CURTIUS RUFUS’ STORY ABOUT THE «PHILOTAS’ CASE»: AUTHENTIC, QUESTIONABLE AND FICTIONAL

Kleymenov A.

The historical authenticity of the story about the events related to the execution of the Macedonian commander Philotas in Quintus Curtius Rufus story is under consideration in the article. It is defended that the information which given by the Roman writer can be divided into four categories. The first category includes information that is confidently verified by comparison with the materials of other works. They went back to the reports of early authors, and, above all, to the work Cleitarchus of Alexandria. The second category consists of unique data that are not recorded in other written monuments, but should be assessed as reliable due to their good combination with the content of ancient sources covering related issues. The third category of information is defined as the most problematic, since it includes information, whose historicity cannot be unequivocally confirmed or refuted. The latter group is represented by lengthy speeches of the participants of the events, compiled by Curtius Rufus himself in accordance with the principles of Roman rhetorical artis.

Keywords:Alexander the Great, Curtius Rufus, Philotas, Cleitarchus, Craterus, ancient Roman literature