|
ALEXANDER THE GREAT -
THE END
Alexander used both military and administrative skills to
build his empire. He was able to integrate the various peoples
he had conquered into a unified empire by devising appropriate
forms of administration in each region. In Egypt he became
the pharaoh. In Mesopotamia he became the great king. In
Persia, however, he kept the indigenous administrative system
intact under joint Persian and Greek rule. He founded hundreds
of new settlements, encouraging his men to marry local women.
And he manipulated the local religions to legitimize his
own rule. In creating his empire, Alexander changed the
face of the world.
Alexander was taken ill in
Babylon, and died a few days later. His last few days are
carefully documented. It took several days before he was
finally declared dead and no one really knows what he died
of. Was it poison, or just the endless campaigns catching
up with him?
If we found his body, which
was mummified and hung around in Alexandria for a good 300
years, we might get a better idea. The tomb disappeared
a long time ago. Various people stole his burial gifts,
including his nose, cloak, ring, breastplate and shield.
The thieves were people like Roman Emperors Augustus and
Caligula. Even the solid gold sarcophagus got melted down
for coinage and replaced with one of glass. The tomb disappeared
some time in the 4th century A.D.
Recently his tomb was said
to have been discovered. The new tomb is in Siwah, Egypt
and not Alexandria, where it was visited many times in antiquity,
the tomb is dedicated to Alexander. Should that surprise
us? After all, he was regarded as a God in many quarters.
Perhaps his body was taken here to save it from the ravages
of the dark ages. Will we ever know?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORIGIN OF
THE MACEDONIANS
THESSALONIKI
HISTORY OFTHESSALONIKI
ALEXANDER THE THIRD
("THE GREAT")
Copyright©
hellenic cyprus
2002
|
