30/07/2024
Alexander the Great, whose name etymologically derives from the Greek words "alexo" (meaning "to ward off" or "to protect") and "aner" (meaning "man"), was born in 356 BCE in Pella, Macedonia. The name Alexander means "protector of men" .
His father, Philip II of Macedon, whose name comes from the Greek words "philos" (meaning "friend" or "lover") and "hippos" (meaning "horse"), was the king of Macedon and a reformer who managed to unify the Greek states under his hegemony. His mother, Olympias, was a princess of Epirus, and her name refers to the mountainous region of Greece, Epirus, where the worship of the gods and the Olympic Games held significant importance .
Alexander's people, the Macedonians, were a Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. They spoke the Greek language and actively participated in Greek culture. Alexander's generals, such as Ptolemy, Antigonus, Seleucus, and Cassander, were also Greek and took over the governance of various parts of his empire after his death, preserving and spreading Greek culture and language throughout the known world .
The word "Macedonia" comes from the ancient Greek word "Makednos" (Makednoi), which means "tall" or "big." This etymology is linked to the ancient Greeks' perception that the Macedonians were tall and strong people . The region of Macedonia was located in the northern part of ancient Greece and became a significant center of Greek culture and power, especially during the reign of Philip II and Alexander the Great .
Alexander the Great and the Macedonians were fully integrated into Greek cultural and athletic life, including the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games, which began in 776 BCE in Olympia, were exclusively for Greeks. The Macedonians, as Greeks, actively participated in the Games, competing in various sports and honoring the gods of ancient Greece .
Alexander's father, Philip II, had won at the Olympic Games, which confirms the Greek heritage of the Macedonians. Philip won the horse race in 356 BCE, the same year Alexander was born. This victory was particularly prestigious and affirmed the aristocratic and Greek lineage of the Macedonian royal family .
Participation in the Olympic Games, along with cultural and linguistic traditions, solidifies the Macedonian identity as an integral part of the Greek world. The Macedonians, led by Alexander the Great, preserved and spread these Greek traditions and values throughout their empire .
A significant figure in Alexander's life was his tutor, Aristotle. Aristotle was born in 384 BCE in Stagira, a city located in the region of Chalkidiki in northern Greece. The name "Aristotle" derives from the Greek words "aristos" (meaning "best") and "telos" (meaning "end" or "purpose"), thus his name can be interpreted as "the best purpose" or "noble goal" .
Chalkidiki, known for its three peninsulas and beautiful landscapes, was an important cultural and educational center in ancient Greece. Aristotle's birthplace, Stagira, situated in the eastern part of Chalkidiki, contributed to the intellectual heritage of the region. Aristotle studied under Plato and later became the tutor to Alexander the Great, imparting significant Greek philosophical, scientific, and cultural knowledge to the future conqueror .
Alexander's education under Aristotle profoundly influenced his thinking and strategies, contributing to his success in spreading Greek culture throughout his empire. The connections between Alexander, Aristotle, and Chalkidiki underscore the deep-rooted Greek heritage and intellectual tradition that shaped Alexander's legacy and the expansion of Hellenistic culture .
Sources:
1. Plutarch (c. 46 – 120 CE)
- **"Parallel Lives" ("Βίοι Παράλληλοι")**: Includes the "Life of Alexander" which provides a detailed biography of Alexander the Great.
- **"Moralia"**: Offers various essays and anecdotes, including some about Alexander and his contemporaries.
2. Arrian (c. 86 – 160 CE)
- **"Anabasis of Alexander" ("Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀνάβασις")**: One of the most comprehensive accounts of Alexander’s campaigns, based on the works of earlier historians such as Ptolemy and Aristobulus.
3. Diodorus Siculus (c. 90 – 30 BCE)
- **"Bibliotheca Historica" ("Ἱστορικὴ Βιβλιοθήκη")**: Provides an extensive history, with Book XVII focusing on the campaigns of Alexander the Great.
4. Quintus Curtius Rufus (1st century CE)
- **"Histories of Alexander the Great" ("Historiae Alexandri Magni")**: A Roman historian whose work is one of the five main sources on Alexander's life.
5. Plato (c. 428 – 348 BCE)
- **"Euthydemus" ("Εὐθύδημος")**: Mentions Aristotle and his influence on philosophical thought.
6. Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE)
- **"Nicomachean Ethics" ("Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια")**: Although not directly about Alexander, it reflects Aristotle's philosophical teachings that would have influenced his student.
- **"Politics" ("Πολιτικά")**: Aristotle's views on governance and statecraft, potentially imparted to Alexander.
7. Strabo (c. 64 BCE – 24 CE)
- **"Geographica" ("Γεωγραφικά")**: Includes descriptions of Macedonia and surrounding regions, providing context to the geographic and cultural backdrop of Alexander’s life.
8. Herodotus (c. 484 – 425 BCE)
- **"Histories" ("Ἱστορίαι")**: Although written before Alexander's time, it provides background on the regions and peoples of the ancient world that influenced Macedonian culture.
9. Pausanias (c. 110 – 180 CE)
- **"Description of Greece" ("Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις")**: Includes references to historical sites and events related to Alexander and his predecessors.
10. Demosthenes (384 – 322 BCE)
- **"Philippics" ("Φιλιππικοί")**: A series of speeches against Philip II, providing insights into the political climate of the time.
Pictures: Head of a statue of Alexander the Great-Museum of Acropolis
