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Alexander the Great
Term | Definition |
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Arrian is our primary source for Alexander in this course. He based his Anabasis on the works of Ptolemy and Aristobolis. First half second century AD. | |
Alexandria | Founded in 331: Alexander’s remains interred here. |
Aornos | Hilltop settlement: thought that Herakles himself failed to capture it. Captured by Alexander in 326. |
Babylon | One of the Persian capitals; place of Alexander’s death. |
Bactria | Northeastern region of the Persian empire; final holdouts to Alexander’s conquest. |
Gedrosia | Desert region through which Alexander took his troops in 325: many of the soldiers died. |
Gordium | Gordian knot |
Hellespont | Crossing point between Europe and Asia minor: used by Xerxes 150 years prior to Alexander (480/334). |
Persepolis | One of the Persian capitals, central palace of which Alexander is said to have destroyed in a fire. |
Siwah | Location of oracle of Ammon |
Susa | One of the Persian capitals. Susa marriages in 324. |
Tyre | Phoenician city thought to be impregnable as was located on an island; conquered by Alexander after a seven-month siege in 333. |
Cleitus | Close friend of Alexander. Saved Alexander’s life at Granicus. Alexander killed him when a drunken quarrel got out of hand. Arrian commends Alexander for his very human regret over this. |
Coenus | A high-ranking officer who spoke for the troops when they did not want to continue east, at the Hyphasis mutiny 325. |
Craterus | Second-in-command following Parmenio’s death. Lead the veterans home and assumed command of Greece and Macedon in place of Antipater. Died in the wars of the Successors. |
Hephaestion | Alexander’s closest friend. Died in 324 and accorded rites of heroic worship; grieved extremely by Alexander. |
Nearchus | Friend of Alexander’s most notable for leading the navy along the coast of Gedrosia. |
Parmenio | Philip, then Alexander’s, right-hand-man until 331, when given a lesser command; assassinated in 330 following the execution of his son, Philotas. Recorded in our narrative by Quintus Curtius. |
Perdiccas | Close friend of Alexander. Regent to Alexander IV and Philip III, but lost power during wars of succession. |
Philotas | Son of Parmenio: executed for suspicion of conspiring against Alexander. |
Porus | Alexander’s last great opponent; defeated at the Hydaspes. Given a position of power by Alexander. |
Ptolemy | Friend of Alexander: one of the successors, ruled over Egypt. Longest surviving dynasty ending with Cleopatra V. |
Alexandria | Founded in 331: Alexander’s remains interred here. |
Aornos | Hilltop settlement: thought that Herakles himself failed to capture it. Captured by Alexander in 326. |
Babylon | One of the Persian capitals; place of Alexander’s death. |
Bactria | Northeastern region of the Persian empire; final holdouts to Alexander’s conquest. |
Gedrosia | Desert region through which Alexander took his troops in 325: many of the soldiers died. |
Gordium | Gordian knot |
Hellespont | Crossing point between Europe and Asia minor: used by Xerxes 150 years prior to Alexander (480/334). |
Persepolis | One of the Persian capitals, central palace of which Alexander is said to have destroyed in a fire. |
Siwah | Location of oracle of Ammon |
Susa | One of the Persian capitals. Susa marriages in 324. |
Tyre | Phoenician city thought to be impregnable as was located on an island; conquered by Alexander after a seven-month siege in 333. |
Battle of Chaeronea, 338 | Alexander and Philip defeated Athens and Thebes, ending opposition in Greece. Alexander, in charge of cavalry, first important battle. |
Battle of Granicus, 334 | Battled at Granicus rather than Hellespont. Alexander defeated the Persian troops and gained control of Asia Minor. Following this, Alexander secured the coastal cities to render the Persian fleet useless. |
Battle of Issus, 333 | Alexander defeats the Persian army, this time led by Darius. Darius flees but Alexander captures his family. |
Battle of Tyre, 332 | After a seven-month siege, Alexander captures the island city. |
Battle of Guagamela, 331 | Final battle with Darius, who again fled. |
Battle of Aornos Rock, 327 | Herakles was said to have failed to capture this city; Alexander did. |
Battle of Hydaspes, 326 | Alexander’s last great challenge in the Persian empire, led by Porus. |
Battle of Malli, 325 | A narrow victory: Alexander’s near-fatal arrow wound. |