Still, the visit furthered speculation Alexander was a deity.
Legends abound about what transpired at the oracle, but Alexander kept mum about the experience. After several weeks, he took the town and entered Egypt where he established the city that still bears his name: Alexandria.Īlexander traveled to the desert to consult the oracle of Ammon, a god of supposed good counsel. He was sidelined at Gaza, however, and forced to endure another lengthy siege. and executed thousands of Tyrians for daring to defy him many others were sold into slavery.Īfter rejecting another peace offer from Darius, Alexander set out for Egypt. He amassed a large fleet, finally breached the city’s walls in July 332 B.C.
Again and again, Tyrian forces thwarted Alexander’s clever attempts to gain entry, and he realized he needed a strong navy to penetrate their defenses. All went well until they came within striking distance of the Tyrians. But Alexander had no navy to speak of and Tyre was surrounded by water.Īlexander instructed his men to build a causeway to reach Tyre. He then laid siege to the heavily fortified island of Tyre in January 332 B.C., after the Tyrians refused him entry. He rejected a plea from Darius for peace and took the towns of Byblos and Sidon. Next, Alexander took over the Phoenician cities of Marathus and Aradus. He would build an empire on the back of his motto, “there is nothing impossible to him who will try.” Battle of Tyre His mother, Sisygambis, was so upset she disowned him and adopted Alexander as her son.īy now it was clear that Alexander was a shrewd, ruthless and brilliant military leader-in fact, he never lost a battle in his life. to King Philip II and Queen Olympias-although legend had it his father was none other than Zeus, the ruler of the Greek gods.Īs it became clear Alexander would win the Battle of Issus, Darius fled with what remained of his troops, leaving his wife and family behind. Where Was Alexander the Great From?Īlexander III was born in Pella, Macedonia, in 356 B.C. Though Alexander the Great died before realizing his dream of uniting a new realm, his influence on Greek and Asian culture was so profound that it inspired a new historical epoch-the Hellenistic Period. By turns charismatic and ruthless, brilliant and power hungry, diplomatic and bloodthirsty, Alexander inspired such loyalty in his men they’d follow him anywhere and, if necessary, die in the process. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen.