Global sportsbrand adidas’ latest addition to its tennis shoe collection Barricade has been inspired by Alexander the Great.
Officially named ‘Barricade 2016 Alexander Shoes’, the description states that the shoes have been ‘inspired by the great Greek king’.
Reference to the ancient hero as the ‘Greek King’ is interesting to note, as Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) continue to dispute over the name and region’s history.
Along with the naming issue, FYROM has been accused of appropriating significant aspects of Hellenic culture in building its national identity, including claims to Alexander.
The shoes, which are available in colour schemes of orange and black, are being marketed with the same wording throughout the world, and include reference to the ‘Macedonian lion and star logos’.
The Barricade 2016 Alexander Shoes are yet to be released in Australia.