Alexander A. Kleymeonov

Doctor of Science (History), Senior researcher of the Department of History and Archaeology

Tula State Lev Tolstoy Pedagogical University

(Tula, Russia)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2022-3-6-22

Abstract. The main aim of the article is identification of the circumstances of an armed duel between the Athenian Dioxippus and Macedonian Corrhagus which was during the Alexander the Great's Indian Campaign. It is determined that the reports presented in the ancient tradition about this episode go back to the information contained in the Cleitarchus’ essay. Athlete Dioxippus was an Olympic winner in pankration, known from various sources. His Macedonian opponent was noted for exploits on the battlefield, but did not hold high command posts. The reason of the collisions was a complex of contradictions between the Macedonians and the Greeks accompanying the army, participants in the fighting and court flatterers, warriors and athletes. The atmosphere of the Macedonian royal feast where the challenge to a duel was sounded played its role. Dioxippus took the challenge. Monomachia took place after permission from Alexander. It is stated that the Athenian went into battle naked in accordance with the norms of ancient Greek sports, and the weapons he chose in the form of wooden club and small cloak which were hunting equipment in nature. Conversely Corrhagus had full set of armor, sword, javelin and long spear clearly counting on a duel in the style of the Iliad. During the combat, which took place with a large number of spectators, Dioxippus, using his unencumbered weapons and athletic experience, managed to eliminate the threat posed by the opponent's shaft weapons, knock Corrhagus down and pin him to the ground. Completely unable to resist, Macedonian was released at the direction of the king. The outcome of the fight was negatively perceived by Alexander and Macedonian elite, who eventually organized an intrigue against Athenian, who lost favor with the king. Falsely accused of theft and subjected to public harassment, Dioxippus committed suicide.
Keywords: Alexander the Great, Dioxippus, Cleitarchus, pankration, sarissa, Macedonians, monomachia.

Full text of the article (PDF)

For citation: Kleymeonov, AA 2022, ‘Greek Heracles against Macedonian Ares: About the duel between Dioxippus and Corrhagus’, Tula Scientific Bulletin. History. Linguistics, issue 3 (11), pp. 6–22, http://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2022-3-6-22 (in Russ.)

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