The Ptolemy Painting? Alexander's “right-hand man” and the origins of the Alexander Mosaic

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Abstract

This article revisits the origins of the Alexander Mosaic at Pompeii by focusing on the figure standing at Alexander's right hand. The starting point is Andreas Rumpf's suggestion that this “right-hand man” may be the patron of the original painting, who wished to advertise his own role in the represented battle. It is argued that Ptolemy I is perhaps the strongest candidate on historical grounds, and that interesting connections can be drawn between the mosaic and the historian Kleitarchos, who worked at the Ptolemaic court. Circumstantial support for a Ptolemaic connection is supplied by other finds from the House of the Faun, three of which are briefly re-examined.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)306-321
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Roman Archaeology
Volume35
Issue number1
Early online date2 Nov 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

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