Let's Talk About Myths, Baby! | Greek Mythology & the Ancient Mediterranean The Worst Friendship Breakup of All Time (The Wars of the Diadochi and the Hellenistic Period)
Dec 9, 2025
Dive into the chaotic aftermath of Alexander's reign! Discover the power struggles of the Diadochi as Ptolemy rises in Egypt. Witness shocking betrayals, failed marriages, and a friendship that shatters among former companions. Experience Eumenes' strategic challenges and the drama of mutinies leading to Perdiccas's downfall. This tumultuous period reveals a bizarre mix of ambition, betrayal, and the tragic fate of some legendary figures in ancient history!
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Scale Made Chaos Inevitable
- Alexander's empire was enormous and resource-diverse, making Greece relatively minor in material terms.
- Liv Albert frames the post-Alexander chaos as inevitable given the empire's vast scale and varied regions.
Eumenes: Loyal Secretary Turned Satrap
- Eumenes, once Alexander's secretary, loyally backed the Argead heirs and received Cappadocia as a satrapy.
- He struggled to fully take control because Achaemenid officials still held real power there.
Loyalties Split Quickly Among Generals
- Antigonus refused to help Eumenes, foreshadowing rivalries among Alexander's former generals.
- Perdiccas enforced loyalty, installed Eumenes, and sought trials and punishments for dissenters.
