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ALEXANDER THE THIRD ("THE
GREAT") - THE FIRST YEARS
Legend says he was born on the same day that the Temple
to Artemis at Ephesus (one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world) burned down. No one knows for sure, but it was definitely
in the summer of 356 BC. His real name was, Alexandros.
Alexander had a sister, Cleopatra.
His first teacher was Leonidas, uncle to his mother, Olympias.
Leonidas was later replaced by Lysimaho, who was the one
who brought Alexander close to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.
Lysimahos used to call Alexander, "Achilles".
Alexander made friends with an older boy named Hephaestion.
They became very close friends, and this friendship was
to last right through their (short) lives.
Alexander's tutor in his teens was Aristotle. Alexander
was a good scholar and learned quickly. He loved philosophy,
politics, medicine and, of course, Homer's poem Iliad and
Odyssey. By all accounts he slept with a copy of the Iliad
under his pillow. He studied with Aristotle away from court
and with a group of friends.
Bucephalas
Alexander's horse Bucephalas
was a magnificent black stallion which had a white blaze
on his forehead and had been a gift to Alexander. Originally,
Phillip II was going to purchase the horse for himself,
but thought Bucephalas was too unmanageable. Alexander made
a wager with his father that he could tame and ride the
horse. Alexander had noticed Bucephalas was afraid of his
shadow on the ground. After turning the horse into the sun
and away from the shadow, Alexander quickly quieted the
mount down and proceeded to ride the horse.
Alexander becomes 16
When Alexander was 16, he
was made regent of Macedonia by his father, Phillip II.
Some border tribes were stirring things up so he set to
it. A few weeks later, his first city modestly called "Alexandroupolis"
was in place. After this short spell as regent, our hero
then went to battle alongside Phillip. Inevitably successful,
the most famous episode here is when Alexander saved Phillip
from an angry mob.
Phillip divorced Olympias
and decided to marry again. The chosen girl was a Macedonian
named Cleopatra (Olympias was not Macedonian). At the wedding,
feast a drunken Attalus (the girl's uncle and guardian)
toasted the happy couple and spoke of his hope for a legitimate
heir to the Macedonian throne. Alexander was by now the
half Macedonian son of a divorced queen, Attalus was effectively
calling him a bastard. He took immediate offence to this
and hurled his goblet at Attalus's head. Words were exchanged.
Phillip staggered to his feet and lurched at Alexander,
sword drawn. He was so drunk he fell down. Another very
famous quote slots in here, Alexander said: "Look lads,
this is the guy who wants to cross from Europe into Asia,
and he can't even cross over the table."
After that incident, Alexander
and his mother ran to her childhood home, Epirus. Phillip
eventually made peace with Alexander, but was never forgiven
by him. Shortly after Alexander's return, Phillip was murdered.
Alexander was the only possible successor and seized the
throne.
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ORIGIN OF
THE MACEDONIANS
THESSALONIKI
HISTORY OFTHESSALONIKI
ALEXANDER THE THIRD
("THE GREAT")
Copyright©
hellenic cyprus
2002
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