During his stay in Egypt, he founded Alexandria, which would become the prosperous capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom after his death. [187] Furthermore, Perdiccas had read the notebooks containing Alexander's last plans to the Macedonian troops in Babylon, who voted not to carry them out.[62]. [166] Natural-cause theories also tend to emphasize that Alexander's health may have been in general decline after years of heavy drinking and severe wounds. Persian coins continued to circulate in all the satrapies of the empire.[119]. [245] The Roman era writer Athenaeus says, based on the scholar Dicaearchus, who was Alexander's contemporary, that the king "was quite excessively keen on boys", and that Alexander kissed the eunuch Bagoas in public. [116] However, the lion was also the symbolic animal of the Anatolian god Sandas, worshipped at Tarsus. [117] The silver coinage had a beardless head of Heracles wearing a lionskin headdress on the obverse and Zeus aetophoros ('eagle bearer') enthroned with a scepter in his left hand, on the reverse. [286], Emperor Julian in his satire called "The Caesars", describes a contest between the previous Roman emperors, with Alexander the Great called in as an extra contestant, in the presence of the assembled gods. [271], The core of the Hellenistic culture promulgated by the conquests was essentially Athenian. After that victory he was sent by Alexander in pursuit of Porus, to whom he was charged to offer favourable terms, but narrowly escaped losing his life at the hands of his old enemy. [91] Plutarch recounts an anecdote in which Alexander pauses and talks to a fallen statue of Xerxes as if it were a live person: Shall I pass by and leave you lying there because of the expeditions you led against Greece, or shall I set you up again because of your magnanimity and your virtues in other respects? [71] He offered a peace treaty that included the lands he had already lost, and a ransom of 10,000 talents for his family. [314] During the first Italian campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars, in a question from Bourrienne, asking whether he gave his preference to Alexander or Caesar, Napoleon said that he places Alexander The Great in the first rank, the main reason being his campaign on Asia. Alexander not only returned Ambhi his title and the gifts but he also presented him with a wardrobe of "Persian robes, gold and silver ornaments, 30 horses and 1,000 talents in gold". [167][168] According to Aelian, a seer called Aristander foretold that the land where Alexander was laid to rest "would be happy and unvanquishable forever". [149] Another theory is that his successors wilfully or erroneously misheard "ti Krateri""to Craterus", the general leading his Macedonian troops home and newly entrusted with the regency of Macedonia. BRIANT Pierre, Alexandre Le Grand, "Que sais-je? For those peculiarities which many of his successors and friends afterwards tried to imitate, namely, the poise of the neck, which was bent slightly to the left, and the melting glance of his eyes, this artist has accurately observed. [211] However, some have denied this claim as being used to emphasise the otherworldly and heroic qualities of Alexander. [241][242], Alexander also had a close relationship with his friend, general, and bodyguard Hephaestion, the son of a Macedonian noble. Alexander the Great appears in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism. [149][152] The accounts were nevertheless fairly consistent in designating Antipater, recently removed as Macedonian viceroy, replaced by Craterus, and at odds with Olympias, as the head of the alleged plot. [130], East of Porus's kingdom, near the Ganges River, was the Nanda Empire of Magadha, and further east, the Gangaridai Empire of Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. [79] To legitimize taking power and be recognized as the descendant of the long line of pharaohs, Alexander made sacrifices to the gods at Memphis and went to consult the famous oracle of Amun-Ra at the Siwa Oasis. (721) 404.30 NOK. Thus, in Bactria and Sogdiana, Alexander successfully used his javelin throwers and archers to prevent outflanking movements, while massing his cavalry at the center. Men's Coin Sterling Silver Ring, Star of Vergina Symbol of Alexander the Great Handmade Greek Signet Ring, Greek Jewelry, Men's Jewelry. There he was shown the chariot of the ancient founder of the city, Gordius, with its yoke lashed to the pole by means of an intricate knot with its end hidden. In 335 BC, shortly after his assumption of kingship over Macedon, he campaigned in the Balkans and reasserted control over Thrace and Illyria before marching on the city of Thebes, which was subsequently destroyed in battle. [292], In 39, Caligula performed a spectacular stunt by ordering a temporary floating bridge to be built using ships as pontoons, stretching for over two miles from the resort of Baiae to the neighbouring port of Puteoli. The cosmopolitan art and mythology of Gandhara (a region spanning the upper confluence of the Indus, Swat and Kabul rivers in modern Pakistan) of the ~3rd century BC to the ~5th century AD are most evident of the direct contact between Hellenistic civilization and South Asia, as are the Edicts of Ashoka, which directly mention the Greeks within Ashoka's dominion as converting to Buddhism and the reception of Buddhist emissaries by Ashoka's contemporaries in the Hellenistic world. During his first 10 years in power, he established one of the largest kingdoms of the ancient world. The wine that was served could have had higher alcoholic content compared with vintages today. [152] Early sources indicated Aristotle was considered a potential assassination plotter for rumors had it that he had not forgiven Alexander for the fall of his grand-uncle, Callisthenes, hence he was the one who supplied the poison to Cassander, Antipater's son, who then handed it to his younger brother, Iolaus, the wine-pourer of Alexander. Alexander was the first king to wear the royal diadem, a band of cloth tied around the hair that was to become the symbol of Hellenistic kingship. military genius. [17] [17], The conquest by Philip II of Pangaeum and then of the island of Thasos between 356 and 342 BC brought rich gold and silver mines under Macedonian control. With his death marking the start of the Hellenistic period, Alexander's legacy includes the cultural diffusion and syncretism that his conquests engendered, such as Greco-Buddhism and Hellenistic Judaism. During the ensuing Battle of Chaeronea, Philip commanded the right wing and Alexander the left, accompanied by a group of Philip's trusted generals. [195] Alexander personally led the charge in the center, routing the opposing army. [102], A plot against his life was revealed, and one of his officers, Philotas, was executed for failing to alert Alexander. [298], Many of the legends about Alexander derive from his own lifetime, probably encouraged by Alexander himself. The pendant has a nicely formed shape. Ronald H. Fritze, Egyptomania: A History of Fascination, Obsession and Fantasy, p 103. [144] Back in Babylon, Alexander planned a series of new campaigns, beginning with an invasion of Arabia, but he would not have a chance to realize them, as he died shortly after Hephaestion. GERIN Dominique, GRANDJEAN Catherine, AMANDRY Michel, DE CALLATAY Franois, La monnaie grecque, "L'Antiquit: une histoire", Ellipse, 2001. p117-119. [66] Alexander left the government of Caria to a member of the Hecatomnid dynasty, Ada, who adopted Alexander. For other uses, see. [61] Alexander then set out on his Asian campaign, leaving Antipater as regent. It appears that the Egyptian people did not find it disturbing that he was a foreigner - nor that he was absent for virtually his entire reign. A 1998 article in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed his death to typhoid fever complicated by bowel perforation and ascending paralysis. Alexander died a mysterious death at the age of 32 in Babylon in 323 BC. The Greek cities on the western coast of Anatolia revolted until the news arrived that Philip had been murdered and had been succeeded by his young son Alexander. Alexander is a male given name.The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Aleksander and Aleksandr.Related names and diminutives include Iskandar, Alec, Alek, Alex, Alexandre, Aleks, Aleksa and Sander; feminine forms include . In 326 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the northern territory of India. [124] Alexander was impressed by Porus's bravery, and made him an ally. A coin depicting Alexander the Great, conqueror of Egypt, with Horns of Amon on his head. Therefore, since his feet did not reach its lowest step, one of the royal pages placed a table under his feet. When Alexander died at the age of 32, he ruled a territory that spanned three continents and covered nearly 2 million square miles. [195], At Issus in 333 BC, his first confrontation with Darius, he used the same deployment, and again the central phalanx pushed through. When Alexander was ten years old, a trader from Thessaly brought Philip a horse, which he offered to sell for thirteen talents. Aristotle of Stagira (l. 384-322 BCE) was a Greek philosopher who pioneered systematic, scientific examination in literally every area of human knowledge and was known, in his time, as "the man who knew everything" and later simply as "The Philosopher", needing no further qualification as his fame was so widespread. [111] There was also considerable friction between Antipater and Olympias, and each complained to Alexander about the other. Macedon was an ancient Greek kingdom. [12], Several legends surround Alexander's birth and childhood. [102] However, Alexander's eventual decision to burn the Achaemenid palace at Persepolis in conjunction with the major rejection and opposition of the "entire Persian people" made it impracticable for him to pose himself as Darius' legitimate successor. His image, name, and legendary power remained resonantand politically visiblelong after his death. [34], After the victory at Chaeronea, Philip and Alexander marched unopposed into the Peloponnese, welcomed by all cities; however, when they reached Sparta, they were refused, but did not resort to war. [153] His extraordinary achievements, coupled with his own ineffable sense of destiny and the flattery of his companions, may have combined to produce this effect. Some films that have been shot with the theme of Alexander are: There are also many references to other movies and TV series. [62] Antipater referred the Spartans' punishment to the League of Corinth, which then deferred to Alexander, who chose to pardon them. Because of the visual similarity, they were also associated with the fossils shells of ancient snails and cephalopods, the latter now known . [181] However, the power vacuum he left in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent directly gave rise to one of the most powerful Indian dynasties in history, the Maurya Empire. [13], In his early years, Alexander was raised by a nurse, Lanike, sister of Alexander's future general Cleitus the Black. [272] The close association of men from across Greece in Alexander's army directly led to the emergence of the largely Attic-based "koine", or "common" Greek dialect. The first refers merely to the Roman battle line and does not specifically mean that the men were armed with pikes, and the second bears similarity to the 'Marian Mules' of the late Roman Republic who carried their equipment suspended from a long pole, which were in use until at least the 2nd century AD. Attalus also had severely insulted Alexander, and following Cleopatra's murder, Alexander may have considered him too dangerous to be left alive. [258] This process can be seen in such great Hellenistic cities as Alexandria, Antioch[269] and Seleucia (south of modern Baghdad). [225] His delusions of grandeur are readily visible in his will and in his desire to conquer the world,[153] in as much as he is by various sources described as having boundless ambition,[226][227] an epithet, the meaning of which has descended into a historical clich. Julius Caesar went to serve his quaestorship in Hispania after his wife's funeral, in the spring or early summer of 69 BC. The elephant had gold rings around its tusks and an inscription was on them written in Greek: "Alexander the son of Zeus dedicates Ajax to the Helios" ( ). [33], As Philip marched south, his opponents blocked him near Chaeronea, Boeotia. Ancient Greek Macedonian Symbol. While there, he encountered a statue of Alexander the Great, and realised with dissatisfaction that he was now at an age when Alexander had the world at his feet, while he had achieved comparatively little. 505.38 NOK (20% off) Silver Coin Pendant - Alexander the Great - 925 Sterling Silver 336-323 BC. Goldsworthy, Adrian (2009). [3][4], Until the age of 16, Alexander was tutored by Aristotle. [133], Alexander tried to persuade his soldiers to march farther, but his general Coenus pleaded with him to change his opinion and return; the men, he said, "longed to again see their parents, their wives and children, their homeland". [147], Given the propensity of the Macedonian aristocracy to assassination,[150] foul play featured in multiple accounts of his death. After a long pause due to an illness, he marched on towards Syria. According to local customs, the setting sun was considered a symbol of ruin. Alexander had a close emotional attachment to his companion, cavalry commander ( hipparchus) and childhood friend, Hephaestion. According to the legend, after Alexander hunted on the Mount Pagus, he slept under a plane tree at the sanctuary of Nemesis. At Termessos, Alexander humbled but did not storm the Pisidian city. Alexander III 'the Great'. [88] Alexander stayed in Persepolis for five months. ", Peter Turchin, Thomas D. Hall and Jonathan M. Adams, ", Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, pp 158. Athens sued for peace and Alexander pardoned the rebels. [309] He then travelled the known world in search of the Water of Life and Immortality, eventually becoming a prophet. [195], When faced with opponents who used unfamiliar fighting techniques, such as in Central Asia and India, Alexander adapted his forces to his opponents' style. Alexander has figured in both high and popular culture beginning in his own era to the present day. His chroniclers recorded valuable information about the areas through which he marched, while the Greeks themselves got a sense of belonging to a world beyond the Mediterranean. The death of the son necessitated the death of the father, and thus Parmenion, who had been charged with guarding the treasury at Ecbatana, was assassinated at Alexander's command, to prevent attempts at vengeance. [b] After the fall of Persia, the Macedonian Empire held a vast swath of territory between the Adriatic Sea and the Indus River. [101] However, as basic forms of community life and the general structure of government were maintained and resuscitated by Alexander under his own rule, he, in the words of the Iranologist Pierre Briant "may therefore be considered to have acted in many ways as the last of the Achaemenids. [35] At Corinth, Philip established a "Hellenic Alliance" (modelled on the old anti-Persian alliance of the Greco-Persian Wars), which included most Greek city-states except Sparta. At first, the cities must have been inhospitable, little more than defensive garrisons. [citation needed], Before his death, someone asked Alexander on who would be his designated successor should he die, he responded: "To the strongest one" and even added that there will be funeral games that would played after his death. [14], On the day Alexander was born, Philip was preparing a siege on the city of Potidea on the peninsula of Chalcidice. Reputedly, whoever could untie it would be destined to rule all of Asia. [141] In an attempt to craft a lasting harmony between his Macedonian and Persian subjects, Alexander held a mass marriage of his senior officers to Persian and other noblewomen at Susa, but few of those marriages seem to have lasted much beyond a year. Their very number, however, and the large array of monograms and symbols used to identify the mints where the coins were struck and the mint officials who supervised the work, make this one of the most . Ancient commentators were divided about whether the ambitious Olympias promulgated the story of Alexander's divine parentage, variously claiming that she had told Alexander, or that she dismissed the suggestion as impious. causing the mermaid to vanish and the sea to calm. [284] Polybius began his Histories by reminding Romans of Alexander's achievements, and thereafter Roman leaders saw him as a role model. [182], Arrian and Plutarch claimed that Alexander was speechless by this point, implying that this was an apocryphal story. Macedon is too small for you", and bought the horse for him. The Smyrnaeans sent ambassadors to the oracle at Clarus to ask about this, and after the response from the oracle they decided to move to the "new" city. [97] As Alexander approached, Bessus had his men fatally stab the Great King and then declared himself Darius's successor as Artaxerxes V, before retreating into Central Asia to launch a guerrilla campaign against Alexander. [13] Plutarch stated that Philip, overjoyed at this display of courage and ambition, kissed his son tearfully, declaring: "My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. They refused to be sent away and criticized his adoption of Persian customs and dress and the introduction of Persian officers and soldiers into Macedonian units. Philip II had waged war against the Thracians to the north, which left Alexander in charge as regent and heir apparent. The reason is that Alexander the Great wasand still isa powerful symbol of power, military genius, and conquest, whether or not this description of him is historically accurate. Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Augustus, among others, are noted as having . Philip deliberately commanded his troops to retreat, counting on the untested Athenian hoplites to follow, thus breaking their line. Alexander III of Macedon (Ancient Greek: , romanized:Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great,[a] was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Osprey Publishing. He was one of the ancient rulers who gave out his best or worse to the world. In the temple of Luxor, near Karnak, he built a chapel for the sacred barge. ", "Alexander the Great poisoned by the River Styx", "Alexander the Great and West Nile Virus Encephalitis", "Why Alexander the Great May Have Been Declared Dead Prematurely (It's Pretty Gruesome)", "The Location of the Tomb: Facts and Speculation", "The Aftermath: The Burial of Alexander the Great", "Greeks captivated by Alexander-era tomb at Amphipolis", "Archaeologist claims opulent grave in Greece honored Alexander the Great's best friend", "Hephaestion's Monogram Found at Amphipolis Tomb", "Plutarch, Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata, ", "Plutarch, De Alexandri magni fortuna aut virtute, chapter 2, section 4", "CNG: eAuction 430. He overcame this by being personally involved in battle,[89] in the manner of a Macedonian king. [275] On the Silk Road trade routes, Hellenistic culture hybridized with Iranian and Buddhist cultures. [291][292][293] The historian Christopher Matthew mentions that the term Phalangarii has two possible meanings, both with military connotations. [62] Alexander had no obvious or legitimate heir, his son Alexander IV by Roxane being born after Alexander's death. His official historian, Callisthenes of Olynthus, was implicated in the plot, and in the Anabasis of Alexander, Arrian states that Callisthenes and the pages were then tortured on the rack as punishment, and likely died soon after. [36][37], When Philip returned to Pella, he fell in love with and married Cleopatra Eurydice in 338 BC,[38] the niece of his general Attalus. [315], In the Greek Anthology, there are poems referring to Alexander.[316][317]. Fearing the prospect of facing other large armies and exhausted by years of campaigning, Alexander's army mutinied at the Hyphasis River (Beas), refusing to march farther east. None of Alexander's contemporaries, however, are known to have explicitly described Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion as sexual, though the pair was often compared to Achilles and Patroclus, whom classical Greek culture painted as a couple. [191] This was due to use of terrain, phalanx and cavalry tactics, bold strategy, and the fierce loyalty of his troops. [308] Later Persian writers associate him with philosophy, portraying him at a symposium with figures such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, in search of immortality. [73][74] The men of military age were massacred and the women and children sold into slavery. Macedonian losses were negligible compared to those of the Persians. Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC. [120] Ambhi hastened to relieve Alexander of his apprehension and met him with valuable presents, placing himself and all his forces at his disposal. [302], Alexander the Great's accomplishments and legacy have been depicted in many cultures. In early medieval times, Christian women in southern Europe believed that a coin depicting Alexander would bring them happiness on their wedding day and in their marriage. Leycester Coltman, The Real Fidel Castro, p 220. [112], In general, Greece enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity during Alexander's campaign in Asia. [162], Alexander's body was laid in a gold anthropoid sarcophagus that was filled with honey, which was in turn placed in a gold casket. [141], Historical sources frequently give conflicting accounts of Alexander's appearance, and the earliest sources are the most scant in their detail. He had conquered the Persian Empire, traveled farther east than the god Dionysus, and survived a multitude of war wounds. [122] A fierce contest ensued with the Aspasioi in which Alexander was wounded in the shoulder by a dart, but eventually the Aspasioi lost. Starting from Amphipolis, he travelled east into the country of the "Independent Thracians"; and at Mount Haemus, the Macedonian army attacked and defeated the Thracian forces manning the heights. [145], On the evening of May 29, Alexander organized a banquet for his army to celebrate the end of the campaign of India and the onset of the invasion of the Arabian Peninsula. However, Alexander was met with resistance at Gaza. [246] This episode is also told by Plutarch, probably based on the same source. 336-323 BC. Greek astronomical treatise) and Paulisa Siddhanta texts depict the influence of Greek astronomical ideas on Indian astronomy. Suspicion has fallen upon Alexander, Olympias and even the newly crowned Persian Emperor, Darius III. [15] Such legends may have emerged when Alexander was king, and possibly at his instigation, to show that he was superhuman and destined for greatness from conception. [91] Curtius claims that Alexander did not regret his decision until the next morning. [42] Philip exiled four of Alexander's friends, Harpalus, Nearchus, Ptolemy and Erigyius, and had the Corinthians bring Thessalus to him in chains. [13] During Philip's absence, the Thracian tribe of Maedi revolted against Macedonia. [110], When Alexander set out for Asia, he left his general Antipater, an experienced military and political leader and part of Philip II's "Old Guard", in charge of Macedon. Alexander eventually agreed and turned south, marching along the Indus. [223] Nevertheless, Plutarch described how Alexander was infatuated by Roxana while complimenting him on not forcing himself on her. Whereas he was of a fair colour, as they say, and his fairness passed into ruddiness on his breast particularly, and in his face. Suetonius, The Lives of Twelve Caesars, Life of Caligula 19. [76] After three unsuccessful assaults, the stronghold fell, but not before Alexander had received a serious shoulder wound. [128] The other was Nicaea (Victory), thought to be located at the site of modern-day Mong, Punjab. p. 75. [146] There are two different versions of Alexander's death, differing slightly in details. This led Hegesias of Magnesia to say that it had burnt down because Artemis was away, attending the birth of Alexander. [50] He also had two Macedonian princes from the region of Lyncestis killed for having been involved in his father's assassination, but spared a third, Alexander Lyncestes. [286] Alexander was used by these writers as an example of ruler values such as amicita (friendship) and clementia (clemency), but also iracundia (anger) and cupiditas gloriae (over-desire for glory). [219][222] However, he had little interest in sports or the Olympic Games (unlike his father), seeking only the Homeric ideals of honour (tim) and glory (kudos). [155] However, in a 2003 BBC documentary investigating the death of Alexander, Leo Schep from the New Zealand National Poisons Centre proposed that the plant white hellebore (Veratrum album), which was known in antiquity, may have been used to poison Alexander. [11] Although Philip had seven or eight wives, Olympias was his principal wife for some time, likely because she gave birth to Alexander. [citation needed], The strongest argument against the poison theory is the fact that twelve days passed between the start of his illness and his death; such long-acting poisons were probably not available. The so-called "Alexander Sarcophagus", discovered near Sidon and now in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, is so named not because it was thought to have contained Alexander's remains, but because its bas-reliefs depict Alexander and his companions fighting the Persians and hunting. The famous encounter between Alexander and Diogenes the Cynic occurred during Alexander's stay in Corinth. He had his cousin, the former Amyntas IV, executed. [67] In the following year, 332BC, he was forced to attack Tyre, which he captured after a long and difficult siege. He reportedly read this passage to his patron King Lysimachus, who had been one of Alexander's generals and who quipped, "I wonder where I was at the time. GreekMythos. [219], According to Plutarch, Alexander also had a violent temper and rash, impulsive nature,[220] and this could influence his decision making. That is the stuff that emotional leaders are made of. [57] The Macedonians marched into the country of the Triballi, and defeated their army near the Lyginus river[58] (a tributary of the Danube). [306] In the Shahnameh, Alexander's first journey is to Mecca to pray at the Kaaba. [68] At the ancient Phrygian capital of Gordium, Alexander "undid" the hitherto unsolvable Gordian Knot, a feat said to await the future "king of Asia". It is also known as the Macedonian Star, Macedonian Sun, Sun of Vergina, and Star of Vegina, after Macedonian royal tombs. Gaugamela would be the final and decisive encounter between the two. Marble portrait head of Alexander the Great: the head was cut to fit into a separately made body. In return for teaching Alexander, Philip agreed to rebuild Aristotle's hometown of Stageira, which Philip had razed, and to repopulate it by buying and freeing the ex-citizens who were slaves, or pardoning those who were in exile. [116] Alexander minted gold staters, silver tetradrachms and drachims, and various fractional bronze coins. When news of the revolts reached Alexander, he responded quickly. [102] The Greeks however regarded the gesture of proskynesis as the province of deities and believed that Alexander meant to deify himself by requiring it. [309] The majority of modern researchers of the Quran as well as Islamic commentators identify Dhu al-Qarnayn as Alexander the Great. [295] This act was in defiance of a prediction by Tiberius's soothsayer Thrasyllus of Mendes that Caligula had "no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Bay of Baiae". When Alexander reached age 13, Philip summoned Aristotle to the Macedonian court. [163] Other illnesses fit the symptoms, including acute pancreatitis, West Nile virus,[164][165] and Guillain-Barr syndrome. [29], At the age of 16, Alexander's education under Aristotle ended. On June 10, 323 BC, Alexander the Great died of fever in Babylon after battling illness for several days. [231] He began to identify himself as the son of Zeus-Ammon.

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