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ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Good Qualities Of Alex

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Continued Information
See a sculpture of him

"Alexnder The Great"

Philip II, King of Macedon was an intelligent and talented man. He married Olympias, the princess of epirus in 35 B.C. Epirus, was a kingdom to the southwest of Macedon, then became part of the Macedonian empire. Alexander was born a year later 356 B.C. His sister cleopatra was born in the fallowing year.

Alexander's mother loved him very much.. She paid close attention to his education and training. She had great ambitions for her son. His education began early. Leonidas was a cousin to Alexander's mother was his first tutor. Leonidas believed that a future warrior should learn to live with hunger and cold and hard exercise. Alexander childhood was filled with cold swims, long runs, and light meals. He also had to learn to read and write. Most children at his time did not have to. He practiced speaking, so one day he would have to inspire his troops for battle. He studied warfare and learned to use a sword and a spear. And like all macedonian boys he hoped to be a warrior. He learned to ride a horse.

Theres a few stories about young Alexander. One story says the seven-year-old prime entertains two Persian governors who arrived at the palace while his dad was away. Alaxander is said to hae asked them intelligent questions about their country and their army that they went away amazed. Another story is about Alexanders music lesson. The boy asked his teacher, "why does it matter if I play one string rather than the other?" The teacher replied "It does not matter for a future King but it's very important for a future musician." The other story is when Alexander was 11. He was watching his father and other men choosing horses. One stallion was especially fine horse but he could not be calmed enough to mount. Alexander thought he would be able to manage him.

When he was twenty his father was murdered, leaving Alexander master of a small but powerful army. His first test came when the people of Thebes rebelled against Macedonian rule. Alexander stormed the city, crushed its army, and sold its three thousand citizens into slavery. As final punishment, he tore down every house in Thebes save one. He spared the house of the long-dead poet Pindar, who had praised the athletes of the Olypic Games