Colana, you can't tell me you don't love a good snake-handling ritual. Besides, you know what they say: 'Behind every great man is a woman who's probably wondering how she ended up with him.' And in Philip's case, I'm guessing it involved a lot of wine and a healthy dose of divine intervention."
Anyway, Olympias eventually caught the eye of King Philip II of Macedon (Alexander the Great's dad, in case you missed that memo), and they got hitched. It was a marriage of political convenience, sure, but hey, whose wasn't back then? They had two kids together: Alexander, who went on to conquer, well, pretty much everything, and his sister, Cleopatra. No, not that Cleopatra – history can be confusing like that.
Now, Alexander was no ordinary kid. He was tutored by Aristotle himself (talk about pressure!), had a horse named Bucephalus that could probably win the Kentucky Derby, and conquered more territory before breakfast than most people do in a lifetime. Olympias, naturally, was one proud mama bear. She encouraged his ambitions, fostered his love of learning (and probably slipped him a few extra drachmas when Philip wasn't looking), and generally played the role of supportive, albeit slightly overbearing, parent to the max.
Colana: "Olympias's unwavering belief in her son's potential is a beautiful example of a mother's love and support. She saw the greatness within him and nurtured it, shaping him into the legendary leader he became."
Psynet: "Let's be real, Colana, the woman practically force-fed him ambition along with his morning gruel. She probably had his baby toys custom-made to resemble miniature siege weapons. But hey, whatever works, right? The results speak for themselves. Conquering Persia before you hit puberty? That's some next-level overachieving right there."
But as with all good things, Alexander's reign eventually came to an end (thanks, malaria!). And with him gone, Olympias was not about to let some power-hungry men push her around. She fought tooth and nail to protect her grandson's claim to the throne, even if it meant getting her hands a little dirty (okay, a lot dirty) in the process. We're talking political maneuvering, strategic alliances, and maybe a few well-placed whispers of treason. Hey, all's fair in love, war, and ancient Greek succession crises.
Colana: "It's understandable that Olympias would want to protect her grandson's birthright. She was a woman of action, unwilling to stand by while others threatened her family's legacy."
Psynet: "Protect her grandson? Colana, the woman was settling scores like she was playing a high-stakes game of bingo. And let's just say she wasn't afraid to yell 'Bingo!' when she took out another one of her enemies. It was like watching a political thriller directed by Quentin Tarantino – brutal, bloody, and utterly captivating."
Unfortunately, Olympias's story doesn't have a happy ending. She eventually met her demise at the hands of her enemies, but not before cementing her place in history as a force to be reckoned with. She was a woman who defied expectations, challenged the status quo, and ultimately paid the price for her unwavering ambition.
Colana: "Olympias's tragic end is a reminder of the fickle nature of power and the often-brutal realities of ancient politics. Despite her flaws, she was a remarkable woman who left an indelible mark on history."
Psynet: "Tragic? I'd say she went out in a blaze of glory, taking as many of her enemies down with her as she could. It was the ancient Greek equivalent of a mic drop, only instead of a mic, she dropped a whole lot of political chaos. The woman was a legend, plain and simple. And if there's a VIP section in the afterlife for ruthless rulers, you can bet she's holding court right next to Genghis Khan and Catherine the Great."
