The Death of Hephaestion Hamilton pages 145-146 When, how and why did Hephaestion die? List the ways that Alexander grieved for him. A great site telling Hephaistion’s story: http://myweb.unomaha.edu/~jreameszimmerman/Hephaistion/hephaistion.html

Tarsus: Spring 333BC Tarsus is a rich city on the Cilician coast While Alexander was at Tarsus he developed a raging fever Possibly caused by plunging into the icy waters of the river Cydnus while hot and exhausted from his travels. The doctors despaired of saving Alexander’s life, when his good friend, Philip the Acarnanian prepared a strong medicine As Alexander was about to drink this, a message arrived from Parmenio warning him that Philip had been bribed by Darius to kill him Philip reassured Alexander that the medicine would save his life Alexander, who trusted his friends at this stage, proceeded to drink and was soon cured

Warnings and Superstition When Alexander approached the city of Babylon, he was met by the priests of Marduk They begged him not to enter the city, because they had received an oracle from the gods that if he did, he would suffer misfortune Alexander disregarded their advice suspecting that they had neglected to carry out his orders to rebuild the temple of Marduk, and had wasted his money for their personal pleasure However he tried to enter the city from the east; but the marshes made this impossible and this confirmed his suspicion of the priests He therefore proceeded to enter Babylon from the western gate When he died soon after, the priests warning was interpreted as accurate

Three Bad Omens Three Bad Omens… Read Hamilton pgs 147-148 and explain what these were. Alexander caught malarial fever after a night of heavy drinking and died two weeks later on June 10, 323BC.

Bad Omens… One day, when Alexander had left the royal throne vacant, a man sat on it and according to some accounts, wore Alexander’s robe and diadem. The seers again demanded that he should be put to death. When Alexander was sailing in the marshes his hat and diadem were blown off and the diadem came to rest near the tombs of the dead Assyrian kings. One of the sailors swam out to recover the diadem and to keep it dry he put it on his head. The sailor was initially rewarded with one talent but later he was executed on the advice of the seers, for wearing the diadem on his head

The Death of Alexander Babylon 323 BC

Alexander in Babylon Alexander died in Babylon at the age of 32. He became very ill after a night of heavy drinking He caught a malarial fever that lasted for two weeks Initially he was able to converse with his men and plan the next campaign 7th of June his condition deteriorated and the troops suspecting the worse forced their way into the palace and paid their last respects Alexander died in the evening of the 10th of June in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, an old Babylonian king

Read Hamilton’s account pages 151-153. Conspiracy or not? Read Hamilton’s account pages 151-153. Q: What is the possible ‘conspiracy theory’ surrounding Alexander’s death?

Two Theories Was Alexander murdered? It is possible that Alexander was murdered but there is no evidence to prove this. The rumour was that he was poisoned by Cassander, Antipater’s son, on the advice of his father. Antipater may have had a motive to want Alexander dead; he did not get on with Olympias and when he was asked to come east he may have feared for his life. Did Alexander die of a broken heart?   Hephaistion died from excessive drinking. Alexander and Hephaistion had been totally devoted to each other (like Achilles and Patroclus) and Hephaistion had always supported Alexander and his policies. When his friend died, Alexander was heartbroken and revealed his violent grief with his bizarre actions.

After Alexander – ‘The Hellenistic Age’ 300BC – The Kingdoms of the Successors Lysimachus Cassander Seleucus Ptolemy

Discuss in 400 words: As a leader, what do you think were Alexander’s greatest accomplishments during his lifetime? - Discuss both negative & positive