Hugh Bowden

A heavily illustrated book with short chapters on the many a various mystery cults of the classical world from roughly 500 BC to 500 AD. The central thesis is that the cults were based on shared experience more than any particular secret knowledge. Even when ancient sources hint at what the secrets were the author downplays this as part of the cult. The value and core of each cult is the experience. I found this disappointing, thinking that there would be some connection to gnostic or early scientific thought. If you are looking for that kind of information David Ulansey has a very clearly and persuasively argued book "The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries". That book argues that the Mithraic Mysteries at least did reveal a secret about Cosmology to maybe the highest level initiates. The lower levels might have participated for the emotional and experiential reasons noted in the reviewed book but there was an actual secret revealed at least in Mithrism.… (meer)

In some places the author assumes the reader already knows the story of Alexander so he skimps on details. But he explicitly states in the conclusion that his aim is to serve as a corrective to traditional sources & legends by making use of recent archeological & historical finds. His goal is to see how Alexander's contemporaries viewed the man, a prerequisite to making any realistic judgement.

All in all quite fascinating & illuminating, leaving you wanting to know more about the man who changed the world - indeed a very short introduction.… (meer)