Saturday, April 14, 2018

25 UNUSUAL FACTS ABOUT ALEXANDER THE GREAT: 20-16

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There is a great possibility that you are familiar with at least some facts about Alexander the Great. After all, his mark on history is quite substantial. Alexander the Great is responsible for the birth of a whole historical period, widely known as the Hellenistic age. During his reign, the Greeks saw an unprecedented scale of unification and expansion, and his campaign remains one of the greatest—if not the greatest—ever orchestrated by a single ruler. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its peak in Europe, Africa, and Asia; it underwent prosperity and progress in exploration, literature, theater, architecture, music, mathematics, philosophy, and science. 


His settlement of Greek colonies and the resulting spread of Greek culture in the East lasted many centuries, aspects of which were still evident in the traditions of the Byzantine Empire in the mid-fifteenth century and the presence of Greek speakers in central and far eastern Anatolia until the 1920’s. Even more importantly, his undefeated status and his genius battlefield tactics became the measure against which military leaders compared themselves, while military academies throughout the world still teach his strategies. The following 25 unusual facts about Alexander the Great will make it perfectly clear why his legacy continues to live on and retains a strong hold on contemporary historians. 


20 ― It is believed that Alexander had two children: Herakles, a son with his mistress Barsine, and Alexander IV, his son by Roxane. Unfortunately, after his death both children were murdered before they could reach adulthood.



Source: Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox, Image: commons.wikimedia.org

19 ― Alexander founded more than seventy cities and named at least twenty after himself, with the most popular being Alexandria in Egypt. Additionally, near the site of the battle of the river Hydaspes (now known as Jhelum River in India), Alexander founded the city of Bucephala, named after his horse, which was mortally wounded in the battle.



Source: Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox, Image: Wikipedia

18 ― He was one of the most admired foreign historical figures in Rome, even many years after his death. Maybe that’s why Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Augustus made pilgrimages to Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria.



Source: history.com, Image: Wikipedia

17 ― Can you guess what Alexander, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon have in common? You’re probably thinking is world domination but that’s not the case. They are all reputed to have suffered from ailurophobia—the fear of cats.



Source: theguardian.com, Image: Wikipedia

16 ― Alexander the Great’s military tactics and strategies are still studied in military academies today. From his first victory at age eighteen until his death (at age thirty-three) he never lost a single battle.



Source: Alexander the Great by Robin Lane Fox, Image: commons.wikimedia.org

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