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Free-Form 5
Cult of Philip II was established
at Amphipolis and Thasos,
as Amyntas (Philip's father)
had been worshipped at Pydna.
Regal bronze was struck during
Philip's reign and posthumously
bore head of Apollo on obverse
to stress his worship to this god.
Gods Apollo and Heracles
had same father who was Zeus,
but mothers were different or
Latona and Alcmena.
Apollo stood for rationality
as typified by liking for lyre,
presiding over poetry and
pronouncing oracles in verse.
Heracles stood for irrationality
as seen when he killed Linus
(who taught him lyre), his dear wife
Megara and his own children.
When Heracles visited Delphi,
Pythia gave cold reception;
so, he tried to plunder temple
and carry away sacred tripod.
In confused state, prophetess
gave reply to Alexander
who tried to drag her to shrine
where she said "You're invincible...".
Unlooted royal tomb of Philip II
was found by late archaeologist
Manolis Andronikos
on 8 November 1977 at Vergina.
Gold larnax was embossed by
eight-point sun or star within
larger eight-point sun or star
thus comprising 16 points in toto.
It may be that Sumerian murals
earlier depicted SN11400 or
Vela X as eight-point star
within larger eight-point star.
Larnyx contained cremated
bones and also wreath weighing
714 grams worthy of king,
champion, hero and divinity.
Funeral wreath was adorned
with sixty-eight acorns
and displayed three hundred
and thirteen oak leaves.
Tit tit tapper woodpecker
had adopted sacred oak thus
supplanting role of Demeter
as goddess of acorn laden tree.
IF Macedonian solar calendar
was 365 days then it may be
possible to explain what may
be symbolic number of 313.
There were 313 years dating from
founding of Macedonia by Perdicas
Temenid in 650 B.C. to death
of Philip II in year 336 B.C.
There three ivory head portraits
were most authoritative
family sculptures of Philip,
his wife Olympias and son.
Antechamber of Philip's tomb
housed another gold larnax
which may contain ashes
of youngest wife--Kleopatra.
However, some experts believed
that room actually contains
remains of Philip III Arrhidaeus
by traces of cold cremation.
Alexander was born 20 July 356 B.C.
which coincided with burning
of temple of Artemis (Apollo's twin)
in Ionian city of Ephesus.
Philip was thrice blessed with news
that Parmenio had won victory,
horse attained chariot prize
and son Alexander was born.
King Alexander III of Macedon
saw himself as an Argead
because its kings could trace roots
to Argos and man-god Heracles.
Mother--Olympias--as daughter
of Neoptolemus I (king of Molossians)
could trace ancestry back to
Neoptolemus son of Achilles.
Neoptolemus was also known
under name Pyrrhus which meant
"meaning of fire", "red" and "flame"
or red-haired sacrifice(r).
Ancient Egyptian kings burned
red-haired men whose ashes
fed fields at Osiris' grave
according to views of Manetho.
Both Heracles and Achilles were
renowned for deeds; for example,
former sacked city of Troy
and latter laid siege to it.
According to Eratosthenes,
Olympias shared secret to son
of his conception and urged him
to be worthy of divine parent.
Whether Queen Mytale
changed her name to Olympias
due to Olympic win or birth
of Zeus' son is unknown.
Two features were unique to him
or heterochromous eyes
and head angled to side after
injuring neck on Ister campaign.
According to A. Donski,
the word pezhateri
may be the only preserved
Macedonian word he used.
Pezhateri meant "foot
companions" and was formed
as compound of two words
"pez" (on foot) and "hateri".
Plutarch wrote how Alexander
managed horse Bucephalas by
by turning him to sun and how
Aristotle guided pupil by reason.
Later, the thirty year old horse
that knelt to take up his master
was honoured with the founding
of city called Bucephalia.
There were those whose thoughts,
though, flew through the ether
to see ox-marked black horse
as horn-of-plenty unicorn.
However, sophist Callisthenes
who was Aristotle's nephew
refused obeisance to monarch
and died caged with disease of lice.
Unearthed Pella mosaic showed
god Dionysos on panther's back
and another mosaic depicted
Alexander's bravery in hunt.
Alexander crossed river Ister
near Pine Tree Island to pursue
Getae and landed river's far-side
on this his adventure to Asia.
Orator Demosthenes showed
witness who made assertion
that Alexander died in Illyria--
reflection of common rumour.
Distinguished sculptor Scopas
wrought marble masterpiece
of Achilles escorted to Leuce
by sea gods in Bacchic spirit.
He competed in contest
of Alexander and Crateros
at Delphi: he carved reliefs
of Amazons at Temple of Artemis.
Scopas of Paros mastered
three dimensional space and
trait of pathos; so much so
that Alexander patronized him.
It was at Chaeronea where
left-wing cavalry broke through
line of Theban Sacred Band
without leaving survivor's tale.
He spared house of Pindar
because poet had given praise
to Alexander I of Macedon,
but also wrote of Isle of Blessed.
"Where ocean breezes blow
around Island of Blessed
and flowers of gold blaze".
(Pindar, Olympian Odes 2)
At Troy, Alexander showed not
interest in namesake's lyre,
but rather noticed pitch-covered
shield of ancestor Achilles.
At Alexander's request, Aristotle
wrote annotated text of Iliad:
so-called "casket copy" was kept
under pillow along with dagger.
While Alexander acknowledged
that his father had given him life;
yet, he respected Aristotle
who taught him to live well.
After Battle of Issus, silver
Tetradrachm was issued with young
face of Heracles and on its
reverse side was throned Zeus.
During siege of Tyre, citizens
dreamt Apollo deserted city
while Alexander dreamt how
Heracles had beckoned him.
Tyrians tied statue of Apollo,
nailed it down and accused
god of support for Alexander
who gave offering to Heracles.
In twelfth labour, Heracles
subdued three headed
Cerberus that symbolized
past, present and future.
As celebration of task
completed, he crowned himself
with remnants of Leuce
which turned white on brow.
When he had performed series
of twelve labours, he became
god after death as immortal
parts carried aloft in chariot.
At Tyre, Herodotus had viewed
two pillars--one of refined gold
and one of emerald that shone
by night at shrine of Heracles.
Herodotus surmised there were
two cults of Heracles: one saw
man as hero and other made
sacrifice to Olympian as god.
When Artaxerxes II retook
Egypt using mercenaries,
Greeks interpreted it to mean
repeat invasion of Greece.
However, Alexander reasoned
if allied army secured Egypt
(in strategic rear position) then
Persian Empire would fall.
Egypt was also original object
of southerly march since it was
supplier of grain that could
solve food shortages of Greece.
Osiris was called Unnefer,
Lord of Eternity, Osiris
of Mysteries and also
he who one may not name.
A god born of no month nor year
and dead body rent in pieces,
scattered, buried where found;
so out of both time and space.
Osiris and bull of Apis
were models for Serapis
who wore corn measure on head
as guardian of corn supply.
He visited Sun Temple at
Heliopolis eclipsed by
Alexandria as phoenix buried
its father and fathered itself.
Romance said Alexander
was invested by priesthood
with titles of "Pharaoh"
and "son of gods" at Memphis.
Besieger of Tyre and Gaza
founded Alexandria-by-Egypt
whose location near Pharos
was dreamt by Odyssey's lines.
Initially, he wanted to found
Alexandria on isle itself;
but, there was not enough space
to suit cosmopolitan city.
Ensured main streets of city
intersected at right angles;
as well, he showed where stoa
and temples were to be located.
Alexandria was laid out on
Hippodamian gridplan wherein
its two main streets were set
north-south and west-east.
He founded grand total of
eigthteen cities named
after himself--some flourished,
but others floundered.
He was addressed by priest of
Zeus-Ammon shrine at Siwa site
(where Heracles visited)
with divine title "O, pai Dios".
He was so pleased with accuracy
of oracular responses that
he decided to choose oasis
near Siwa as his burial place.
Oracle of Siwa honoured
younger god identified with
Dionysos who was directed
to oasis' water source by ram.
Natives of desert oasis
were still giving their worship
to Alexander and Zeus Ammon
for nine hundred years to A.D. 529.
An amateur archaeologist
whose name was Souvaltzis
did twice claim to have found
tomb of Alexander at Siwa.
Prior to Battle of Gaugamela,
Alexander's prayer referred to
divine sonship when he said
"if he were truly sprung from Zeus".
Babylon and Susa were spared,
but Persepolis' palace set afire
in revenge for wrongs of Persians
who had burned Greek temples.
When Alexander and his army
stayed at Babylon, diary
of astronomy made reference
to sky high prices of corn.
In India, wounded Alexander
suggested that mother Olympias
be granted immortality by himself
or by friends upon his death.
In his Anabasis, Arrian
recorded Alexander's visit
to city of Nysa which proudly
claimed Dionysos as founder.
Earth god's origin was Thrace,
(but like Osiris as deity of
agriculture and corn) was put
together and regenerated.
At Macedonian assembly,
he asked that friend be awarded
heroic honours and to himself
divine honours (caelestes honores).
Cleomenes was told by him
to erect heroons to friend
on Pharos and in Alexandria,
but Ptolemy cancelled them.
Did typhoid fever claim life of
Hephaestion and/or malaria
end life of world conqueror
just short period afterward?
In some sense, Alexander
was invincible because
he lost not battle -- except perhaps
with bacteria and/or mosquitos.
Folklore tale told how
he died "from mosquitoes,
his kingdom has collapsed".
(Prof. Alexandar Donski)
Or were they rather poisoned
by slow-acting strychnine
given through unmixed wine
which they drank in profusion?
He was drinking at Medius' party
where he awoke with fever
and passed away tenth of June
at young age of thirty-two.
Alexander tried to throw himself
into Euphrates to give idea
that he had disappeared
like an apotheosized god.
Tetradrachm of Alexander
minted at city of Amphipolis
portrayed Zeus holding
eagle, sceptre and ear of corn.
His funeral train departed
for Damascus after postponement
of year and carried along with it
solid gold sarcophagus.
Body showed no signs of decay
after six days and appeared
so much alive that pagan priests
hesitated to even touch it.
Egyptian and Chaldean priests
cleaned out body and saved it
by embalment in sweet honey;
he smelled sweet in life, too.
There was great rivalry among
Alexander's generals in Babylon
for possession of corpse that was
viewed as unique status symbol.
Plan was devised to send body
to Macedonia, but suspiciously
Testament ordered Ptolemy
to transport corpse to Egypt.
Forged Testament of King
Alexander (son of Ammon
and Olympias) assigned
Kingdom of Egypt to Ptolemy.
It directed Ptolemy "care of
transportation to Egypt
of my body" and design of
sarcophagus to lay it in.
In bold action, Ptolemy
commandeered cortege of
covered wagon, ionic columns
and vaulted ceiling in power play.
He wished to consolidate
his position so he left for Siwa
where priests had declared
divinity of Alexander.
Cortege resembling tomb
of Macedonians was sent
to spiritual capital of Memphis
where coffin was safely held.
It may be that body was stored
in sarcophagus of Nektanebo II
whom Alexander Romance
imagined was his real father.
Ptolemy kept coffin here
for years while mausoleum called
Soma was built at crossroads
of Canopic Way and Street of Soma.
Alexander lay at heart of
this city which he himself
had founded, created and named
as Alexandria-by-Egypt.
It had been intended that
city would be established
on mile and half Pharos
or one day's sail from coast.
Most prominent landmark
of entire area was actually
four hundred foot lighthouse
built on small island of Pharos.
According to Herodotus,
Nile had seven mouths, but
two of them called Bucolic
and Bolbitine were man-made.
Isis' tears swelled stream
in summer at corn-god's death
when harvest was completed
and lands were barren fields.
Texts attest that Alexander
bore royal titles of divinities
who were two Egyptian gods
named Son of Ra and Horus.
Horus underwent forms of life,
death and rebirth when mother
Isis fluttered in hawk's form
over corpse of dead husband.
In myth, Horus's father or Osiris
(personification of corn) who
dies and thrives again each year
represented death and rebirth.
Effigy of corn was buried
with ceremonial funeral rites,
so that god may live again
through sympathetic magic.
"Thus from one god I became
three gods" said Osiris
in Papyrus of Nesi-Amsu
(three hundred and eleven B.C)
Ptolemy I Soter chose
Alexandria as his capital
thus displacing Memphis
for the title by 320 B.C.
First king of Ptolemies
set up cult of Alexander
perhaps as early as 290 B.C.
to support himself and dynasty.
During Ptolemaic period,
official documents were dated
both by year of its king
and by year of Alexander's priest.
Macedonian dynasty ran
in Egypt through Ptolemy
who was actually son of
Philip of Macedon and Arsinoe.
In Ptolemy's final years,
step-brother wrote Memoirs
which became one of Arrian's
authorities on Alexander III.
Royal palaces included
the Soma which contained
burial places of Egypt's kings
and Alexander the Great.
Ptolemy II declared parents
as Saviour gods in joint cult
connected with yearly festival
called Ptolemaieia.
Hellenistic king added cult
of himself and his sister
to that of Alexander under
title theoi adelphoi.
The Thread: Free-Form 6
Sun Dawu: Philosopher
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