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. By turns charismatic and ruthless, brilliant and power hungry, diplomatic and bloodthirsty, Alexander inspired such loyalty in his men that they’d follow him anywhere and, if necessary, die in the process. 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. source
But how does really Alexander the Great died? Why did he die?
Some says he died due to a high fever which worsened until he was unable to speak. Other says Alexander was struck with pain after downing a large bowl of unmixed wine in honour of Heracles (a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene), followed by 11 days of weakness. Others also believed that he was poisoned. Or maybe he died due to depression?
I am one of those people who believed that he died due to a depression. They say it started when his friend Hephaestion, son of Amyntor and Macedonian nobleman who is also a general in the army of Alexander the Great, also believed to be his lover, died due to fever. Hephaestion is the dearest of all the king's friends. He had always been with Alexander. This friendship lasted throughout their lives.
Hephaestion military career was eminent. He is a member of Alexander the Great’s personal bodyguard. He went on to command the Companion cavalry and was entrusted with many other tasks throughout Alexander's ten-year campaign in Asia. Aside from being a soldier, engineer and diplomat he corresponded to the philosophers Aristotle and Xenocrates and actively supported Alexander in his attempts to amalgamate the Greeks and Persians.
Alexander formally made him a second-in-command in the empire of Chiliarch. Alexander also made Hephaestion a royal family when he gave him Drypetis, the sister of his second wife Stateira, both daughters of Darius III of Persia. When he suddenly died at Ecbatana at the age of thirty-two, Alexander was saddened by the incident. He petitioned the oracle to Shiva to give the status of Hephaestion holy and thus Hephaestion was honored as a Divine Hero.
After the death of his friend, which is also rumored as his lover, Alexander started to starve his self until he is weak and died. Alexander’s mother who is very concerned with Alexander health also didn’t eat as she prays to the gods about Alexander’s condition. So, when Alexander died, later after that, his mother also died.
This is the story I ought to believe. What about you? What do you believe? How do you think Alexander died? Share your opinion by commenting below.
