Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world before he turned thirty-two. However, his short life was filled with more than just battles. For instance, he was tutored by one of history's greatest philosophers. Furthermore, he solved ancient puzzles with a sword instead of his hands. Consequently, his legacy is a mix of genius and madness. Therefore, march forward into the life of the Macedonian king. You will find his story truly epic.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great never lost a single battle. In fact, military academies still teach his tactics today.
Aristotle was his personal tutor. Specifically, the famous philosopher taught the young prince for three years. Thus, he learned science and medicine early.
He named over seventy cities after himself. Consequently, there were dozens of cities called Alexandria across his empire. The one in Egypt is the most famous.
He also named a city after his horse. When his beloved steed Bucephalus died, Alexander founded the city of Bucephala in India.
Legend says he slept with the Iliad. Actually, he kept a copy of Homer’s epic poem under his pillow every night.
He solved the Gordian Knot by cheating. Instead of untying the complex knot, he simply sliced it in half with his sword. Therefore, “cutting the knot” became a famous phrase.
His eyes were likely different colors. Reportedly, he had a condition called heterochromia, giving him one blue eye and one brown eye.
Alexander the Great died at a very young age. Specifically, he passed away in Babylon at just thirty-two years old.
His body was preserved in a vat of honey. Allegedly, the honey stopped his body from decaying during the long journey back to Egypt.
He often claimed Zeus was his father. Although King Philip II was his biological father, Alexander preferred a divine origin. Thus, he called himself the son of a god.
His empire collapsed quickly after his death. Because he did not name an heir, his generals fought for control. As a result, the territory split into kingdoms.
He adopted Persian customs to unite his people. For example, he began dressing in Persian robes. However, his Macedonian soldiers hated this change.
He suffered many wounds in battle. In fact, he was once pierced through the lung by an arrow in India. Yet, he survived and kept fighting.
Roxana was his first wife. Surprisingly, she was a Bactrian princess rather than a Greek noblewoman. This marriage was a political alliance.
Finally, the cause of his death remains a mystery. While some historians blame malaria, others suspect he was poisoned by rivals.
