Regardless of how you feel about him personally, Alexander the Great is one of our few surviving figures of the ancient world. He was one of the greatest conquerors who ever lived, and conquered most of the known world by 24.

Alexander was born the illegitimate heir to the Macedonian throne in 356 BC. His father, King Philip II was King of Macedon, and his mother, Olympias, was an Epirote princess. After his father was assassinated, he took over and became king of Macedon. Alexander went on to spread South and Eastward, conquering almost all of the known world, including the mighty Persian empire under the rule of King Darius III. He establish great cities, libaries, and began to unite all the people.

When he returned to Babylon (one of his favorite cities) he mysteriously died. Never naming an heir, his commanders split up his empire and broke the unity Alexander strove so hard to create.

There are many rumors about Alexander. His bisexuality, his birth, his role in his father's assassination, his marriages, and his death are all in question.

How do you feel about Alexander? Conqueror, or menace? What are your thoughts on his family, or military accomplishments? How do YOU think he died? Feel free to discuss his mother, father, commanders (Ptolemy, Haphaestion, Cassander, Antipater, etc.)

"Alexander the Great..his name struck fear into hearts of men. Alexander the Great..became a god amongst morten men..."

Now I don't know the exact circumstances of his death, but could he have been under a long term poisoning? Much like people slowly becoming poisoned through use of lead plates. Or could have it been a strange strand of a virus long extinct contracted on his travels to various places on the globe?

Like I said I may be completely wrong, but they were just on my mind and wanted to know if anyone could illuminate.

Actually, Alexander did have a posthumous son, who was accepted by the Macedonian generals as a legitimate heir; as a matter of fact he was named co ruler with Phillip III. Unfortunately, Cassander killed both Alexander's first wife, Roxane, and Alexanders son, Alexander Aegus.

Exactly. Hence why it was weird.

well, seeing that the large majority of his empire was Zoroastrian, that makes little sense.

It was weird. Alexander allowed all religions, and then all of a sudden he started persecuting Zoroastrians. (Which is why Strateira is a good suspect. She was Zoroastrian and by virtue of that fact, could have killed him.

Alexander loved Persians. He replaced a lot of his commanders with Persians. Which is why his original commanders resented him so.

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Zoroastrian

in other words, so long as you weren't a Persian

I like Zoroastrians. They're much more sane than the greek cultists or christians.

Yeah, but people thought VERY differently in those days. Slaves and such had deep loyalty, especially Alexander's. He was quite revered for not being an asshole. (As long as you weren't Zoroastrian. )

And besides, slaves and such would NOT have been able to get to India, find a poison, get the strychnine, and get back to Babylon.

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Originally posted by Euterpe:
They wouldn't have any reason to kill him. I mean, all his officers were just as arrogant if not more so. Alexander was a weirdo, but he wasn't known to be particularly cruel to slaves, servants, etc. They would have nothing to gain. His allies and commanders had the most to gain from his demise.

Also, understand that there are 2 years that go by from Alexander's failed attempt at India. Quite enough time for someone to get strychnine to Babylon. And of course, you want to use something foreign and indistinguishable. If you're going to murder someone, you're not going to use something that seems readily accessible to you, or something common that may have a cure or treatment.

Either way. People hate Bush, and he isn't cruel...well not like a torture machine. Some people would say otherwise than he being cruel...so bad example. But anyways, you know what I mean.

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Originally posted by northstar316:
It couldn't have been a snake venom?

Probably not. As snake venom is not stomach-toxic. It is hemotoxic or neurotoxic. So unless someone found a hypodermic needle and injected hemotoxic snake venom into him...no.

You injest snake venom, and it will just die in the stomach acids.

It couldn't have been a snake venom?

They wouldn't have any reason to kill him. I mean, all his officers were just as arrogant if not more so. Alexander was a weirdo, but he wasn't known to be particularly cruel to slaves, servants, etc. They would have nothing to gain. His allies and commanders had the most to gain from his demise.

Also, understand that there are 2 years that go by from Alexander's failed attempt at India. Quite enough time for someone to get strychnine to Babylon. And of course, you want to use something foreign and indistinguishable. If you're going to murder someone, you're not going to use something that seems readily accessible to you, or something common that may have a cure or treatment.

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Originally posted by Euterpe:
Ah, but not so. Strychnine as it's used TODAY was only discovered and used in 1818. It had been used for medicinal and criminal purposes LONG before that.

Any educated person (or someone who had themselves educated while in India) would have known the plant was harmful. It was primitive, and by that means, it was simply crushed to disguise it into Alexander's wine.

And seeing as the plant originates in India, Australia and Sri Lanka...I guess there's not much to saying that it got into his food in Babylon...unless someone brought it with them and put it in there.

Well, anyways. How do we know it's not just some random Joe off the street? (Another aspect) Even if he was killed, I'm sure there were plenty of people who disliked him for conquering their countries. Why not some random bum? Why not a cook, servant or slave?

Ah, but not so. Strychnine as it's used TODAY was only discovered and used in 1818. It had been used for medicinal and criminal purposes LONG before that.

Any educated person (or someone who had themselves educated while in India) would have known the plant was harmful. It was primitive, and by that means, it was simply crushed to disguise it into Alexander's wine.

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Originally posted by Euterpe:

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Originally posted by hubbabaloo:
Oh, I don't know if you know, but is there are difference between Macedon and Macedonia? I've seen it varying ways...and I'm just wondering if the land took one name later on or something like that.

They're interchangeable. Macedon or "Makedonon" as it was back then is the traditional name. Macedonia is sometimes used. Really, either one is correct. Neither of indicative of a specific time period or changing country border.

As for poison, it would have to be a plant. It would also have to be a plant that would NOT induce vomitting. I'm going with the theory of strychnine poisoning. The only problem I have with THAT theory..is that strychnine is used to relieve constipation. Alexander did NOT have any bowel problems.

Otherwise, it fits the profile of Alexander's death almost perfectly. It also narrows down the list of suspects considerably..since that plant ONLY grew in the East Indies (where Alexander and his men had traveled back from.) I think those I listed are still suspects, even with that fact taken into consideration.

Thanks for the Macedon/Macedonia explanation.

Strychnine was not discovered until 1818. That doesn't work.

Though I agree the symptoms are frighteningly the same. Could it have been that the strychnine was in his food or drink without someone putting it there though?

quote:

Originally posted by hubbabaloo:
Oh, I don't know if you know, but is there are difference between Macedon and Macedonia? I've seen it varying ways...and I'm just wondering if the land took one name later on or something like that.

They're interchangeable. Macedon or "Makedonon" as it was back then is the traditional name. Macedonia is sometimes used. Really, either one is correct. Neither of indicative of a specific time period or changing country border.

As for poison, it would have to be a plant. It would also have to be a plant that would NOT induce vomitting. I'm going with the theory of strychnine poisoning. The only problem I have with THAT theory..is that strychnine is used to relieve constipation. Alexander did NOT have any bowel problems.

Otherwise, it fits the profile of Alexander's death almost perfectly. It also narrows down the list of suspects considerably..since that plant ONLY grew in the East Indies (where Alexander and his men had traveled back from.) I think those I listed are still suspects, even with that fact taken into consideration.

Well, skimming that book that I hijacked out of my dad's library...after buying it for his Christmas present, it talks about his death for about a chapter. I think the author of the book (Robin Lane Fox) is convinced that it was not a murder. As no poisons that would have done what is documented were known at the time. It would have to be a slow acting poison, which there were none known that did that. It couldn't be an acid, because it would be different. And, they because of murder methods of the time, the murderers would have concentrated it to make sure he was killed. Thus, it wouldn't act that slowly.

However, after all, maybe we just don't know that it was there.

what kind of pioson do you think could have killed him?

Anyways.

Oh, I don't know if you know, but is there are difference between Macedon and Macedonia? I've seen it varying ways...and I'm just wondering if the land took one name later on or something like that.

I don't like to believe so, either, but in this time...it was more than common. And when the motives are there, you can't deny the opportunities.

Old maps of Arabia show vast desert. It was hot like a bitch there. It's one of the reasons Alexander didn't pursue South of Egypt. He didn't think the sands ever ended. Nobody really did.