Alexanders indischer Schnee, achaimenidische Wassersouvenirs und mental mind mapping

Abstract

A quote from Chares ’ Histories of Alexander tells us that Alexander took snow from an Indian city to cool his wine or perhaps to mix his wine. This use of the snow might have been primarily symbolic as a demonstration of conquest and victory. Alexander had taken possession of the region, thus of its natural resources. A similar idea is expressed by the contemporary Greek historiographer D(e)inon. According to him, the Persian kings stored water from the Nile and the Danube among their treasures as a sort of confirmation of the greatness of their empire. The historicity of this tradition is in debate. In any case, this idea will have been familiar to Alexander and his Macedonians and thus formed the ideological background of his use of Indian snow.