Dialogues · Character

Philip

Historical figure, likely Philip of Macedon, discussed as a ruler example.

minor

First appearance: i

Philip's tie to Drusus is one of the pressures that moves Dialogues—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Alexander's physician, who gave him medicine despite a warning of poison, and whose innocence Alexander trusted.

In the storyXXIIIOpen this moment free

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With Drusus (friendship): Drusus and Philip are close friends and allies, often supporting each other in court intrigues. With Alexander the Great (family): Alexander the Great is the son of King Philip II, their…

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See Philip in i

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Philip sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Family
Psychological
Other

Character groups

Diverse historical and philosophical figures
Stoic and political exemplars
Ambition and fate exemplars
Protagonist

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the argumen…

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Relationships

Drusus
friendship · positive
Drusus and Philip are close friends and allies, often supporting each other in court… How this plays out →
Alexander the Great
family · ambivalent
Caligula
psychological · ambivalent
Drusus
friendship · positive
Drusus and Philip are close friends and allies, often supporting each other in court… How this plays out →

Drusus
Drusus and Philip are close friends and allies, often supporting each other in court intrigues.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great is the son of King Philip II, their relationship defined by ambition and conflict.
Caligula
Caligula is obsessed with Philip of Macedon, seeing him as a model of ruthless power and conquest.
Drusus
Drusus and Philip are close friends and allies, often supporting each other in court intrigues.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Philip in i

In the story

Philip appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XXIII
Alexander's physician, who gave him medicine despite a warning of poison, and whose innocence Alexander trusted.
XXIII
Praised for enduring insults patiently, exemplified by his gracious response to Demochares' rude demand to hang himself.
XXIV
Cited as an example of allowing a man to curse him with impunity.
Book II: On Clemency and the Nature of Mercy
Mentioned as an example of a ruler (implied context of cruelty or clemency).
XXXVII
King of Macedon who unwittingly rewards a soldier's ingratitude by granting him another man's estate, then corrects the injustice by ordering the property restored and the soldier branded.
XXXVIII
Philip is cited as a ruler who refuses to let a shipwrecked man keep a seashore, instead insisting that the man's branded face serve as a public reminder of the sacred duty of hospitality.

Chapter companion notes

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See Philip in i

See Philip in XXIII