It was fascinating to read about Pompey, the great Roman military and political leader of the first century BCE. In his book The Frenzy of Renown Leo Braudy paints a picture of Pompey as a man with an unquenchable thirst for fame. Pompey loved to identify himself with Alexander the Great:
He wore what was supposed to be Alexander’s cloak, put Alexander’s emblem on his shield, and was portrayed with his head tossed in imitation of Alexander (and Scipio).
His self-identification as a latter-day Alexander would have been enhanced when he defeated Mithridates VI of Pontus, another Alexander wanna-be. At that time Pompey styled himself the greatest conqueror of the age. But later he suffered a humiliating defeat by Caesar in the battle of Pharsalus. Then he was forced to flee Rome. He turned to the Egyptians for help. But he was no longer viewed as the impressive man he considered himself to be. When he landed on Egyptian shores his head was cut off and sent to Caesar as a peace offering.
Pompey, like many others, took Alexander the Great as his primary model. There are Muslims today who adopt Osama bin Laden as their model. Contrary to such models, the apostle Paul exhorts, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Peter explains:
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21).
True greatness is attained not by trying to be like Alexander the Great or any other great military or political leader, but by imitating the Suffering Servant.
Posted April 8, 2010
www.facetofaceintercultural.com.au
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