I am conducting a high school lecture series on Alexander the Great. I am curious to determine how Alexander became know as "Alexander the Great". I am also interested in learning about unique or interesting facts about Alexander that may capture the imagination of teen age students. Any input will be most sincerely appreciated.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2004

Answers

Some historians of the Roman era begun the habit of giving the title "Great" to very important personalities in History. Alexander was obviously one of the first to get the honor. He conquered quite a lot of land in a relatively short period of time, but the most fascinating story is how he got his horse.

A Thessalian trader arrived in Macedonia and he was selling that huge and wildest of all horses. All of Phillips' friends tried to ride it at no avail. Phillip told the merchant that he should take the horse away, when the young Alexander said that he could ride the horse. Phillip was surprised and said that he would buy the horse, but if Alexander could not ride it as he promised, he would pay the price. The young prince who took notice that the horse was scared of his own shadow, turned the face of the horse towards the sun and gently rode it and took a long ride with it.

When he managed to make the horse not to fear it's shadow, he turned back to his father, who, astounded to the achievment of his son declared that Macedonia was too small of a country for his son to rule, and that he should seek to rule a larger kingdom.

The horse had a large head, as much big as a bulls' head. Due to that characteristic Alexander named it Voukephalas, or "the one with an oxes' head". The horse accompanied him as far as India, where it died because of battle wounds at an old age, and Alexander built a city in its' honor. By that time he already had an empire much larger than the one inherited by his father...

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2004

In addition to that, his empire was the largest in the world.

He won his first battle at the age of 16. Also had a town named after him at that age (Alexandropolis).

-- Anonymous, October 30, 2004

made a few mistakes, near the beggining I said eastern parents tell their children "go to be, or Alexander will get you" I mean't they say "Go to bed, or Alexander will get you"

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2004

Alexander very quikly aquired the title of the great. His nickname was megas which meant "The Great" Alexander himself was not very modest and he broadcasted this nickname of himself far and wide. Just as we know him as Alexander the great, people in the certain parts of the east know him as Alexander (Iskander in their tongue) the ea- cursed. Parents in parts of the east use Alexander as a warning to their children, they say things like "go to be, or Alexander will get you" Remember Alexander is the modern latin equivelent of his ancient Greek name which was Alexandros, so in his day he was known as Alexandros Megas. Some other facts that you might find interesting are: *he was only around 4" 11 inches tall *he thought he was decended from Herakles and Achilles *A legend says that during the siege of tyre, he went to the bottom of the Ocean in a glass submerine *His face is still on some modern coins of pakistan and they are also still worshipping Greek gods there *he was a terrible alchoholic *he was bisexul *he never lost a battle If you need any more info just let me(Bill Clay) or the other main man of this forum (Aimless) know.

-- Anonymous, October 24, 2004