- HOME
- Macedonia & Thrace
- Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was the son of Philip II of Macedonia and gave Greece the greatest empire it has ever known.
Greece is rightly proud of the King of Macedonia, Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), as the Greek Empire was at its mightiest during his reign. By the time of his death his armies had conquered lands throughout the Middle and Near East, as far as the Punjab, and down into Egypt, where he founded the city of Alexandria and where he is somewhere thought to be buried – although he actually died in Babylon.
Philip of Macedonia
Alexander’s father, Philip II of Macedonia, was already extending his Empire and gave his son, who was born in Alexander the Great, the very best start in life. He had the finest teachers, including Aristotle, and he was commanding part of the Macedonian Army by the age of eighteen. Two years later his father Philip was assassinated as he prepared to invade Persia, and it cannot be certain that Alexander did not actually have a hand in this.
Alexander immediately took command of the Macedonian troops, and in 334 BC took an army of some 35,000 of them across the Hellespont (now the Dardanelles) and although outnumbered they defeated the Persian Army allegedly with the loss of only 110 of their own men. He had already swiftly put down rebellions in some of the Greek city-states, notably Thebes, which he burned to the ground.
From Persia he turned his attention to the Middle East, conquering Damascus, then Palestine, and finally marching into Egypt. Here he was welcomed for liberating the country from the Persians, and in 331 BC he founded Alexandria, having by this time complete control of the Eastern Mediterranean. Not satisfied with his, he headed for India, where he won more victories but at the cost of great numbers of men.
Alexander the Great, as depicted in the Alexander Mosaic
The Death of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was back in Babylon in 323 BC, turning his attentions to conquering more of Arabia and further west into North Africa, when he was taken ill with a fever after a banquet and died eleven days later. His body was taken in a gold casket to Alexandria, but his burial place has never been firmly established. Some recent archaeological digs claim to have found his tomb in the Egyptian desert, but without convincing proof.
Our Pick of the Guides to Greece
Alexander the Great's Legacy
There is no doubt that Alexander was indeed one of the greatest leaders in history, noted for his tactical ability, his charisma in leading his men and inspiring bravery in his troops, and for his own bravery too. Like all such leaders, though, he had his ruthless side and didn’t hesitate to eliminate potential rivals just as swiftly and as brutally as he wiped out his enemies.
It is also said that he had a vision not merely to conquer the world but to unite both East and West in one large harmonious Empire. Certainly the cities he founded were all civilised and cultured places, and he fervently spread Greek culture and language while taking an interest in the cultures of the lands he conquered. He might well even be regarded as the most important Greek who ever lived.
Other Greek History Pages
The Royal Tombs and Archaeological Site of Vergina in Macedonia
The archaeological site of Vergina in Macedonia is famous for the royal tombs which were the burial place of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.
The Greek Gods
The home of the Greek Gods was the top of Mount Olympus, and among the better-known Gods and Goddesses in the Greek pantheon were Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite.
Homer and the Odyssey
Did Homer write The Odyssey and The Iliad, and what is known about the life of this famous Greek writer, when did he live, where was he born, and was he blind?
Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann was a German archaeologist who explored sites connected with Homer, including Troy, Mycenae, and Ithaca, and made some extraordinary finds
Greek Architecture
This beginner's guide to Greek architecture explains how to tell your Ionic from your Doric columns, and what to look for in temples and Byzantine churches.
Sir Arthur Evans, archaeologist at Knossos on Crete
Sir Arthur Evans is the archaeologist famous for the excavations he made at the royal palace of Knossos on Crete.
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete during World War 2 inspired several books and took place with an airborne invasion over Maleme on the north coast of the island.
A History of Athens
A History of Athens from the first people to live on the Acropolis through the Golden Age of Pericles and Alexander the Great to the military junta.
Latest Posts
-
Syros’ Hidden Soul: The Timeless Charm of Apano Meria
Apano Meria, rich in geology and Cycladic history, captures the timeless charm of the Greek islands. -
Santorini Remains on Cruise Schedules as Companies Monitor Seismic Activity
Royal Caribbean, the world’s second-largest cruise operator, confirmed it will not cancel itineraries to Santorini at this time, despite recent seismic activity on the island. -
Athens Taxis to Strike for 24 Hours on Wednesday, February 19
Taxi drivers in Athens will hold a 24-hour strike beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, in protest of changes to street mobility regulations and increasing competition from ride-hailing apps. -
Kastoria’s Hidden Delights: 3 Must-Visit Stops in Western Macedonia
From world-famous giant beans and crisp mountain apples to alpine-raised beef and legendary chestnuts, Kastoria is a food lover’s paradise waiting to be explored. -
Kerameikos: An Oasis in the Ancient City
The Kerameikos archaeological site provides a peaceful escape, transporting visitors to the history-rich northwestern gates of ancient Athens. -
Greece Tops Mediterranean in Hotel Satisfaction Ratings
Greek hotels lead the pack with 87% guest satisfaction, surpassing Spain, Italy, and France, but challenges remain in peak-season management. -
Frygana Honey: The Rare Wild Lavender Honey of Serifos
The honey derived from the wild lavender of Serifos is a premium Greek product. Beekeeper Nikos Kokolakis produces one of the finest varieties on the island. -
Top 5 Archaeological Discoveries in Greece in 2024
From a mysterious Minoan structure to a rediscovered ancient city, these five archaeological finds from 2024 offer fresh perspectives on Greece’s rich history. -
Food Tours in Athens
Greekality is a Greek company offering food tours in Athens including street food tours, wine and nightlife tours, vegan tours and cooking classes. -
Patras – Pyrgos Motorway in Western Peloponnese to Open by December 2025
The 75-kilometer-long Patras–Pyrgos Motorway in the western Peloponnese is expected to be completed and open to traffic by December 2025, significantly upgrading the region’s road transport system and…
Why not sign up for our Greece Travel Secrets newsletter? Each week you'll get emailed our regular Greece Travel Secrets Magazine for news, information, and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece.
As a welcome gift you'll also get a free e-book, Heaven on Earth. This contains 19 of Mike's favourite stories that he's written about travelling in Greece for newspapers and magazines over the years.
You'll find it over at Substack. Check out one of the Archive issues to find the Subscribe button.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, but at no cost to you.
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
LEARN A LITTLE GREEK BEFORE YOU GO!
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
