Plutarch distinguishes their collapses: Demetrius was deserted by his soldiers, but Antony deserted his soldiers by fleeing during battle.
Plutarch’s Parallel Lives , specifically of the Loeb Classical Library edition , presents a fascinating departure from his typical biographical formula. While Plutarch generally highlights virtuous men to inspire imitation, the pairing of Demetrius Poliorcetes and Mark Antony serves as a stark "negative example". Plutarch's Lives, Volume IX: Demetrius and Anto...
Neither death is praised. Demetrius is criticized for allowing himself to be captured and "tamed like a wild beast" in prison. Antony ’s suicide, while deemed "pitiful and ignoble," is slightly preferred only because it prevented him from falling into enemy hands. Why Plutarch Wrote Them Neither death is praised
Volume IX remains a pivotal text for understanding the transition from the Hellenistic world to the Roman Empire, offering the sole continuous account of Demetrius’ career and a nuanced (if moralizing) look at the man who nearly ruled Rome alongside Cleopatra. Plutarch • Comparison of Demetrius and Antony Why Plutarch Wrote Them Volume IX remains a