Kings of Macedon. Babylon. Alexander III "the Great" 336-323 BC. struck under Peithon, circa 315-311 BC
Tetradrachm AR

25 mm, 17,16 g

Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long sceptre in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, monogram within wreath; below throne, monogram of AX.

Very Fine

Price 3725.

Alexander the Great, born in 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia, was one of history's most renowned military leaders. He became king of Macedonia at the age of 20 after the assassination of his father, King Philip II, in 336 BC. Alexander's military genius is evident in his undefeated record in battle, which allowed him to build one of the largest empires of the ancient world by the time of his death in 323 BC. Alexander's conquests began with the invasion of the Persian Empire, which he defeated at the battles of Issus in 333 BC and Gaugamela in 331 BC, effectively ending Persian rule and securing his control over much of Asia Minor, Egypt, and Persia. His military campaign extended as far as India, where he fought the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC, although his troops, weary and far from home, refused to continue deeper into India. Beyond his military achievements, Alexander sought to blend Greek and Eastern cultures, founding cities like Alexandria in Egypt, which became centers of learning and culture. His policies of cultural integration, such as encouraging marriages between his soldiers and local women, left a lasting legacy on the regions he conquered, contributing to the Hellenistic period where Greek culture spread across the known world. Alexander's death in 323 BC in Babylon, possibly due to fever, poison, or other causes, marked the end of his rapid expansion. His empire, lacking a strong successor, was divided among his generals, leading to the formation of the Hellenistic kingdoms. Despite the eventual fragmentation of his empire, Alexander's influence persisted through the spread of Greek culture and ideas, profoundly shaping the course of history in the centuries that followed.