Safeguards?

This is coolbert:

The idea for this blog entry thanks to a comment from a devoted reader.

The concept of the "safeguard" is a venerable tradition? NOT only a modern custom and practice having a basis in military law but having "roots" that are ancient and olden.

Here with some accounts - - "ancient" and "olden" - - of the safeguard?

First from ancient times - - Alexander the Great of Macedon, suppressing a rebellion, razing to the ground the Greek city-state of Thebes - - sparing but one structure - - the home of the poet Pindar:

"His [Pindar] house in Thebes became one of the city's landmarks, especially after Alexander The Great demolished every other house there — he left the poet's house spectacularly intact out of gratitude for some verses praising his ancestor, king Alexander I of Macedon."

Secondly from olden times the Hindu ruler Shivaji also demonstrating a benevolence during a time of war:

"during pillage of Sourate, Seva-ji, the Holy Seva-ji! Respected the habitation of the reverend father Ambrose, the Capuchin missionary. 'The Frankish Padres are good men', he said 'and shall not be attacked.' He spared also the house of a deceased Delale or Gentile broker, of the Dutch, because assured that he had been very charitable while alive."

Properties, declared inviolate, not subject to attack, even during a time of war, sacred honor being pledged, "safeguards" established and honored! War is not total chaos and anarchy.

It is noteworthy that Alexander the Great had as his tutor Aristotle. Aristotle is reputed to be the last man who knew "everything". Was during his lifetime the foremost expert on the sciences, literature, philosphy as it was understood at the time.

Alexander had an appreciation of the fine arts and was NOT a barbarian, the destruction of Thebes as a punitive measure notwithstanding!

coolbert.