ALEXANDER THE GREAT. Alexander III of Macedon (From 20/21 July 356 to 10/11 June 323 BCE) commonly known as Alexander the Great [Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας, Aléxandros ho Mégasiii from the Greek ἀλέξω alexo to defend, help + ἀνήρ aner man] was a King of Macedon a State in Northern Ancient Greece. Born in Pella in 356BCE Alexander was tutored by Aristotle until the age of 16 (Sixteen). By the age of 30 (Thirty) he had created one of the largest empires of the Ancient World stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas. He was undefeated in Battles and is considered one of Historys Most Successful Commanders. His empire stretched from the modern-day Greece to the modern-day Pakistan. Alexander succeeded his father King Philip II of Macedon to the throne in 336 BC after Philip was assassinated. Upon Philips death Alexander inherited a strong Kingdom and an experienced army. He had been awarded the Generalship of Greece and used this authority to launch his fathers military expansion plans. In 334BCE he invaded the Achaemenid Empire, ruled Asia Minor, and began a series of campaigns that lasted ten years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. He subsequently overthrew the Persian King Darius III and conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire. At that point, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River. Seeking to reach the Ends of the World and the Great Outer Sea he invaded India in 326 BCE but was eventually forced to turn back at the demand of his troops. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BCE without executing a series of planned campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia. In the years following his death a series of civil wars tore his empire apart resulting in several states ruled by the Diadochi Alexanders surviving generals and heirs. Alexanders Legacy includes the Cultural Diffusion his Conquests Engendered. He founded some twenty cities that bore his name, most notably Alexandria in Egypt. Alexanders Settlement of Greek Colonists and the resulting Spread of Greek Culture in the East resulted in a new Hellenistic Civilization aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the Byzantine Empire in the mid 15th (Fifteenth) Century. Alexander became Legendary as a Classical Hero in the Mold of Achilles and he features prominently in the History and Myth of Greek and Non-Greek Cultures. He became the Measure Against which the Military Leaders Compared themselves and military Academies throughout the world still Teach his Tactics. In his early years, Alexander was raised by a nurse, Lanike, sister of Alexanders future General Cleitus the Black. Later in his childhood Alexander was tutored by the strict Leonidas a relative of his mother and by Philips General Lysimachus. Alexander was raised in the manner of Noble Macedonian Youths Learning to Read, Play the Lyre, Ride, Fight, and Hunt. When Alexander was 10 (Ten) years old a trader from Thessaly brought Philip a horse which he offered to sell for 13 (Thirteen) Talents. The horse refused to be mounted and Philip ordered it away. Alexander however detecting the horses fear of its own shadow asked to tame the horse which he eventually managed. 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. Macedon is too small for you and bought the horse for him. Alexander named it Bucephalas, meaning Ox-head. Bucephalas carried Alexander as far as Pakistan. When the animal died (Due to old age, according to Plutarch at age 30 (thirty)) Alexander named a city after him Bucephala (near present city of Jehlam). When Alexander was 13 (Thirteen) Philip began to search for a Tutor and Considered for Highest Academics as Isocrates and Speusippus the latter offering to Resign to take up the Post. In the end Philip chose Aristotle and provided the Temple of the Nymphs at Mieza as a Classroom. In return for Teaching Alexander Philip agreed to rebuild Aristotles 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. Mieza was like a Boarding School for Alexander and the Children of Macedonian Nobles such as Ptolemy, Hephaistion, and Cassander. Many of these students would become his Friends and future Generals, and are often known as the Companions. Aristotle taught Alexander and his Companions about Medicine, Philosophy, Morals, Religion, Logic, and Art. Under Aristotles Tutelage Alexander developed a Passion for the Works of Homer and in particular the Iliad Aristotle gave him an Annotated Copy which Alexander later carried on his Campaigns. __________________________________________________________________________ The Ancient Olympic Games [Ancient Greek: τὰ Ὀλύμπια; ta Olympia; the Olympics] were a series of Athletic Competitions among Representatives of City-States of the Ancient Greece. They were held in Honour of Zeus, and the Greeks gave them a Mythological Origin. Historical Records indicate that they began in 776 BCE in Olympia. They continued to be Celebrated when Greece came under Roman Rule until the Emperor Theodosius I suppressed them in 394 CE as part of the Campaign to Impose Christianity as the State Religion of Rome. The Games were usually held every 04 (Four) years or Olympiad which became a Unit of Time in the Historical Chronologies. During the Celebration of the Games an Olympic Truce was enacted so that Athletes could Travel from their Countries to the Games in Safety. The Prizes for the Victors were Wreaths of Laurel Leaves. The Games became a Political Tool used by City-States to Assert Dominance over their Rivals. Politicians would Announce Political Alliances at the Games and in Times of War Priests would Offer Sacrifices to the gods for Victory. The Games were also used to help spread Hellenistic Culture throughout the Mediterranean. The Olympics also featured Religious Celebrations and Artistic competitions. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was Counted as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Sculptors and Poets would Congregate each Olympiad to Display their Works of Art to would-be Patrons. The Ancient Olympics had fewer Events than the Modern Olympic Games and only Freeborn Greek Men were allowed to participate although a Woman Bilistiche is also mentioned as a Winning Chariot Owner. As long as they met the Entrance Criteria Athletes from any City-State and Macedon were Allowed to Participate although the Hellanodikai the Officials in Charge allowed King Alexander I to Participate in the Games only after he had to Prove his Greek Ancestry. The Games were always held at Olympia rather than alternating to different locations as is the tradition with the Modern Olympic Games. Victors at the Olympics were Honoured and their Feats Chronicled for Future Generations. __________________________________________________________________________ Since Prince Alexander was the Most Outstanding Student among all his Companions in All the Subjects being Taught to them! Therefore once he was asked by his Companions to Participate in the Olympic Games of that very year as it was Highly Certain that Alexander would Definitely be Victorious in All the Olympic Games and would thus Add Even Much More Honours to his Credit. But Alexander replied I shall never Play Olympics Against the Greek Athletes at the Olympia! But I shall Play Wars Against All the Emperors and All the Kings of All the Countries of the World in the Battle Grounds of their Own Lands!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:53:28 +0000
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