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Paige Wiers
Kimberly Lark
Ancient World 134
July 24, 2016
Alexander the Great and his Great Steed
Every great hero requires a great companion. This is the case for Alexander the Great and
his dear horse, Bucephalus ("Bucephalus" 2016). According to Lance B. Kurke, Alexander the
Great has a resume of great accomplishments that entails, but is not limited to: "secured throne at
age 20 on father's assassination (336), unified Greece in less than two years, Invaded and
conquered Asia Minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Middle East, the Persian Empire, Afghanistan,
Sogdiana, Bactria; and invaded India, fought four great battlesGranicus (334.), Issus (333.),
Gaugamela (331.), Hydaspes (326.) and dozens of sieges, skirmishes, and minor engagements,
successfully besieged the island of Tyre (332), defeated a navy on land, campaigned for ten
consecutive years and covered 10,000 miles etc. ," (Kurke 2004). If you are not yet impressed
by this incredible list of accomplishments, he also took pleasure in taming what was thought to
be an un-tame-able horse in front of a large crowd of people, somewhat showing up his father,
the King of Macedonia, in the process.
In his youth, Alexander's father, Philip II, was in the process of purchasing a beautiful,
strong horse that was thought to be unworkable when he decided to give up and not buy the
expensive steed. It is thought that Alexander stood up and remarked, "What as excellent horse do
they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him!" (Wasson 2011). His father then

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challenged Alexander to tame the horse himself, and so Alexander did. Realizing that the mighty
stallion feared his shadow, Alexander led the horse in a direction against the sun and was easily
able to hop onto the horse's back and ride away, leaving a crowd of people in awe. King Philip II
is believed to have responded by saying, "O my son look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy
of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee!" (Wasson 2011). And that is what Alexander the
Great and Bucephalus did.
Throughout Alexander the Great's conquest of the ancient world, most of the time was
spent horseback on his beloved Bucephalus. From approximately 334 BCE to Bucephalus' death
in 326 BCE, the two marched from Greece, to Mesopotamia, to Egypt, and to India. Bucephalus
fought in his final battle at the Battle of Hydapses in 326 BCE and was said to have died from
battle wounds, but it is speculated that old age may have also played a role. Out of his love and
respect for his furred companion, Alexander the Great erected the city Bucephala to
commemorate Bucephalus' great commitment to their relationship and to helping Alexander
conquer most of the ancient world (Cowen 2015).

Works Cited

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"Bucephalus." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press,
2016. General Reference Center GOLD. Web. 24 July 2016.
Cowan, Mary Morton. "A symbol of power." Dig Into History July-Aug. 2015: 22+. General
OneFile. Web. 24 July 2016.
Kurke, Lance B. The Wisdom Of Alexander The Great : Enduring Leadership Lessons From The
Man Who Created An Empire. New York: AMACOM, 2004. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).
Web. 24 July 2016.
Wasson, Donald L. "Bucephalus." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia
Limited, 06 Oct. 2011. Web. 24 July 2016.