By War Museum
War Museum
The birth of Alexander the Great, 356 B.C., Pella
Alexander was born on 20 July 356 B.C. in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedon. His father was Philip II and his mother was Olympias.
Alexander the Great as a child (1733) by Bernigeroth Johann MartinWar Museum
On the day he was born, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the world, burned to the ground. The oracles interpreted this event by saying that the goddess was absent, because she had gone to attend the prince’s birth.
Horse’s Head by Tombros MichaelWar Museum
Alexander the Great tames Bucephalus, 344 B.C., Pella
King Philip of Macedon refused to buy the giant black Thessalian horse brought to him by the merchant Philonicus, since none of his men could tame it.
So, thirteen-year-old prince Alexander approached the beast, tamed it and rode it, gaining a valuable ally, Bucephalus, who was to be his companion for the next 20 years of his life.
Alexander the Great meets Diogenes the Cynic, 336 B.C., Corinth
The Cynic philosopher Diogenes was not aware of the arrival of the Macedonians in Corinth.
Alexander and Diogenes (1696) by Schoonebeek AdriaanWar Museum
So, Alexander visited him in person while he was lying on the ground basking in the sun, and asked him what wish he would like Alexander to make come true.
Demonstrating his indifference towards riches and power, the philosopher asked the King to move so as not to hide the sun.
Alexander the Great cuts the Gordian Knot by Tzanoulinos PraxitelisWar Museum
Alexander the Great cuts the Gordian Knot, 333 B.C., Gordion
Alexander arrived at Gordion, where he learned of the chariot whose yoke was tied so intricately that it was impossible to distinguish either the beginning or the end of the knot.
According to an ancient oracle, the one who managed to untie it would become ruler of Asia. Alexander tried unsuccessfully to untangle the knot and then drew his sword and cut through the knot completely.
Alexander the Great declared son of Zeus Ammon (1696) by Schoonebeek AdriaanWar Museum
Alexander the Great declared son of Zeus Ammon, 332 B. C., Siwa Desert
During his advance into Egypt, in order to legitimise himself as the heir of the Pharaohs, Alexander visited the Oracle of Ammon-Ra at the Siwa Oasis.
The snake that appeared to him there was interpreted as a divine sign by the priests, who proclaimed him son of the King of the gods, Amon Zeus. From that point forward, Alexander established himself as the ruler of Egypt and was deified in the eyes of enemies and allies alike.
Darius' Family (1852) by Edelinck GérardWar Museum
Alexander the Great honours Darius, 330 B.C., Persepolis
With the retreat of the Persian army following the Battle of Gaugamela, Satrap Bessus staged a coup and deposed King Darius.
In the panic caused by Alexander’s arrival in Ecbatana, the conspirators stabbed the Persian King and left him to be found by the Macedonians.
Darius' Family (1852) by Edelinck GérardWar Museum
Alexander showed exemplary respect to the family of the dead Darius, and sent his body to Persepolis, where it was buried with full honours.
The Wedding of Alexander the Great at Susa (1883) by Unknown engraverWar Museum
Alexander the Great marries Roxane, 327 B.C., Sogdian Rock
Despite the defeat of the Persians, Satrap Oxyartes barricaded himself on the Sogdian Rock and continued his resistance until the Macedonian army forced him to surrender. At one of the festivities that followed, Alexander met Roxane, daughter of Oxyartes, and fell madly in love with her.
Roxane soon became his first wife, and the marriage marked the wider acceptance of Alexander as the new ruler by the army and lords of Sogdiana.
Alexander the Great gives Porus back his kingdom, 326 B.C., Nicaea
“Treat me as a king would treat another king” said the defeated and captured Porus to Alexander after the Battle of Hydaspes.
Alexander gives Porus back his Kingdom by Blaise Simonet Jean-BaptisteWar Museum
Indeed, impressed by the Indian monarch’s valour and military prowess, Alexander freed him and appointed him Satrap, giving him not only the lands he previously controlled but even more.
The Crossing of the Gedrosian Desert by UnknownWar Museum
Alexander the Great crosses the Gedrosian Desert, 325 B.C., Gedrosian Desert
After the Macedonians refused to advance further east of the Hydaspes River, Alexander headed with half his army towards Babylon, through the Gedrosian Desert.
During the exhausting sixty-day march, one third of the warriors perished. When he was offered a helmet with the only water that had been found, Alexander poured it onto the burning sand, declaring that he would be the last to quench his thirst.
The Death of Hephaestion by Tzanoulinos PraxitelisWar Museum
Alexander the Great loses Hephaestion, 324 B.C., Ecbatana
When Alexander returned to Ecbatana, he organised celebratory games, during which his closest friend Hephaestion fell ill with a strong fever.
The General’s excessive eating and wine drinking and his disregard for medical advice led to his death. Alexander fell into uncontrollable grief and gave his beloved fellow warrior an overly grand funeral, before carrying his ashes to Babylon with divine honours.
The Death of Alexander the Great by Unknown engraverWar Museum
The death of Alexander the Great, 323 B.C., Babylon
Alexander was preparing his invasion of Arabia when, after a great feast, he fell gravely ill. Sources attribute his death sometimes to heavy wine drinking and sometimes to conspiratorial poisoning.
On 10 or 11 June 323 B.C., Alexander the Great died at the age of 33, without having been defeated in a single battle and having left his kingdom to “the most powerful” successor.
