Crossed another one off the list!

So sleeping with snakes isn't normal in these here parts!? ...

JK
I always liked the idea that it was the Persians, they had the most to gain. Though it very well could have been Alexander or his Madre, they weren't exactly one big happy family!

 

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LOL, yeah, snakes are good eating only.

Persians, perhaps, and there is a lot of convincing reasons. I still fall back on the obvious with Olympias... She really was a freak show. Alexander...no. He mended fences with his father, was getting good military training and life training by his dad. He would get it all eventually anyway. Philip taught him a lot.

I think Skander-boy was running away from home (his mother), for peace and quiet. He just ended up kicking a lot of Persian tail, some Bactrians, and a few Indians just to get away from the wacky old bat!

 

I heard that theory before in a book I read some time ago.
Just for laughs, why do you think Olympias was a bit crazy?

 

She was a mystic, did a lot of breathing of ethers, snake worship, funky stuff (remember, this is a family forum), etc. seemed very controlling. Clear she wanted her bloodline (Alex) to win out. This is off the top of my head without going back to my reference books. Would have been very interesting to had seen the dynamics live, watching how Philip, Alexander, Olympias, and several of the other players interacted...
The brilliance was Philip II. Alexander was fortunate to received education and training under Philip. He inherited much of Philip's drive and intelligence. And he was fortunate to have a continuity of Philip's seasoned Generals. However, Alexander's brilliance was his energy, execution of the plans beyond their original limits, and his foresight to forge a unification of peoples...koinea. He truly wanted to forge an Empire, and not to destroy.

 

She was a bit over protective and crazy
I love reading about how the Roman's viewed Alexander. Like what old Emperor Gaius did with Alexander's breastplate!

 

I am convinced Alexander was planning to go west to Carthage and Rome after a respite in Babylon... Then, he got a fever...

The Romans idolized Alexander. Studied his military tactics and strategies. Their Generals were boldly going into battles emulating Alexander's bravado... Hannibal figured that out in the 2nd Punic War, and continually punched Rome in the nose... Until Fabius had the foresight to pause, wait, and drive Hannibal nuts with his "Fabian Tactics". Brilliant.

 

Nice coins everyone. My only drachm of Alex lll.
Doug H.

 

LOL, and Fabius would have made an awesome Spock!

 

Gorgeous. Nice

 

Naw, not where I am from...but DEFINITELY where @Bing is from...

 

Here is one of my favourite Alex-the-Great examples ... hopefully it's allowed to join your cool thread?

 

Sweet coin

 

Thanks Randy.

 

It was in a glass cigar tube that was filled with liberty dimes. I put the attributions as to what I thought it is.

 

How do I determine if it is fake?

 

Here's one I just ordered from Civitas Galleries on Vcoins. The seller attributes it to Alexander the Great, but I'm not sure. The legs look parallel and the "Basileus" title is at the bottom. That, plus the small flan and light weight suggest Babylon to me, so I'm guessing it was either struck at the end of his lifetime (slim chance) or afterwards (most likely). At first I thought the low weight meant it was a fake, but then I found a few other Babylonian examples in auctions at weights ranging from 14.5g and up.

 

Here are the listings I found: