Skanda-Murugan (Alexander) - Page 3 - Historum

Parashuraman · May 8th, 2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosi

The first time I ever heard of Alexander having come to India was in the context of the movie Alexander (starring that Irish chap).

I had heard of Seleucus though but that was only cos I'd seen an Indian drama series based on Chandragupta Maurya.

Wasn't Alexander called Alekshendra on that show?

Shaheen · May 8th, 2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ib-issi

As we are in speculative , the bit they seem to have left of is the AL beginning, this could not have anything to do with it being the start of the name ALLAH could it ??
just a passing thought .

Well the Persians werent Muslims now were they when Alexander invaded them. Also there are names like Ali which have the "al" in there

**Rosi** · May 9th, 2012, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

Yes,I think you are right,Rosie.

I saw my mistake after I wrote that post.Its common mistake for westerners,to confuse some aspects of Pakistan and India,I guess.

I know, I just had a pedantic moment.

Quote:

Again,I believe you are correct here,too.

I have always wondered why all the regions conquered by Alexander (and modern day countries living in them),have all adopted different names for Alex,rather than simply Alexander.I'm fairly certain it all started because Persians could not easily pronounce "Alexander",and so they adopted the form that was much easier for them, "Iskandar".However,why all the other Middle Eastern languages/nations have done the same?Do they too have difficulty saying "Alexander"?I think it is more likely they taught,starting with Medieval Arabs,that that was actually his real name,and so (again) changed it to suit their linguistic requirments.

I believe that's how the "Sikander" form got into India,through Arabs,during their conquests.They have changed from "Iskandar" to "Sikandar".

I didn't know Sikander was the local version of Alexander as I had always heard it mentioned as a code word for champ, as in a champion.

Quote:

Of course,I could be completely wrong about all this.

I think you're fairly correct.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parashuraman

Wasn't Alexander called Alekshendra on that show?

Was he? The only thing I remember about that show is a bit of Seleucus and a bit of Chanakya.

**The Imperial** · May 9th, 2012, 06:30 AM

Skanda too is South Indian. It's the name of Subramanyam, the first child of Shiva.

There's no connection between Skanda and Alexander. I have come across this nowhere.

And you people are over estimating Alexander's influence in India. By Alexander, I mean the person, and not Hellenistic influence.

He was but a blip in Pakistan, which is not even in India today. The most he could have influenced is North Western India. About 2000 km from the Nagas and Tamils.

India is huge. It's like claiming that the Mongols conquered the Europeans just because they defeated some eastern European states.

Parashuraman · May 9th, 2012, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosi

Was he? The only thing I remember about that show is a bit of Seleucus and a bit of Chanakya.

Alekshendra it was. Check out this video:

Chanakya Speech - YouTube

**Alcibiades** · May 9th, 2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Imperial

And you people are over estimating Alexander's influence in India. By Alexander, I mean the person, and not Hellenistic influence.

He was but a blip in Pakistan, which is not even in India today. The most he could have influenced is North Western India. About 2000 km from the Nagas and Tamils.

India is huge. It's like claiming that the Mongols conquered the Europeans just because they defeated some eastern European states.

I am merely speaking about folklore and legends about him,not his "influence".Those 2 things are not the same.And there ARE fair number of those in Pakistan (and some other Middle Eastern countries).

**The Imperial** · May 9th, 2012, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

I am merely speaking about folklore and legends about him,not his "influence".Those 2 things are not the same.And there ARE fair number of those in Pakistan (and some other Middle Eastern countries).

My post was merely a general reply to the thread title. I did not even read beyond the first 2 posts.

Man you have turned hostile

**Alcibiades** · May 9th, 2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Imperial

My post was merely a general reply to the thread title. I did not even read beyond the first 2 posts.

Man you have turned hostile

The tone of my post wasnt hostile,not at all.Sorry if you got that impression,my friend.I merely thought you were refering to me,and I responded trying to correct the misanderstanding.

**The Imperial** · May 9th, 2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcibiades

The tone of my post wasnt hostile,not at all.Sorry if you got that impression,my friend.I merely thought you were refering to me,and I responded trying to correct the misanderstanding.

Aha! We both misunderstood

no worries

**Rosi** · May 9th, 2012, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parashuraman

Alekshendra it was. Check out this video:

Chanakya Speech - YouTube

I see, thanks. 'Alekshendra' does sound rather Indian. If I'm not mistaken that programme was given an award for being well-researched and historically accurate so 'Alekshendra' may have been how the oldies referred to Alexander. Or it may have been a case of the makers using their creative license.