Alexander the Great New Research

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by Hellenika

A show I watched had said his body was mummified like was the custom in Egypt at the time so it wouldn't have decayed. A struggle ensued between his generals on where the body would permanently go. They wanted it back in Macedonia but somehow they don't think that ever happened.

Also, I know for some time it was in Egypt on display and that one of the caesers, I think maybe it was Julius Ceaser went to see it. He was in awe, and upon trying to place some kind of lei or wreath around Alexanders neck, broke his nose off. From that time on they put the mummy in some kind of glass enclosure to be viewed.

They also mentioned the body had gotten stolen out of Alexandria at some point. Now did they get it back or not, they didn't say or if this was early on when he died, they don't know. I personally think his remains are somewhere in Greece though.

Mummification was definately a custom in Egypt for Egyptians but would the Greeks who where pagans at the time mummify Alexanders body? Mummification was definately not a Greek custom.

[gorgona]

Originally Posted by Hellenika

A show I watched had said his body was mummified like was the custom in Egypt at the time so it wouldn't have decayed. A struggle ensued between his generals on where the body would permanently go. They wanted it back in Macedonia but somehow they don't think that ever happened.

Also, I know for some time it was in Egypt on display and that one of the caesers, I think maybe it was Julius Ceaser went to see it. He was in awe, and upon trying to place some kind of lei or wreath around Alexanders neck, broke his nose off. From that time on they put the mummy in some kind of glass enclosure to be viewed.

They also mentioned the body had gotten stolen out of Alexandria at some point. Now did they get it back or not, they didn't say or if this was early on when he died, they don't know. I personally think his remains are somewhere in Greece though.

I guess once he was mummified, they could have moved him anywhere. I think that the story about Caesar breaking his nose off is probably a myth, though. But if he was brought back to Greece, do you think that they finally let him rest in Gortynia?

[gorgona]

Originally Posted by Prokomenos

Mummification was definately a custom in Egypt for Egyptians but would the Greeks who where pagans at the time mummify Alexanders body? Mummification was definately not a Greek custom.

Good point. So let’s say he was cremated. Couldn’t his bones have been brought back to Greece?

[Hellenika]

Originally Posted by Epikourios37x

H merikoi "epistimonoi" pou lene oti o Alexandros htan "Slav" kai pws oi "Makedwnes" den htan filh ths Elladas, den einai axioi na legontai "Filellhnes". Oi Makedwnes kai o Alexandros htan Ellhnes, giati oi prwgonoi tous htan Pelagoi/Arkades! Na doume twra an oi merikoi "epistimonoi" kai alloi pou lene pws oi Makedwnes htan/einai Slavoi kai Skopianoi...poune kiolas pws oi Arkades htan Slavoi!? 8a tolmhsoun??

Mono lew...."Molwn Labe".

Wasn't it the Skopians or Albanians who have already claimed to be the Athenians! I'm suprised they haven't already made claims of being the Spartans, especially after the "300" movie last year. Maybe they did and I missed it.

[Hellenika]

Originally Posted by Prokomenos

Mummification was definately a custom in Egypt for Egyptians but would the Greeks who where pagans at the time mummify Alexanders body? Mummification was definately not a Greek custom.

No, it was definetly not Greek, but Alexander was worshipped as some God there. He had to be mummified, him and his people there had adapted the ways of Egypt and the east.

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by Hellenika

Wasn't it the Skopians or Albanians who have already claimed to be the Athenians! I'm suprised they haven't already made claims of being the Spartans, especially after the "300" movie last year. Maybe they did and I missed it.

You are talking about the Albanians. The Albanians claim to be Athenians and Peloponnesians lmao!

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by Hellenika

No, it was definetly not Greek, but Alexander was worshipped as some God there. He had to be mummified, him and his people there had adapted the ways of Egypt and the east.

You have a point aswell but I dont think his loyal soldiers who opposed foreign customs would allow such a thing.

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by gorgona

Good point. So let’s say he was cremated. Couldn’t his bones have been brought back to Greece?

That is definately a good point. That is very possible.

[Epikourios37x]

ALEXANDER's mummified remains were indeed in Alexandria, Egypt. If you go to the links, and read the written report or watch the video, you will see that his mummified corpse vanished without a trace roughly around the same time period of the 5th Century C.E, when ancient Gortynos was deserted and its remaining inhabitants founded the village of ‘Atzi-Cholos’. They had an emblem/insignia with the thorax and spear of Great Alexander, believed to be a copy of an actual insignia of Alexander's. Ironically, the first word of Atzi has also a very important meaning in the semitic languages of the lands in which Alexander had spread his ideals of Hellenism. Also, the monastery which has this Byzantine icon of St. Sisois visiting the remains of Alexander (c.mid-16th century), is built within the vicinity of the ruins of the old village of 'Atzi-Cholos' and above ancient Gortynos.

From the report:
"According to Pausanias, Alexander in 336 B.C.E., age 20, was named General and King of the Hellenes in their campaign against the Great Persian Empire at the Second Pan-Hellenic Conference held at Korinth. Before Alexander marched East with his army, he followed the ancient main road from Korinth and reached Gortynos, in order to pay homage to his Arkadian ancestors. Legends and historical accounts (even by Herodotus and Apollodorus) state that the Macedonians were descended from Makedon, Son of Lykaon. At the renowned Sanctuary of Asklepios in Gortynos, Alexander bathed in its healing waters and made sacrifices to the god Asklepios, Son of Apollo. Before he left, Alexander dedicated his armor (thorax, shield, and spear) to the temple, as well as to the Gortynian people."


I am not saying that this icon proves that Alexander is in the land of Gortynia in Arkadia. Not at all. Just relying on the icon, is not scholarly enough for a claim. It just led me to other interesting facts and clues which makes a solid argument for them to have been brought to Gortynia...the land of his ancestors. But interesting enough, the icon in the monastery above Gortynos, depicts Alexander the Great not in a skeletal form, like other versions of the portrayal, but very differently. When I analyzed it, it definitely looks like the depiction of a mummified corpse. Plus, it is the earliest of the icons with this theme ever created. Its contemporary of the time, is in the Meteora monastery of Varlaam (c.16th century as well), but that icon clearly presents Alexander as a skeleton. His body was indeed mummified after his death for preservation, because he was worshiped.

The research that I am doing is an ongoing process.

[gorgona]

Originally Posted by Hellenika

No, it was definetly not Greek, but Alexander was worshipped as some God there. He had to be mummified, him and his people there had adapted the ways of Egypt and the east.

But didn’t he die in Babylon or somewhere near there? Wouldn’t they have cremated him there?