Alexander the Great is the son of Philip II of Macedon, and his fourth wife, Olympias. Although Olympias is not from Macedonia, she is also the daughter of the king of the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribe in Epirus. Her family even claimed to be related to Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War. Olympias was Philip's major wife for a while, maybe because she gave birth to Alexander, despite the fact that he had seven or eight wives overall. Therefore, after the birth of Alexander, Olympias was named the main wife.

However, their marriage was not happy and in danger of falling apart. Alexander is a descendant of both sides of the royal family with Alexander's mixed heritage, and the continuous doubts about his right to the throne strained the relationship between Philip II and Olympias. Numerous myths exist regarding Alexander's conception and early years. On the night before she married Philip, Olympias had a dream that lightning had hit her womb, starting a fire that spread far and wide before going out, according to the ancient Greek biographer Plutarch. Philip is rumored to have seen himself in a dream sealing his wife's uterus with a seal inscribed with a lion at some point after the wedding. To demonstrate that Alexander was superhuman and predestined for greatness from the moment of his creation, such traditions may have arisen during his reign as king, maybe at his initiative.

Alexander the Great, one of the most influential individuals in ancient times, had two distinct eye colors. Heterochromia iridium is the name of the disorder that Alexander the Great had that resulted in his having two distinct colored eyes. Several well-known people have this illness, despite the fact that it is actually not that prevalent in humans. Kate Bosworth, Wentworth Miller, Mila Kunis, Henry Cavill, and Kiefer Sutherland. However, it is not unusual for celebrities to suffer from eye issues. Even a well-known performer from the entertainment field nowadays is blind in one eye. Although it is uncommon and does occasionally happen, this illness can be seen in a variety of animals, most notably numerous pets.

A deficiency or overabundance of melanin in the iris of one of the eyes accounts for the difference in eye color between Alexander the Great and celebrities like Mila Kunis. The majority of scientists agree that the main reason for heterochromia, at least in domestic animals, is a lack of genetic variety, despite the fact that many other theories have also been put up. This is brought on by mutations in the 8-HTP pathway's melanin distribution-determining genes, which are typically only disrupted by chromosomal homogeneity. Heterochromia is not related to polymorphism and is uncommon in humans, affecting less than 200,000 people in the United States, but is frequent in some kinds of cats, dogs, cattle, and horses due to inbreeding. genetic shape. Either the afflicted eye is hyper- or hypopigmented. Humans who produce more melanin in their eyes have hyperplasia of the iris tissues, whereas those who produce less melanin have hypoplasia.

King Philip II of Macedonia (382-336 BCE) was a renowned strategist in his own right, despite the fact that his reputation is now overshadowed by the legacy of his brilliant son. During the 25 years of his rule, Macedonia transformed from a minor peripheral kingdom to a military superpower that dominated its neighbor Greece.

By creating his phalanx of infantry, cavalry, siege weapons, and logistics, Philip transformed the Macedonian army into the most lethal force at the time. Thanks to his father's reforms, when he succeeded to the throne Alexander inherited the most powerful and best army of that time. In another way, Philip II's military reforms paved the way for Alexander's success.

In particular, Philip II used a rebuilt army, marital connections, and diplomacy to accomplish this. Philip used diplomacy to turn away Paeonians and Thracians who offered tribute and to defeat 3,000 Athenian citizens (359 BC). Unopposed for the time being, he concentrated on fortifying his internal position and, most importantly, his army. The Macedonian army received several noteworthy contributions from Philip II. The major sources of army power, the cavalry, and infantry, virtually quadrupled between the period of the conflicts with the Illyrians and 334 BC.

The Macedonian troops under Philip's command experienced an improvement in army discipline and training, as well as the opportunity to progress through ranks and receive honors and bonuses for exemplary service.

In addition to these changes, the Macedonian phalanx was an infantry formation created by Alexander's father. In this tactic, a block of soldiers is closely packed and each man is equipped with a sarissa, a 20-foot-long pike. Usually, this was done to stave off enemies while cavalry launched an assault.

As a result, Philip II was in charge of shaping the Macedonian army into the powerful force Alexander subsequently employed to achieve his objectives. That is the reason why Philip II's military reforms paved the way for Alexander's success.

Alexander, the son of King Philip II of Macedon and Queen Olympias, was born into royalty on July 20, 356 BC. When his father chose to send him to study under one of the finest philosophers of the time, Aristotle of Stagira, Alexander had one of the best upbringings of the time. Aristotle was Plato's illustrious student at the time, but he was not yet well-known. Alexander's mother heartily backed King Philip's choice since she had tremendous faith in Plato's knowledgeable pupil. As a result, King Philip requested Aristotle to teach his son.

As the son of the Macedonian king, from childhood to adulthood Alexander always lived a complete education. He was taught mathematics, history, archery, and other important subjects. When Alexander was 13 years old, Philip started looking for a tutor. Initially, he considered scholars such as Isocrates and Speusippus who later offered to resign as academy administrators to take up the position. But in the end, Philip decided to choose Aristotle and provided the fairy temple in Mieza as a classroom.

The well-known Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the dignified figures invited to instruct the 13-year-old prince, and King Philip II made a pledge to him to reconstruct Aristotle's hometown at Stagira in exchange for educating Alexander. There, Philip rebuilt it by buying and freeing former citizens who were enslaved or pardoning those living in exile. Aristotle accepted King Philip's request and from then on Alexander was tutored by Aristotle. This meeting seems to have inspired Alexander's lifelong love of philosophy and its various forms.

Alexander and the children of Macedonian nobility, including Ptolemy, Hephaistion, and Cassander, attended Mieza like a boarding school. They are referred to as "The Companions" and included among his pals and future generals. Alexander and his colleagues learned philosophy, medicine, ethics, religion, logic, and the arts from Aristotle. Alexander, who studied under Aristotle, became passionate about Homer's writings, particularly the Iliad; Aristotle gave him an annotated copy, which Alexander subsequently took with him on his expeditions.

After capturing Sogdian Rock, a seemingly impenetrable mountain fortress in 327 BC, the 28-year-old Alexander was questioning his captives when he suddenly met Roxanne, a new daughter of a noble Bactrian family. She immediately caught his eye. Specifically, Roxanne was born in 340 BC. Her father was a nobleman named Oxyartes, who served Bessus, guardian of Sogdia and Bactria.

One of the Interesting Facts about Alexander the Great is that Alexander had a love affair with his first wife, Roxanne and their marriage occurred then. In 327 BC, Alexander married Roxanne despite the objections of his comrades and generals. In a customary wedding ritual that followed, the monarch soon divided a loaf of bread in half and presented it to his wife.

In fact, their marriage, in addition to stemming from true love, was also politically beneficial because it made the Sogdian army more loyal to Alexander and more avoid rebellion after defeat. Alexander looked to the Indian subcontinent to cement relationships with his new warriors after Spitamenes' passing and his marriage to Roxanne. After that, Alexander sent an expedition to India, where he named Oxyartes administrator of the neighboring Hindu Kush territory. It's assumed that Roxanne was at a secure location in Susa throughout this time. One of Roxanne's brothers was given a promotion to the elite cavalry when Alexander visited Susa again.

Alexander never lost a battle throughout his 15 years of warfare is one of his finest accomplishments. Alexander's father Philip served as his military instructor and commanded the Macedonians to victory against Ancient Greece. Alexander, who had recently lost his father, attacked Ancient Persia with a little over 50,000 warriors, which was inconceivable at the time. Alexander the Great never suffered a defeat throughout his conflicts with Persia, even the sieges he imposed on Egypt and Syria. He brought together skillful planning, ferocity, and veteran soldiers.

Alexander's army played a significant role in his victory. No leader, much less a general, can win a war alone. Alexander, like many previous conquerors, required the assistance of his well-trained army. The Army had a revolution under Philip, but Alexander elevated them. A wholly incompetent and inexperienced army was handed down to Phillip II. The army's modernization and revolution were his first orders of business. The first item of business was to expand the army and alter its functioning. Alexander adhered to the same standards. To create siege weaponry, Alexander also hired engineers.

Alexander the Great took the initiative and commanded all of the conflicts in which he took part. He thought he motivates his own army while inspiring the opposition one. Alexander was always in the front of the action, despite the fact that he was exposed from his position.

Alexander the Great became ill in 323 BC after spilling a bowl of wine while entertaining guests. The 32-year-old leader passed away two weeks later. However, the cause of his death remains a mystery to this day.

The general Antipater and Antipater's son Cassander, who would later command the murder of Alexander's wife and son, came under suspicion at the time since many believed that Alexander's father had been killed by his own guards. Aristotle, who had connections to the Antipater family, was even suggested by certain antiquity biographers as perhaps responsible for his demise.

Alexander's death has been attributed to various conditions in contemporary times, including liver failure, lung infections, typhoid fever, and malaria. His demise from progressive paralysis brought on by intestinal perforation from typhoid fever was linked to it in a 1998 New England Journal of Medicine article. Another recent research revealed meningitis or pyogenic spondyloarthritis. Acute pancreatitis, West Nile virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome are additional conditions having symptoms that are consistent with them. Natural cause hypotheses also frequently stress how Alexander's overall health may have worsened due to years of binge drinking and significant injuries. Alexander's downturn in health could possibly have been brought on by the sorrow he felt upon Hephaestion's passing.

Leading Victorian Egyptologist A. Wallis Budge conjectured that Alexander's bones were submerged in honey to prevent deterioration. Plutarch claims that Alexander's body was first treated in Babylon by Egyptian embalmers. Alexander's body was returned to Macedonia a year or two after his death, but Ptolemy I, one of his old generals, instead sent it to Egypt. Ptolemy wanted to be seen as Alexander's heir by taking possession of his body.

One of the Interesting Facts about him is that Alexander's body was placed in a honey-filled golden doll coffin that was then enclosed in another golden coffin. Aelian claims that a seer by the name of Aristander predicted that Alexander's last resting place "would be joyful and eternally inaccessible." Perhaps more probable, since the burial of the previous king was a royal prerogative, the successors would see possession of the body as a sign of legitimacy.

Ptolemy captured Alexander's burial when it was its route to Macedon and briefly transported it to Memphis. The sarcophagus was transferred to Alexandria by his successor, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, where it remained at least until late Antiquity. One of Ptolemy's final successors, Ptolemy IX Lathyrus, swapped Alexander's casket with a glass tomb so he could turn the original into coinage.

Alexander left his mark all throughout his kingdom, from Egypt to Turkey. By the conclusion of his reign, Alexander had given his name to 70 towns, the most well-known of which was the vast Egyptian metropolis. More than 70 cities bore his name, and one was named after his horse.

Alexander established dozens of communities (often constructed around former military forts) that he always called Alexandria in honor of his victories. The most well-known of them, which was established near the mouth of the Nile in 331 B.C., is currently the second-largest city in Egypt. His army advanced across modern-day Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, according to some Alexandria. Near the location of the River Hydaspes Battle, which was the most expensive victory of his Indian Campaign.

Even when his beloved horse died, the Macedonian monarch created the Indian city of Bucephala.

In addition, Alexander established roughly 20 cities during his invasion, the majority of which were east of the Tigris. Alexandria in Egypt was the earliest and largest city and would go on to become one of the major Mediterranean cities. Cities are situated along trade routes and in protective areas. Cities were always going to be a little friendlier at the beginning than defensive garrisons. Numerous Greeks who had lived there attempted to leave for Greece after Alexander's death. However, a century or so after Alexander's passing, many Alexandrians experienced prosperity, with ornate public structures and a sizable population that comprised both natives and Greeks.

The "new" Smyrna's founding is likewise linked to Alexander. Alexander supposedly spent the night in the Nemesis reserve under a plane tree after hunting on Mount Pagus. The goddess commanded him to find a city there and relocate the Smyrnaeans from the "old" city while he was still asleep. After asking the oracle at Clarus about it through their sent emissaries, the Smyrnaeans chose to relocate to the "new" city.

Veterans of Alexander's army established the city of Pella in present-day Jordan, giving it the Greek name of Alexander's birthplace, Pella.

Alexander's life became legendary centuries after his death. Alexander rose to legendary status as an Achilles-like classical hero, making significant appearances in both Greek and non-Greek historical and mythological traditions. He became the standard by which many succeeding military commanders would measure themselves because of his military prowess and unparalleled long-lasting victories in combat, and his strategies are still a hot topic of discussion in military schools throughout the world.

Greek civilization dominated and had a significant effect as far east as the Indian subcontinent as a result of Alexander's settlement of the Greek colonists and the subsequent expansion of Hellenistic culture. a level. Greek became the lingua franca of the area and the main language of the Byzantine Empire until its fall in the mid-15th century AD. It was the dominating language of the Hellenistic Period, which developed through the Roman Empire into contemporary Western civilization. Up to the Greek genocide of the 1910s and early 1920s and the exchange of Greek inhabitants with Turkey in the middle of the 1920s, Greek-speaking communities were still present in central Anatolia and in Anatolia's far east.

He had been the topic of fantastic tales throughout his lifetime and afterward rose to the status of becoming the protagonist of grand mythology that had only a passing relation to his actual professional life. The Alexander Romance, a collection of humorous tales about the love affairs in Alexander the Great's life, was very well-liked in medieval times. It recounts the events of Alexander's life, although in a romanticized way with fantastical parts, such as the claim that Alexander allegedly tethered griffins to his throne to enable him to soar.