Alexander the Great: biography and interesting facts from life. Alexander the Great - short biography The decline of the empire of Alexander the Great

Chapter X GREECE AND MACEDONIA IN THE ERA OF HELLENISM In the history of the ancient world, the period from the end of the 4th century. until the last decades of the 1st century. BC. (i.e. from the time of the Greco-Macedonian conquest of the countries of the East and until the subjugation of Egypt by Rome) is usually called the Hellenistic, or Hellenistic period.

Most people live simple and unremarkable lives. After their death, they leave practically nothing behind them, and the memory of them quickly fades. But there are also those whose name is remembered for centuries, or even millennia. Even if some people do not know about the contribution of these individuals to world history, their names are forever preserved in it. One of these people was Alexander the Great. The biography of this outstanding commander is still full of gaps, but scientists have done a lot of work to reliably reproduce the story of his life.

Alexander the Great - briefly about the deeds and life of the great king

Alexander was the son of the Macedonian king Philip II. His father tried to give him the best and raise a reasonable, but at the same time decisive and unshakable person in his actions, in order to keep in submission all the peoples that he would have to govern in the event of the death of Philip II. And so it happened. After his father died, Alexander, with the support of the army, was elected as the next king. The first thing he did when he became ruler was to brutally deal with all claimants to the throne in order to guarantee his safety. After this, he suppressed the rebellion of the rebel Greek city-states and defeated the armies of nomadic tribes that threatened Macedonia. Despite such a young age, twenty-year-old Alexander gathered a significant army and went to the East. Within ten years, many peoples of Asia and Africa submitted to him. A sharp mind, prudence, ruthlessness, stubbornness, courage, bravery - these qualities of Alexander the Great gave him the opportunity to rise above everyone else. The kings were afraid to see his army near the borders of their possessions, and the enslaved peoples meekly obeyed the invincible commander. The empire of Alexander the Great was the largest state formation of the time, spanning three continents.

Childhood and early years

How did you spend your childhood, what kind of upbringing did young Alexander the Great receive? The biography of the king is full of secrets and questions to which historians have not yet been able to give a definite answer. But first things first.

Alexander was born into the family of the Macedonian ruler Philip II, who was from the ancient Argead family, and his wife Olympias. He was born in 356 BC. e. in the city of Pella (at that time it was the capital of Macedonia). Scholars debate the exact date of Alexander's birth, with some saying July and others preferring October.

Since childhood, Alexander was interested in Greek culture and literature. In addition, he showed interest in mathematics and music. As a teenager, Aristotle himself became his mentor, thanks to whom Alexander fell in love with the Iliad and always carried it with him. But above all, the young man proved himself to be a talented strategist and ruler. At the age of 16, due to the absence of his father, he temporarily ruled Macedonia, while managing to repel the attack of barbarian tribes on the northern borders of the state. When Philip II returned to the country, he decided to take another woman named Cleopatra as his wife. Angry at such a betrayal of his mother, Alexander often quarreled with his father, so he had to leave with Olympias to Epirus. Soon Philip forgave his son and allowed him to return back.

New king of Macedonia

The life of Alexander the Great was filled with the struggle for power and maintaining it in his own hands. It all started in 336 BC. e. after the assassination of Philip II, when it was time to choose a new king. Alexander gained the support of the army and was eventually recognized as the new ruler of Macedonia. In order not to repeat the fate of his father and to protect the throne from other contenders, he brutally deals with everyone who could pose a threat to him. Even his cousin Amyntas and the little son of Cleopatra and Philip were executed.

By that time, Macedonia was the most powerful and dominant state among the Greek city-states within the Corinthian League. Hearing about the death of Philip II, the Greeks wanted to get rid of the influence of the Macedonians. But Alexander quickly dispelled their dreams and, using force, forced them to submit to the new king. In 335, a campaign was organized against the barbarian tribes threatening the northern regions of the country. The army of Alexander the Great quickly dealt with the enemies and ended this threat forever.

At this time they rebelled and rebelled against the power of the new king of Thebes. But after a short siege of the city, Alexander managed to overcome the resistance and suppress the rebellion. This time he was not so lenient and almost completely destroyed Thebes, executing thousands of citizens.

Alexander the Great and the East. Conquest of Asia Minor

Philip II also wanted to take revenge on Persia for past defeats. For this purpose, a large and well-trained army was created, capable of posing a serious threat to the Persians. After his death, Alexander the Great took up this matter. The history of the conquest of the East began in 334 BC. e., when Alexander's 50,000-strong army crossed to Asia Minor, settling in the city of Abydos.

He was opposed by an equally large Persian army, the basis of which was united formations under the command of the satraps of the western borders and Greek mercenaries. The decisive battle took place in the spring on the eastern bank of the Grannik River, where Alexander’s troops destroyed enemy formations with a swift blow. After this victory, the cities of Asia Minor fell one after another under the onslaught of the Greeks. Only in Miletus and Halicarnassus did they encounter resistance, but even these cities were eventually captured. Wanting to take revenge on the invaders, Darius III gathered a large army and set out on a campaign against Alexander. They met near the city of Issus in November 333 BC. e., where the Greeks showed excellent preparation and defeated the Persians, forcing Darius to flee. These battles of Alexander the Great became a turning point in the conquest of Persia. After them, the Macedonians were able to subjugate the territories of the huge empire almost unhindered.

Conquest of Syria, Phenicia and the campaign against Egypt

After a crushing victory over the Persian army, Alexander continued his victorious campaign to the South, subjugating the territories adjacent to the Mediterranean coast to his power. His army encountered virtually no resistance and quickly subjugated the cities of Syria and Phenicia. Only the inhabitants of Tire, which was located on an island and was an impregnable fortress, were able to give a serious rebuff to the invaders. But after a seven-month siege, the city’s defenders had to surrender it. These conquests of Alexander the Great were of great strategic importance, as they made it possible to cut off the Persian fleet from its main supply bases and protect themselves in the event of an attack from the sea.

At this time, Darius III twice tried to negotiate with the Macedonian commander, offering him money and lands, but Alexander was adamant and rejected both offers, wanting to become the sole ruler of all Persian lands.

In the autumn of 332 BC. e. Greek and Macedonian armies entered Egyptian territory. The inhabitants of the country greeted them as liberators from the hated Persian power, which Alexander the Great was pleasantly impressed with. The biography of the king was replenished with new titles - pharaoh and son of the god Amon, which were assigned to him by the Egyptian priests.

The death of Darius III and the complete defeat of the Persian state

After the successful conquest of Egypt, Alexander did not rest for long; already in July 331 BC. e. his army crossed the Euphrates River and moved towards Media. These were to be the decisive battles of Alexander the Great, in which the winner would gain power over all Persian lands. But Darius learned about the plans of the Macedonian commander and came out to meet him at the head of a huge army. Having crossed the Tigris River, the Greeks met the Persian army on a vast plain near Gaugamela. But, as in previous battles, the Macedonian army won, and Darius left his army in the midst of the battle.

Having learned about the flight of the Persian king, the inhabitants of Babylon and Susa submitted to Alexander without resistance.

Having placed his satraps here, the Macedonian commander continued the offensive, pushing back the remnants of the Persian troops. In 330 BC. e. They approached Persepolis, which was held by troops of the Persian satrap Ariobarzanes. After a fierce struggle, the city surrendered to the onslaught of the Macedonians. As was the case with all places that voluntarily did not submit to Alexander's authority, it was burned to the ground. But the commander did not want to stop there and went in pursuit of Darius, whom he overtook in Parthia, but already dead. As it turned out, he was betrayed and killed by one of his subordinates named Bess.

Advancement into Central Asia

The life of Alexander the Great has now changed radically. Although he was a big fan of Greek culture and the system of government, the permissiveness and luxury with which the Persian rulers lived conquered him. He considered himself the rightful king of the Persian lands and wanted everyone to treat him like a god. Those who tried to criticize his actions were immediately executed. He did not even spare his friends and loyal comrades.

But the matter was not over yet, because the eastern provinces, having learned about the death of Darius, did not want to obey the new ruler. Therefore, Alexander in 329 BC. e. again set out on a campaign - to Central Asia. In three years he managed to finally break the resistance. Bactria and Sogdiana offered him the greatest resistance, but they also fell before the might of the Macedonian army. This was the end of the story describing the conquests of Alexander the Great in Persia, the population of which completely submitted to his power, recognizing the commander as the King of Asia.

Trek to India

The conquered territories were not enough for Alexander, and in 327 BC. e. he organized another campaign - to India. Having entered the territory of the country and crossed the Indus River, the Macedonians approached the possessions of King Taxila, who submitted to the King of Asia, replenishing the ranks of his army with his people and war elephants. The Indian ruler hoped for Alexander's help in the fight against another king named Porus. The commander kept his word, and in June 326 a great battle took place on the banks of the Gadispa River, which ended in favor of the Macedonians. But Alexander left Porus alive and even allowed him to rule his lands, as before. On the sites of the battles, he founded the cities of Nicaea and Bucephala. But at the end of the summer, the rapid advance stopped near the Hyphasis River, when the army, exhausted from endless battles, refused to go further. Alexander had no choice but to turn south. Having reached the Indian Ocean, he divided the army into two parts, half of which sailed back on ships, and the rest, together with Alexander, advanced overland. But this was a big mistake for the commander, because their path ran through hot deserts, in which part of the army died. The life of Alexander the Great was in danger after he was seriously wounded in one of the battles with local tribes.

The last years of life and the results of the actions of the great commander

Returning to Persia, Alexander saw that many satraps had rebelled and decided to create their own powers. But with the return of the commander, their plans collapsed, and all those who disobeyed faced execution. After the massacre, the King of Asia began strengthening the internal situation in the country and preparing for new campaigns. But his plans were not destined to come true. June 13, 323 BC e. Alexander dies of malaria at the age of 32. After his death, the commanders divided among themselves all the lands of the huge state.

This is how one of the greatest commanders, Alexander the Great, passed away. The biography of this person is filled with so many bright events that sometimes you wonder - can an ordinary person do this? The young man with extraordinary ease subjugated entire nations who worshiped him as a god. The cities he founded have survived to this day, recalling the deeds of the commander. And although the empire of Alexander the Great fell apart immediately after his death, at that time it was the largest and most powerful state, which stretched from the Danube to the Indus.

Dates of Alexander the Great's campaigns and places of the most famous battles

1. 334-300 BC e. - conquest of Asia Minor.
2. May 334 BC e. - a battle on the banks of the Grannik River, victory in which made it possible for Alexander to easily subjugate the cities of Asia Minor.
3. November 333 BC e. - a battle near the city of Issus, as a result of which Darius fled from the battlefield, and the Persian army was completely defeated.
4. January-July 332 BC e. - the siege of the impregnable city of Tire, after the capture of which the Persian army found itself cut off from the sea.
5. Autumn 332 BC e. - July 331 BC e. - annexation of Egyptian lands.
6. October 331 BC e. - battle on the plains near Gaugemal, where the Macedonian army was again victorious, and Darius III was forced to flee.
7. 329-327 BC e. - campaign in Central Asia, conquest of Bactria and Sogdiana.
8. 327-324 BC e. - trip to India.
9. June 326 BC e. - battle with the troops of King Porus near the Gadis River.

Alexander the Great lived a short but very colorful life. This outstanding man participated in so many events that they would be enough for the lives of hundreds of ordinary people! Most of these events took place according to his will, they became historical because they changed the world in many ways.

Childhood and youth

Alexander was born in 356 BC. He was not the only child of King Philip II of Macedonia, but he had such qualities that no one could have become a more worthy heir to this ruler. Much attention was paid to the upbringing and training of Alexander, he Since childhood, he mastered the art of diplomacy, politics, and military affairs.

In 343 BC. his mentor was Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, founder of many sciences. Under his leadership, young Alexander received a classical education typical of Greece, gained respect for geography, philosophy and medicine, and fell in love with literature. The program also included lectures on the good deeds of rulers of different countries and an ethics course.

His father taught Alexander military science - the teenager learned about strategy and tactics, listened to stories about military campaigns.

Alexander the Great is a brave warrior and commander.

Character and personal qualities

Already at the age of 16, Alexander gained experience in governing the state while his father was on a campaign. During this period, he even managed to suppress the uprising of the Meds, one of the tribes in the northeast of the country. At the age of 18, the young man commanded part of his father’s army in battle, after which Macedonia gained dominance over Greece.

History testifies to the contradictory character of Alexander the Great. He had many positive and negative qualities. Generosity, chivalry and courage were combined with cruelty, despotism, boundless ambition and vanity.

Young Emperor.

The young king of Macedonia understood how huge the world was, and wanted to conquer everything around him, to become the only powerful ruler. He was sure that he had the right to command everyone.

To implement his plans, Alexander waged continuous wars and did not lose a single battle. The commander's talent allowed him to defeat superior enemy forces, namely, such battles were the majority.

Beginning of reign and first conquests

King Philip II did not have time to implement plans for the invasion of Persia: in 336 BC. he was killed by the conspirators. 20-year-old Alexander became the ruler. He identified the participants in the conspiracy and executed them, and also eliminated everyone who could become a contender for the royal throne.

He inherited an experienced, well-trained army - light infantry, spearmen, cavalry, and engineering units. The young king began strengthening and arming the army, but did not forget to take care of the Macedonians’ disposition towards him. To do this, he, for example, abolished taxes.

At the beginning of his reign, Alexander continued his father's policies to make Macedonia a powerful power. But The main dream was to conquer the world. The first steps towards this goal were:

• seizure of power in the Corinthian League, subordination of Greek cities on special terms and placement of Macedonian garrisons in them;
• military operations on the Balkan Peninsula and the subjugation of the peoples living there.

War with Persia

In 334 - 330 BC. a military campaign was carried out against Persia. It was then a powerful empire, its territory began in the western Mediterranean and ended in India. Victory in this war meant the end of Persian influence in Asia Minor and the regions adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, and the establishment of control over trade between West and East.

Alexander the Great began the campaign with 30,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. In all battles, the brave commander walked ahead and was an example for his soldiers. The army idolized him, and his enemies feared him. For example, after Alexander used new battle tactics, the Persian king Darius retreated so quickly with his army that his family - his mother, wife and children - was left at the mercy of the winner.

War with Persia. Battle of Gaugamela.

The king of Macedonia rejected Darius' proposals for peace, although he was ready to give up part of his lands and share the throne. The ruler of Persia fled to India, where he was killed by rebels. The title “Great King” passed to Alexander the Great, and the Persian warriors were able, if they wished, to join the army of the winners.

Other hikes

Alexander created his great empire, with borders from the Danube to the Indus, in a few years. Those who disagreed with his policies, even in his immediate circle, were mercilessly destroyed.

During the conquest of other states, extreme cruelty and political decisions took place, marriage alliances were concluded with representatives of different nations, and cultural exchanges took place.

After the conquest in 335 BC. countries of the Balkan Peninsula, the most important campaigns and annexations of lands covered the following areas:

• 334-330 BC. - Asia Minor, Egypt, Syria;
• 329-327 BC. - Middle Asia;
• 326-325 BC. - India.

It's interesting that...

1. In each conquered country, Alexander named one of the cities by his own name.
2. According to legend, in response to Alexander’s demand to predict his fate, the soothsayer cried out that he was invincible.
3. Another legend says that the young emperor met with the philosopher Diogenes and promised him to fulfill any request. Diogenes asked... not to block the sun for him.

Conqueror statue.

Decline of the Empire of Alexander the Great

The development of the new empire required a lot of attention. In 324 BC. Alexander inspected the local administration, and the guilty satraps, who had enormous powers, were executed.

Years of difficult campaigns exhausted the army, and Alexander was forced to begin returning home. On the way he became seriously ill and died in Babylon. This happened in 323 BC, when the emperor was not yet 33 years old. Without his strong will, the empire was rocked by contradictions and civil strife, and in 321 BC. she was divided. Alexander's family members and associates became victims of the power struggle.

Irish actor Colin Farrell plays the great commander.

The role of personality in world history

Even this small message gives an idea of ​​what Alexander the Great left a global mark on history. His biography shows how the actions of an outstanding person, in addition to conquests, can affect the destinies of states and peoples:

1. The influence of Greek culture spread to the East.
2. There was an expansion of trade relations between countries.
3. Alexander's activities contributed to the development of science and technology.
4. Military science has been enriched with the most important developments in the field of strategy and tactics. They began to develop a plan to conduct the battle.
5. The type of large warships that the emperor had in service was the basis of the navy in the armies of many countries for several centuries.

Alexander the Great 5 elements.
Scroll one Song of the Vine.
Chapter 3
Egi. 344. BC From Ilka.
Today there will be five of them. The boys decided to accept Jason into their gang. Today they will hold the dedication.
Ilka woke up and stretched, anticipating a fun day. The main thing is not to coincide with the girls. Yesterday, Kali, the sister, said that they would sort things out with Philip’s daughters and their group. Some of the girls considered themselves dryads and rulers of the forest. His sisters were one of them. The other part, the Amazons, led by Thessalonica, also laid claim to the forest lands. This Lonka generally considers herself the most important in everything, and does not give life to anyone. Uncle Philip constantly sends Surik to their house when he’s away, afraid that his sister will break his neck. Not just with his own hands, but he will challenge his younger brother to argue with horse dressage, and slip the great rider a mad horse. And she won't have a brother. She's such a Lonka, it's better not to mess with her.
Ilka really didn’t want to get up. This is how I would lie all day. And so that no one touches you, does not see anyone, just basks in bed. There will be no grammar today, but poetry and languages ​​will. After his poems in Mytilene were not approved, the boy did not want to take them on at all. Even if Uncle Philip is right, and it’s not the talent that’s in the person, but the silver equivalent... then it becomes even more disgusting. Everything cannot be bought and sold... In stories about heroes, they achieve everything themselves, with their strength, brains, divine gift... And now everything can be bought. Priam is going to go to the games in winter, the application has already been submitted, so what, everything will be paid for there too? Ilka closed his eyes so as not to see this whole World. No, he doesn't want it that way. He will go through life like the heroes of antiquity. He is big and strong, he will neither sell nor buy. To be cunning like Uncle Philip is to despise other people...
Still, I need to get up, but I don’t feel like it. Ilka overcame himself and sat up in bed. Nearby, stuck into the window frame, in the light of the autumn sun, a new knife glowed. Atta had already left without waking his son to say goodbye, but it is clear that he went to his mezzanine and brought a new blade. The guy took it in his hands, twisted it, Atta forged it at night, weaving the light of the moon into the iron. Ilka meticulously examined the weapon, forged a good knife, when he can still make one himself... He is learning to communicate with iron under the guidance of Attalus with pleasure.
That's it, he finally got up. The day has begun, with all its gifts and surprises.
When Ilka came down from his mezzanine, the sisters were already sitting at the table, Surik was also there, and Atta’s old nurse was bustling around.
- ABOUT! Splyusha! – Cleopatra, the elder sister, was delighted at his appearance. The guy kissed his sisters and brother, if that’s what you can call Surik, and sat down next to them.
- Did you see what your Liapp drew? – the sisters laid out a couple of portraits on the table in front of him. – Who, looking at them, will marry us?!
Ilka looked at the creative masterpieces of his teacher. The sisters in blue-green shades looked somewhat pretentious. Few people dare to propose to the beauties from the forest kingdom. It was Cleo's idea to find a husband by correspondence. Naturally, Kalka followed her sister’s example. Two blue-green dryads looked at him predatorily from their portraits. Personally, he would hide letters from such beauties far away, fearing for his health.
“Yes, it’s not for everyone,” the guy returned the portraits to the sisters, “It’s just right for you to hang them around the forest, look for a lonely satire, or look into the necropolis for suitors.”
“You don’t understand anything,” the young artist muttered under his breath, taking away the empty plates from under the half-cold porridge. The children of Amyntor were extremely unpretentious in food. The sisters quickly hid the portraits, despite the fact that you couldn’t catch suitors in them, unless they were specific ones, obsessed with mania, with whom you’d then have to howl on full moons, but the dryads were still charming in their elemental rapacity. Leapp, as a talented artist, captured the aggressiveness of Aegean girls.
The diffused light of the sun made its way through the foliage, which was beginning to be covered with the gold of autumn, giving the last warmth to the people. Soon all this variety of natural colors will be replaced by cold torrential rains and piercing winds. The leaves, having become gold, will surrender to the calm of Death. That dead world, peace and sleep, prefers gold, which reflects the light of the dying sun. Absorbing the last light, yellow metal transfers it to the True Sun, illuminating the Isles of the Blessed, where the heroes go on their eternal hunt. This light connects with the sun Iria, where the chosen ones, even among the heroes, go, entering Eternity, and illuminating the path for their descendants. In Ilka’s opinion, this was the pinnacle for any person.
Having taken Surik to grammar, he ran to the theater, where poetry classes were being held. All the boys his age were already there, except for Pavka, who immediately tried out new poems in voice and song. Pavka and his elders left for Pella. Sitting in the spectator seats, the boys wrote poems on slate boards, then recited them from the stage; rhetoric classes were also held here, when the art of oratory was comprehended.
After sitting and tormented over the poems, Ilka lay down on the seats. Inspiration was completely lacking. Pegasus, who should have given the young man his gift, did not arrive. Clouds floated high in the sky, they slowly descended, from warm summer clouds, turning into heavy ones, absorbing all the blue bliss, autumn, steel. Pegasus could not break through them, or did not want to. Ilka grinned, he imagined how this seasoned winged stallion lingered for completely idle needs of life, simply found heavenly oats and crunches them with pleasure, chewing them with heavy jaws, so that the nodules move rhythmically along his face. And then a white mare appears - Medusa, who will very soon descend to the ground, bringing snow with her. She languidly and coyly, just like Fifa, raises her fluffy eyelashes and throws up her long blonde bangs. The mare neighs invitingly, laying her ears back... Today you don’t have to wait for Pegasus.
Ilka stood up. On the lower seats, Fifa diligently scribbled on the board. The cheeks are pink, there is a sly smile on the lips, the eyes... are not visible under the hair, but it is clear that he is all about creativity. Ilka, interested, came up and stuck his nose in to see... something about love. Fifa hastily hid the tablet. Ilka grinned, of course, he was writing to Lyalka. In Pella they encountered the Epirotes, there was an eleven-year-old girl, Elena, fragile, with huge eyes, a sharp nose and flaxen fluffy hair. Fifa followed her for a long time, and Lyalka just raised her eyes to him, deep as lakes, and shrugged her shoulders, saying I don’t understand anything. Now Fifa was raving about her. He writes poetry and sends letters. Then the other day Ilka noticed his brother spinning in front of the mirror, making faces at his reflection, practicing everything on how to beautifully throw up his hair, how to tilt his head, how to run his hand over his face... What love does to a guy.
“Write, write, maybe he’ll appreciate it...” Ilka continued to grin. He only shuddered at his reflections in the mirror, who would be attracted to this girl’s face... Over the last year he has grown sharply, his shoulders have expanded, and his face... has become such a freak, it’s disgusting to him, he’s so different from his other friends. If I hadn’t been tall and strong, I could have played among the girls and passed for my girlfriend. And he has to endure this for a long time! Atta says: everything will change, he will mature, but for now not a single girl takes him seriously. Ilka did not like mirrors.
Jason sat thoughtfully, sucking a stylus; it looked like he was at home, in his Moscow Mountains. Danka stood nearby with her paw, catching the leaves that were beginning to fall, rustling along the ground, flying into the theater and hiding under the seats. Her soft, thick paws, with lightning speed, threw themselves forward, slapped the passing leaf, it froze, as if pretending to be dead, but as soon as the paw was torn off, it immediately strove to hide. The leopard's long tail, in excitement, wriggled in one direction or the other. The white tip teased temptingly. Kuzka tried to step on him, unable to resist the temptation. Danka, when the boy still pressed his tail, turned around and looked at him as if he were a stupid kitten. He just grinned his teeth fervently.
Ilka turned away from this childish entertainment. The girls had already begun to emerge from the palaestra, from the administrative building. Today they studied in the morning. As Leonid said, if the boys played sports on the palaestra, the girls went there to fight.
The guy started up, Aglaya, Aminander’s wife, was walking along the paved road, carrying a large and apparently heavy basket, holding it by the hem, and her daughter trotted behind her.
“I’ll be there soon,” Ilka jumped over the seats and flew out of the theater. The teacher just shook his head, his friends laughed, the boy didn’t care.
“Rejoice,” he greeted, patted the girl on the head, “Let me help.”
The woman hurriedly handed the basket to the guy, who could barely reach his shoulder, and took her daughter by the hand.
“I gave things away to be washed,” Aglaya straightened her hair with a smile. - It’s good, nephew, that I met you, I’ll carry you home.
- I’ll tell you...
So, she saw nothing in him other than a nephew. Well, why Aglaya’s wife Aminta, if it were his, Ilka would carry her in his arms.
“Well, Aminta left in the morning, I had to bear this burden myself,” the woman complained.
“If you need anything, I’ll help...” Ilka raised his huge gray eyes to her. Aglaya smiled. – You’re good, Ilka.
The boy walked them home and carried the basket to the door. The woman kissed the boy on the cheek as a sign of gratitude, and he, inspired, did not notice how he found himself on the palaestra in the circle of friends. The guys, naturally, made fun of him, seeing how he rushed off, but Ilka did not pay attention to them, he himself would have giggled just as much in their place. Ilka only smiled shyly, being in his warm and bright dreams. Neither the heavy boulders, which he habitually dragged along the palaestra, nor the pears with sand, on which he practiced striking with his hands and feet, could bring him back to the ground. For the first time, he was alone with a woman he liked, not in a family circle, not surrounded by relatives and her husband, but they were just walking together, and there was only Aglaya’s little daughter, her part... And she also kissed him, albeit as a relative, but that’s all well... And from this a sweet longing spread through the chest, and an embarrassed smile wandered across his face.
Standing under the flowing water, washing his body from the sand of the palestra, Ilka blissfully closed his eyes, absorbing the murmuring streams with his whole being. If Aglaya were free...
Someone else's hand slid down his stomach, a hoarse male voice whispered right into his ear...
-Your skin is as soft as the lips of a horse...
The guy rushed to the side. The stomach shrank and began to rise sharply. Achaemenids again...
Without making out the way, Ilka rushed out into the street and bent over the bushes. My stomach was bursting out. Fifa flew out behind him, braking on turns with his hands and feet.
- Alive? – he patted Ilka on the wet back. He only weakly waved it away and again bent over the bushes.
The first time the Achaemenids showed him such attention was that year. The magician, under the new satrap Scudria, then simply came to Amyntor. Ilka saw this simply because he was in the next room and the door was open.
The magician then told Atta that he had grown up a handsome son, just like their legendary Achilles, just as strong with a gentle face. Since then, Ilka hated his full name Achilles and responded only to the diminutive. The magician explained to Atta that a great future awaited him at the Achaemenid court, and he was even willing to pay for the boy to become his lover. Then Amyntor, without changing his face, took out a kopis, such a crooked sword, used by the infantry, and simply cut the magician, along with his luxurious robes, and while the body was falling, he wiped the blade on his clothes. Atta explained what the Achaemenid wanted from him, then Ilka presented all this, and he vomited for the first time. Amyntor then threw the body out of the house and officially announced that the magician was killed by robbers. Artabaz, as a smart politician, agreed with this version, the incident was hushed up.
Kuzka and Yaska, already dressed, approached the naked boys. Kuzka brought their clothes. Fifa quickly put on his trousers and robe. Ilka seemed to have let go, he stood as pale as death, clutching himself by the shoulders, his head was just pounding, and his heart was pounding like a hammer in a forge. An Achaemenid with a sweet smile appeared from the palaestra. Ilka himself did not notice how he ended up next to him and twisted his head like a chick. The body went limp at his feet. The guy wiped his hands on his thighs with disgust.
“What are we going to do with the body?” Kuzka dragged the corpse into the bushes by the collar.
“As always, we’ll throw it on the road,” Fifa covered Ilka with a himation, trying to look into his eyes. They were white, the pupil became a dot, a clear sign of rabies.
“Yes, I’m fine, I’m fine,” he pulled away, wrapping himself in fabric. They knew each other's reactions too well.
“No.. there’s no need to complicate the life of the elders, let’s bury him under the Christmas tree,” Jason made his proposal, remembering the conversation between the basileus and Fifa’s father.
Younger boys ran past the palaestra and hurried towards the theater.
- Ilechka!! “Surik, seeing his own people, rushed to the guys. His gaze met the gloomy faces of the guys, in the bushes he noticed a dumped body - Oh!..
- Why are you frozen, either make sure that the little ones don’t hang around here, or help. – Kuzka gave him a slap on the head, forcing him to think faster. - Or get dressed. They dragged me.
- Yasya, can you relieve headaches? – the guy, holding his head, pulled on his trousers, Philip’s son helped him lace his boots.
“Now let’s quickly..., let’s dig it up, I’ll take care of you,” Jason kicked Danka away from the corpse, who was trying to study it. “Don’t touch the carrion.”
“Surik, go ahead, make sure you don’t run into the girls,” Fifa ordered, raising his body under his armpits. Kuzka grabbed his legs.
- You shouldn’t have him right in the city...
The boys quietly disappeared into the forest. Ilka felt better in it; dressed normally, he caught up with the guys.
- Come on, drag him here, I see a Christmas tree - Jason was the first to find the coveted tree. Having dug a little with knives, he and Ilka lifted a coniferous tree with long roots spreading along the ground. The spruce was not very big, not much taller than the guys, so they quickly agreed with it. Having deepened the wet soil, they shoved the body under the roots and installed the spruce in its old place.
- And the tree will eat, why didn’t I guess? - Kuzka was surprised, examining the work of joint hands. - Poor little tree, she was hungry.
Ilka trampled the soil around the tree.
- Well, after lunch we’ll go and see the horses?
The elders have left for Pella, and therefore, there will be no evening classes, the boys will have to entertain themselves today. It's not often that a holiday like this happens. They never had time to see the new horses brought from the north, although it was interesting. And after what happened, a change of atmosphere was needed.
“Ilichka, I’ll go with you,” Surik grabbed his relative’s hand like a tick. – Don’t leave me with your sisters.
“Okay,” Ilka reluctantly agreed. The little one won’t lag behind anyway, since he now lives with them in Amyntor’s house, he’ll have to carry it with him everywhere. - Let's all go to grandma's for dinner.
Tonight they will perform their last rites, and Yaska will become a full-fledged robber of their team, the main thing is to get rid of Surik by night. Ilka sighed and patted the little one’s flaxen hair. The boy, due to his voluntary fasting, slept very lightly, and in their house, his bed stood just under the stairs of the mezzanine where he slept. It would be nice to push Surik somewhere in the evening. My head still hurt and I refused to think. Actually, it was Jason’s gift as a healer that served as the highest argument for taking him in. Hegeloch, his grandfather, could also treat him, but perhaps that’s all. Such a gift was rare in Egi. Despite the fact that Jason came to them as a priest of Bacchus - a cupbearer, he had not yet been used by specialization. The priests of Bacchus, by the color of the wine, its viscousness, and smell, unmistakably identified the poison. For now, this was not necessary, but who knows what to expect next. It is quite possible that these abilities will soon be needed. The Athenians sent an embassy; none of the prophets saw any danger. This means they won’t be poisoned.
Coming out of the forest, Yaska sat Ilka down on the withered grass. It relieved headaches quickly. Just like goosebumps ran across my skull, penetrating inside. Ilka felt as if some knots were being untied inside, and the pain was going away. A very interesting and unusual feeling. Then the whole gang flocked to grandma’s, although Kuzka giggled all the way that his father, when he arrived, would arrange for him...
Parmenius kept a good cook, and even in his absence, the children were fed well and tasty. It is here, in Amyntor’s house, that his teacher is leaving with Atta, and the old nurse is not preparing anything other than morning porridge. Just like Uncle Philip, everyone in their house eats only healthy food. So morning porridge, fertilized with honey, is always semi-cold, so that the honey imparts as many healing properties as possible, and the children do not get burned. Of course you can eat this, they won’t give you anything else anyway, but it’s better to dine at grandma’s, it tastes better there. The Aegean rulers fanatically believe in the benefits of healthy food, which is why Uncle Philip usually eats with them. His cook, although her cooking is healthy, is not at all tasty. Grandma always has pickles on the table, and not just sprouted oats, like Uncle Philip, or a very healthy herb, like Amyntor, flavored with honey. Dining at Grandma's is a pleasure. It’s good that Yaska blessed them with kefir starter brought from the Moskie Mountains. Atta was inspired by the usefulness of this product, and now, before going to bed, they drink kefir, instead of the boring goat milk curdled milk. You can’t drag that same Kuzka over for lunch, the Illyrians are used to eating delicious food, but it’s not always healthy...
In addition to the gang of boys, Amyntor’s daughters also gathered in the grandmother’s wooden dining room. Ilka grinned, it would seem that he was just standing there, hugging the bushes, and healthy growth was taking its toll, and he really wanted to eat. Hot, aromatic stew with spices, fatty, with floating cracklings, with large pieces of rabbit meat...
The impudent Yaskina Danka was already courting her grandmother with all her might. The leopard sat down next to the mistress of the house, her thick little paw, with tucked claws, lay on the woman’s knee, and her head was tilted to the side, and her huge olive eyes looked into her very soul... The grandmother could not resist and fed her namesake with the most delicious pieces. My grandchildren would have these... Having finished a bowl of stew, Ilka was finally able to look around.
The sisters were gushing with hidden rage and irritation. He even saw a painted-over bruise on Cleopatra's face. This means that the meeting between the dryads and the Amazons took place. Kalka’s hands are also scratched. It would be interesting to look at Lonka; the sisters couldn’t let her down like that. Maybe Yaska can ask them to patch them up. Although today the Mosk was already working on his head, and Fifa’s back, after yesterday’s spanking, he was probably tired. And if you tell the sisters about his abilities, they will torture you, remove a pimple, or add beauty. So soon there will be a line of girls lining up for Yaska, they will completely finish off the guy, it will be impossible to even approach him in the case. A rich imagination immediately painted a picture of the hunted Yaska and the shabby Danka, around whom the entire female population of Eg gathers and demands to treat them. Old women with sticks running away from the market, traders' aunts, crowding each other out, try to get to the body of the young doctor. Screams, claws, fists. The ring of women around Yaska is shrinking. Very little girls, with broken knees, make their way to the doctor between their mothers’ legs. And so the ring disintegrates, and the exhausted priest of Bacchus lies on the ground. Don't tell your sisters...
Freed from her daughter, who had taken over the soft skin of the leopard, Aglaya gracefully consumed the fruit. She cut off pear slices with a copper knife and bit them into small pieces. Aegean girls don’t know how to do that, they’ll take a bite right away, take a bite, and also eat the core, only to throw away the stick. The woman, catching Ilka’s gaze, smiled, warmly, affectionately, the boy was embarrassed. Her soft smile made you feel joyful and cheerful.
“Il, let’s go,” Fifa, having finished lunch, leaned over the guy who had gone into his dreams.
After some time, they were already trotting along the road, moving towards the mountains where the purchased horses grazed. Fifa, Surik, Ilka, naturally, first rushed straight into the quarry on their racing horses. It turned out to be such an impromptu race. Well, where are they going against the great rider Surik? The boy on his Bucephalus was in perfect shape, and the harmonious weight ratio between rider and horse gave him the opportunity to take the lead. No wonder he's on a diet. Cutting through the wind, Ilka and Fifa rushed after him for some time, their wiry, lean horses quickly exhausted under the weight of their riders. Yes, we have outgrown racing horses,” Ilka chuckled to himself, stroking the neck of his pacer.
- Ku-Kuz!! Catch up! - He turned to the guys on heavier horses who were far behind. Kuzka was in Illyrian, Yaska in Iberian, neither one nor the other could go right off the bat, the masses did not allow it. Danka, like a self-respecting leopard, without bothering her paws, rode on a horse with her owner. The heavy horses gradually picked up speed and walked side by side, shaking the ground.
Then they were all trotting together. Kuzka and Yaska discussed the differences between Illyrian and Iberian horses - Iberian horses are heavier, more massive, but at the same time they go better in the mountains and are more convenient for racing in gorges. In terms of endurance, they seem to be the same. And both guys giggled at the racing horses with their ribs sticking out. Well, naturally, they sit on piles of meat and neigh like horses. And when Kuzka began to cling to his thoroughbred pacer, who allegedly buckled his legs under the weight of the rider, Ilka could not stand it and punched the guy in the ear. The small brawl was quickly ended by the rest of the boys, who separated the fighters by wedging their horses between them.
And his pacer’s legs don’t buckle, but spring beautifully. And his spine sticks out, not because he is not fed, but as it should be, just like the protruding bones on the rump. This is his breed. Racing horses are light and short, but fast. You can’t make normal jumps on their thick bits, that’s only for hunting. Although hunting horses are ideal for cavalry combat, they are not used in combat. And they are not riding on goners at all. His pacer flies over the ground, rather than shaking it with its weight. And he throws his legs forward beautifully...
Offended, Ilka trotted in the distance, at first sulking, then enjoying the solitude and nature. Autumn was already coming into its own. The bushes were covered with ripe berries. Even the air had changed, the tart smell of withering nature mixed with the fresh wind and coolness creeping out of the shadows, under the leaves. They moved along the road towards the mountains, where new horses were grazing. Three people on racing horses were trotting ahead, and behind them, laughing at jokes, were a couple on fat monsters. Ilka’s gaze was attracted by the flight of an obscene butterfly, fluttering lightly over the grass that was beginning to wither. A normal one would have already fallen into hibernation, but this one flies, lives its own life, hopes for something else, and no one has consumed it yet. That’s how people are, at first they crawl like worms, and then, as their soul gains wings, they strive for something and fly mindlessly. How many butterflies burn in the fire, striving for its light. And what is fire but love passion and longing that engulfs the soul? The soul always wants something ephemeral and light, and the butterfly simply becomes a fried worm. And she’s flying around, everyone is sleeping or eaten, and she lives, no matter what, apparently no one needs her at all, she’s not interesting. Even the bird didn’t eat anything... it will probably just die from cold or hunger. No, this is a terrible death, it’s better to burn in a fire, or die in battle, but not to be such an indecent butterfly. Death from old age... brrrr..., but not that. Ilka looked at the boys; they were in pairs, chatting about something, slowly trotting.
- Why are we crawling like sleepy lizards! – the boy sent the horse off the road into the forest, speeding up its pace with his legs. - Come on, catch up. There isn't much left anymore.
A herd of two hundred horses was grazing in a valley hidden behind the forest. Seeing the boys emerging from the forest, horsemen, armed and looking extremely menacing, immediately headed towards them.
- Rejoice! – Ilka, who was riding ahead, greeted them.
“Friends...,” the elder shouted over the detachments of the soldiers who had left, “The son of Amyntor is...
“Well, not only Amyntor...” Kuzka chuckled - we are different here, and we all have fathers.
- Come on, if you had shouted, they would have shouted that the son of Parmenius - Fifa, giving his horse his legs, caught up with Ilka - Doesn’t it matter to them who from the nobility arrived...
When the boys arrived at the fire, they were surrounded by soldiers, helped to dismount, and offered to treat them to a modest soldier’s meal.
Ilka chuckled, such a modest soldier’s meal, it’s clear why Atta loves to tour the troops so much. They were immediately given a piece of meat, freshly baked over the fire, a bowl of pearl barley porridge with meat and herbs, and a fresh flatbread with cheese inside. You need to come here more often, you need to be friends with ordinary warriors, then you won’t go hungry. The warriors gave pale Surik a jar of milk and about five eggs, so that the boy, the son of the basileus, would not disdain and eat everything.
Well, the guys didn’t disdain. After lunch, they got a little disheveled during the trip, so there was somewhere to put the food. Even the little one did not break down, under the serious and kind glances of the soldiers, he consumed what was allotted to him, clearly calculating how many days he would have to starve in order to remove the extra weight he had gained.
After eating, the boys went to see the legendary herd. Ilka remained sitting by the fire with the detachment commander; he was too lazy to get up. From where he stood he saw the horses stand. They were of the same type as the Illyrian ones, but more powerful, and not as pumped up as the Iberian mountain horses. They combined both grace and bestiality. If Uncle Philip is going to put cavalry on them, then it’s understandable why everything is done secretly. There are no such horses in any policy. What is cavalry now: riders on racehorses throwing darts at the enemy. And even a hoplite can withstand this. This is the creation of a completely different type of army. You can ride on these even in armor – they’ll survive.
Kuzka was already prancing on a stallion, having agreed on something with him. In general, any living creature willingly came to him and found a common language with him. He will tell the little animal how “beautiful” he is, and that’s it, take it warm, any four-legged animal opens its ears, nods its muzzle in agreement, and declares its love to Kuzka. Fifa and Surik were animatedly arguing about something near another horse, almost taking measurements. Yaska stroked the horses and walked around looking at something in the grass.
- When will you distill? – Ilka asked the warrior.
“Yes, in five days,” he responded, chewing his stick melancholy, “Parmenius wants to take them over the mountains.” I see that his son has already found himself a stallion.
Ilka smiled, the Illyrians have always been horse people.
“Ales comes here often,” the warrior continued, “he’s got his eye on that guy.”
The stallion chosen by the eldest son of Parmenius stayed at a distance, surrounded by mares, looking possessively at the herd. His look is so unkind. He clearly aspired to leadership, but had not yet sorted things out with everyone.
“Ales wanted to transfer his entire detachment of ephebia to them, but Parmenius refused him,” the warrior said monotonously, “He thinks it’s too early.” We'll wait for the offspring, and maybe it will give birth. The horses are good. Of course, not as fast as the Thessalian ones, but if they started galloping, I wouldn’t stand in their way.
“Il, we need to talk here,” Jason walked up to the fire. The warrior looked at the Moscow boy with interest. He didn’t know him, but if he came with such a noble company, it means he’s from the nobility, because he doesn’t behave like a servant.
Ilka reluctantly stood up.
“They fed the horses with grass,” Jason said quietly, “I know this grass, we had this too.” It doesn't grow here, I checked.
- You are sure? “Ilka was wary, that’s all they needed.”
- Yes, the content of manure has been changed - as Moscow began according to the written word - they poison for three or four days. In five days the horses will fall.
- Interesting... - Ilka thought. The horses will fall when they are driven, they will not fall here, already in the mountains. Ales will drive them away, they will say that he killed them. Parmenius will protect his son. They will say that Ales killed the horses because they didn’t give him any. But he knows Olezhik, he would never do such a thing, a horse is sacred to him. Someone is deliberately setting him up and destroying the unborn cavalry. Ilka returned to the fire.
“Who supplies the fodder,” he asked the warrior.
- And what? - he became worried, but it was not that kind of worry, here the man was nervous that the noble guests did not like something. – What’s wrong?
“No, I’m just interested,” Ilka smiled, with his smile he could do a lot, including reassure, “The horses are good, large, and they probably eat a lot.” Deliveries should be daily, so I wonder who has such a supply.
“Ah.., the Linkests supply oats,” the warrior calmed down.
Well, yes, one is not easier than the other. The Linkests will not poison the horses. And Pavka, as luck would have it, in Pella. Need to check. Consult your grandmother.
- Can we come here, we won’t interfere, before the horses are driven away.
- What did you like about the horses? – the warrior grinned, “Yes, come and ride.”
“Well, we won’t refuse to eat,” Ilka grinned, getting up. - The food here is delicious.
The warrior broke into a satisfied smile; the barchats really liked their simple cooking. Yes, they are only for it, then they will brag to others.
- Yes, of course, come, five mouths will not make us poor, maybe you can take something for the road. – he immediately began to fuss.
Ilka took the flatbread and the meat that came with it, so he can eat it with kefir before going to bed.
“Hey, eaglets,” he looked around at the guys grazing with the horses. And nibbling grass. - Don’t you want to go home?
“They want, they want,” Yaska supported him, jumping onto his stallion, “We’ll be back.”
They returned back along the same road. The boys were heatedly discussing horses. Ilka and Yaska were silent. Ilka thought.
“Okay, guys, here’s the thing,” he began as he approached the road, and then simply told what Jason had told him, and his calculations.
- Yas, couldn’t they find this grass themselves? - Fifa thought, - although the horse itself will not poison itself, especially in a herd, they do not commit ritual suicide.
- Could the Linkests have started this? Poison the horses, then raise troops against your father? – Surik bit his lips. “They have no less rights to power.”
- What troops? Troops under father! – Kuzka was indignant.
- There will be no time for troops in Parmenia; Olezhik would be saved. – Ilka frowned. Everything is confusing, someone really needs to pit the ruling clans against each other. Oh, I don’t like all this, suspecting my own people... and Pavka is not there, as he is needed with his gift, although he is from the Linkests. Now he suspects his friend too. This is vile. You need to trust your friends unconditionally, just as you trust yourself; without trust you won’t move forward, you’ll only have to look around, looking for tricks.
“So guys, two versions...” Ilka leaned back, sitting more comfortably on the protruding ridge of the horse. – First – Surika: Linkests are striving for power. Having poisoned the horses, they remove the basileus and make their claims to this title. Against - the troops are not only under Parmenius, even if he remains silent, or takes care of his son, explaining that it was not Olezhik who ruined them, the troops will remain under Alexandros, that is, under my Atta. And where is the guarantee that the troops will even shout out for the title of basileus of the Lyncests? And Atta won’t hurt Uncle Philip either. But we don’t discount this version. Second: pit the ruling houses against each other. By engaging in our own squabbling, we will weaken. No cavalry will be created, the horses will simply fall. Parmeniy will not order any more, fearing further troubles. Linkests will not engage in forage, and simply no one will trust them. And we will fall apart like everyone else according to the policies. This is a more complex version, but unlike the previous one, it is more global. You can add the herb to forage and on the road.
- Is this why you decided to visit the herd? – Yaska clarified.
Ilka nodded.
“Both versions need to be checked,” Kuzka frowned more and more. “And the parents all left for Pella.”
“Talk to grandma,” Ilka sighed. - Is there an antidote for this weed?
- I’ll organize the leopards, I just need them to let us go to the horses, Fif, I’m with you to Danae.
- I'm going home to think.
“Ilechka, you’ll fall asleep thinking, I know you,” the little one pouted.
“Go with Kuzka and take a walk around Linkestov,” Ilka waved him off. “They’re not in the city anyway, maybe you’ll hear something.” After the earthquake we meet in the lair.
- And I... - Surik tried to grab the guy’s hand. - Well, you won’t let me into the Lair.
- You go to bed, otherwise I’ll break your head. – Ilka was already starting to get furious with the irrepressible little one. Now he just doesn’t have enough miniature around his neck.
“You can do this...” the boy muttered and shrank from his relative’s sidelong glance.
Having entered the city and taken the horses to the stable, they dispersed. True, the horses still had to be cleaned first, but Ilka didn’t bother with this, he gave his pacer to Kuzka, he didn’t mind, and gloomily went home. He didn't like everything at all.
At home, going downstairs, Ilka took out a clay bottle of Atta’s beer from the closet. Made with honey and flavored with currants, it was pleasantly refreshing. To some extent, at home, being alone, the boy imitated Amyntor.
On his mezzanine, lying on the bed, the guy was thinking, playing with a new knife, the pattern on the blade somehow allowed him to relax and concentrate at the same time. If it was the Linkests who started everything... Trashing the horses, displacing the basileus is an extremely long way, and everything is too tense. It’s not easier to just send a hired killer to Uncle Philip, and why lose the cavalry. And it’s unlikely that Pavka would have spilled the beans. The brothers would not have been able to hide their plans from him anyway. And if someone is simply trying to deprive them of their cavalry. But this person still needs to know about the new herd. But not many people know about horses; everything was done secretly, only by their own people and their trusted representatives. Either one of his own spilled the beans, or one of his own is a traitor. I would like to consult with Atta, but he only has a knife, and that’s all, the blade won’t answer. We need to send word to Pella. Can Pavel be trusted? What if it’s still Linkests? What nonsense, how can you doubt a friend?
Ilka closed his eyes, imagining Pavka’s face in front of him, his blond hair, his boyishly playful smile, his laughing eyes...
- Pavel! Pavka! – he called his friend with his lips alone. The image before my eyes flickered.
- Or you... I can’t. Tomorrow the Athenians will arrive. Let's get ready.
- Is Atta nearby?
- No. I'm with Ales. Seniors with documents...
Ilka sighed, what needs to be decided, and then not regret anything. All the same, the responsibility will be on him. If this is the business of the Linkests, then now he will destroy everything, and Uncle Philip, and Atta, and Egi...
- Tell Olezha: the horses have been poisoned. In five days they will fall.
- How?! – after some time, the silent cry of Pavka in combination with Alesen was heard in the brain.
- Look for who. We'll save the horses.
OK it's all over Now. Ilka drove the knife into the wall and covered his face with his hands. If he is wrong, he must answer. The guy sat up with a jerk; first of all, he did not go against his conscience. He couldn’t sit at home, he got ready and ran to his grandmother. Now the main thing is to save the horses, grandmother is a wise woman, she will figure out how, especially if Yaska knows the antidote.
The leopard commander was already sitting with Danae, receiving instructions. The detachment will go to the herd at night, replacing the local guards. It is impossible to say for sure that there is no traitor among the soldiers now with the horses. At night, the mosquitoes will drive the horses into the river, water them off, and then feed them an herbal infusion. And by morning the herd will be driven away through the dew. The Mosko detachment received the latest order not to allow anyone near the horses at all, communication with them only through the boys, and for now, to transfer the horses to pasture.
“I contacted Ales through Pavka and said that the horses had been hunted,” Ilka raised his head defiantly, letting everyone know about his decision.
Grandma looked at him searchingly, then nodded in agreement.
- I also informed my grandfather. For now they are attached to the Athenians, but they will be in the know. It's up to us to decide. Danaya looked at the boys, “Well, well done, it’s already late, let’s go to bed.” The leopards will take care of the horses for now. We'll get serious tomorrow.
“How did you get in touch with your grandfather, he’s not a telepath,” Ilka frowned in disbelief, but Pavka always knew how to read minds, which is why they always took him to negotiations with other policies to know what they were thinking. At the same time, Koka and Teal'c also possessed such a gift, but a weak one. Grandfather didn’t have this, he could show him a picture, nothing more.
“Oh, silly...” Danaya laughed cheerfully. “When you grow up, you meet your half, you fall in love, you will be loved, and having a gift will not be important.” You will become one. This is Love. But not everyone is destined to find it.
“I’ll find it,” the boy assured his grandmother. Danaya stroked his hair affectionately.
- It’s late, there’s an earthquake soon, let’s go home.
The boys moved to their den. It was a small abandoned house on the outskirts, which once had two floors. But the second floor had already collapsed, and they didn’t go there. The lair was already handed over to the third gang, the elders solemnly handed it over to the younger ones. Just recently there were Ales, Koka, Priam, Ken and one of the Linkests - now they are all in ephebia. Somehow it happened that five people owned the lair, and with Jason there will be five of them.
After the earthquake, Kuzka also ran there, driving Surik home with foam.
Ilka lit a fire in the hearth. Fifa and Kuzka explained to Jason how initiation takes place. Mosk was supposed to track down and kill an Achaemenid or Laconian who was in the wrong place. There are many places around Eg where they were not allowed, but they, like ants, tried to get into places that were secret to them. Naturally, nothing was taken from the dead boys, they simply threw the corpse on the road, like a dog, in fact, that’s what they were.
Having listened, together with Danka, Yastka retreated into the darkness... Ilka remained by the fireplace, talking with the fire, Kuzka and Fifa began to play dice for money. The boys were waiting for Jason.
Ilka always loved fire; he could watch the dance of the flames for hours. The fire reminded him of life, its irrepressible desires. It was its own special world, which obeyed the beholder, changing colors and shapes, sometimes having fun, sometimes crying. This world was at war with itself, and loved itself. He is a world of ideas, devoid of concrete form. A dream world devoid of human content. A world of truth, as old as nature itself. Fire contains everything that is around, only in its original, wild, chthonic expression.
By morning Jason appeared, he threw two severed hands into the middle.
- What is this for? – Fifa moved away in disgust.
- I’ll send it home to grandma, let her be proud, she’ll nail it on the door, she doesn’t have any Lakonian ones.

Alexander III the Great of Macedonia is one of the most famous figures in history.

Everyone knows from their school years that Alexander the Great was one of the most famous commanders in the world. But Alexander the Great is also one of the most mysterious historical figures. All that is known about him is the work of hundreds of people who searched and collected information about this great man in surviving manuscripts, books, and historical documents of several states. And many of this information, coinciding in time, eyewitness testimony and confirmed by written sources, claim to be historical facts from the eventful, but such a short life of Macedonian.

Of course, Alexander III of Macedon is one of the most influential political figures of antiquity. After all, Alexander the Great was an excellent leader and a brilliant military strategist who conquered vast territories. By the end of his reign, the territory of the Macedonian Empire stretched from modern Greece to northern Africa, including Egypt and much of Asia, where Turkey, Pakistan and Iran are now located. The great commander Alexander the Great sought to unite the West with the East, knowing that the only means for this could only be brute military force.

1. Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC. e. in the ancient Greek city of Pela. The exact date of birth of the great commander is unknown. Only the year is known. But there was confusion with the numbers and months. Some believe that he was born between October 6 and 10 (from the testimony of Aristobulus, recorded by Arrian). But the whole world believes that the Great Alexander was born between July 20th and 26th, and not without reason. Indeed, according to legend, on the night of July 21, 356 BC. Herostratus, set fire to the temple of Artemis of Ephesus. So there is a theory that while this event was being discussed, Alexander was born. And in order not to forget, these two events were connected with each other. Moreover, as smart people and elders said, the birth of the Great Ones is always marked by some event, even a grandiose fire.

2. Alexander was a student of Aristotle. Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon, invited Aristotle, the greatest of all philosophers in history, to raise his 13-year-old son, heir to the throne. Little is known about the three years spent by the future commander under the tutelage of the scientist. It is only known that Aristotle taught him medicine, morality, logic and, of course, philosophy, and also instilled in him a love of literature and taught him to respect philosophers.

3. In addition to a high-quality education, Alexander’s father, Philip II of Macedon, laid a good military base for his son’s future victories. A powerful and large army and the Corinthian League were created, in which all the largest Greek city-states united.

4. Sometimes, as a 16-year-old teenager, Alexander remained to replace his father on the throne when he left on state affairs. During one of these departures of Philip, an uprising of the Thracian tribe of Medes occurred. Alexander III of Macedon, being the son of his warrior father, suppressed the uprising, and in order to initiate the tradition of naming cities by their own name, he named the former Thracian settlement Alexandropol, and later founded the city itself.

5. He won his first victory when he was 18 years old. Having ascended the throne in 334 BC. e., Macedonian crossed to Asia (now the territory of Turkey), where he won a battle with Persian troops led by Darius III.

6.As the heir of Philip II, Alexander the Great ruled for 13 years, ruling the Empire that he himself created. He was one of those kings who himself went into battle with his army and knew the soldiers by name. He was a brilliant strategist, a warrior-commander who won the first battle.

7. Alexander's father, King Philip of Macedon, was killed when he was 20 years old. Considering Alexander's youth, his success in creating one of the world's greatest empires is widely admired.

8. In addition to Aristotle, Alexander maintained contact with other famous philosophers of that time. One day he approached Diogenes in the city square and asked the question: “Can I do something for you?” “Yes,” answered Diogenes, “step aside. You're blocking the sun for me." Alexander was delighted with the answer of the great ascetic; he was fascinated and impressed by Diogenes’ refusal and declared: “If I had not been born Alexander, I would have been Diogenes.”

9. He never lost a single battle. Alexander the Great is known to this day as one of the greatest military strategists of all time. He waged a successful military campaign for 15 years, conquering many countries, including Turkey and Iran.

10.In 336 BC. e., having come to power, Alexander the Great killed all possible contenders for the throne. He left alive only his weak-minded brother, whose name was Arrhidaeus. After Alexander's death, in 323, Arrhidaeus became ruler and took the name Philip III Arrhidaeus.

11. Alexander had three wives: Roxana, Parysatis and Statira. Historians say that Roxana was one of the most beautiful women in Asia. Alexander took her as his wife for love.

12. Macedonsky’s future wife was a captive with whom he fell in love at first sight. 327 BC e. was marked for Macedonian by the grandiose capture of Sogdian Rock. Until this moment, Sogdian Rock was considered an invincible mountain fortress. The commander captured thousands of people. One day Alexander was walking around, looking at his captives. Among them he saw a very young girl. Her name was Roxanne. She was the daughter of a nobleman from Bactria. According to Alexander's decision, it was soon decided to have a wedding. Roxana became the wife of Macedonian. A few months after Alexander's death, she gave birth to a son, named Alexander IV in honor of his father.

13. Alexander named more than 70 cities after himself. According to custom, in memory of his conquests, Alexander built cities in the area of ​​​​former military forts, which he named “Alexandria”. The largest city was founded at the mouth of the Nile River in 331 BC. Today, the northern capital ranks second in area among Egyptian cities. By cities with the name “Alexandria” you can trace the entire path of the Macedonian conquests - through modern Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan.

14. Six years of invasions of the Persian Empire bore fruit - Persepolis was captured, the empire was conquered. Alexander had to maintain power over her. To this end, in 324 BC. e. Macedonian decided to carry out mass wedding rituals, forcing 92 respected Macedonians to marry Persian women. The commander himself married the eldest daughter of King Darius, as well as the daughter of King Artaxerxes. Moreover, after this Alexander began to wear a striped tunic, belt and diadem, characteristic of Persian royal clothing.

15. On top of everything else, Alexander the Great was a subtle psychologist, he allowed his soldiers to correspond with their relatives, thereby he found the weak links in his troops. In fact, he was the first military censor.

16. 15 years of military activity did not disappoint Alexander with a single failure. His unique military strategy and tactics, which did not allow a single mistake, are still being studied in military academies and schools. Invariably, Alexander always led his troops with terrifying speed, while at the same time allowing them to expend a minimum of force to reach and break enemy lines before the enemies could react, that is, the enemies were destroyed by him before they could prepare for battle.

17. Alexander the Great smelled pleasant. According to historical documents, the great commander was known for his love of cleanliness and always carefully observed personal hygiene. He also used incense for the body, so the body of the Macedonian exuded a pleasant aroma. 400 years after the death of the king, Plutarch created the work “The Lives of the Noble Romans”. It says that the skin of King Alexander the Great smelled of pleasant incense, his breath was always fresh, and in general his body was saturated with fresh aromas. In many ways, the “olfactory detail” was an attribute of the tradition, according to which the all-conquering king had divine origin and, accordingly, attributes (fragrant body). The commander himself more than once declared to the public that he was the son of Zeus.

18. Alexander’s horse was called Bucephalus. There was at the court of Philip II a horse of unprecedented beauty and a very violent temperament. After Philip himself tried to reason with Bucephalus and saddle him, and failed, he began to suggest to all his friends that they also try to calm this horse down. It’s clear that since Philip II himself couldn’t saddle a horse, why should anyone bother? But not Alexandra! Being a 10-year-old boy, he managed to saddle a great horse. Everyone was surprised, and Philip gave the horse to Alexander - he deserved it. Subsequently, Alexander took the horse on all campaigns, but the horse did not participate in battles.

19. But one day Bucephalus was nevertheless mortally wounded in a military campaign. Near the Hydaspes River, where the most difficult victory of the Indian campaign was won, the city of Busefal was founded, named by Alexander after his favorite horse.

20. Only the only time Alexander the Great left without a fight, without victory. One day Macedonian decided to capture the city of Lampsaca. And so, when the guests were already in front of the gates of the city, ready to strike, Anaximenes, one of Alexander’s favorite teachers, who taught rhetoric to the young conqueror, came out from behind the city walls. Hoping to save the city, Anaximenes opened his mouth to take in more air and say... But, filled with respect for his teacher, Alexander did not let him open his mouth, and shouted: “Anaximenes!” Whatever you ask now, it will not happen. I will not fulfill any of your requests, I swear! But Anaximenes was cunning... He knew how to deceive a student: “But I don’t need anything,” he says. All I ask is - plunder, conquer, and set fire to this city, I really beg you! And Macedonsky swore not to fulfill the teacher’s requests... And he had to retreat. Oh, that cunning Anaximenes...

21.Once Alexander the Great entered into an unequal battle and emerged victorious. This fact once again proves that Alexander the Great is the greatest warrior of all time. One of the battles showed that everything depends on the person leading the army to victory. In the decisive battle in the war with Persia, on October 1, 331, Macedonian entered with an army several times smaller than the enemy army. Alexander had 7,000 horse soldiers and 40,000 foot soldiers at his disposal. When counting losses, Alexander was missing about 1,000 of his soldiers. The Persian corpses were counted at 30,000. Naturally, the battle was won by the Macedonian.

22.One day, Alexander the Great organized a competition in honor of the sage Kalan, who, according to beliefs known to him, burned himself. They competed in music, chariot racing, various all-around events and, of course, wine drinking. The most interesting thing is that a man named Miss won the wine drinking game. 23.On the 13th anniversary of his reign, the legendary warrior united the lands of the East and West thanks to a certain fighting technique and cultural exchange. By the time of Alexander the Great's death at age 33, his reputation had reached such a peak that he was canonized.

24. Thanks to his education, Alexander was able to easily conquer lands. He reasoned like a philosopher and having studied the basics of medicine, he knew which organ to hit the enemy to be sure. He probably taught this to his entire army.

25. His death remains a mystery to this day. In 323 BC. e. Alexander turned 32 years old. That same year, an unexpected illness suddenly struck him down. The famous ruler fell ill after drinking wine at a feast. A few days later, Makedonsky died. Considering that his father was killed by his own assistant, the suspects included the king’s inner circle, especially Antipater’s wife and her son, Cassandra. Some ancient biographers even suggested that the entire Antipater family became the organizers. Moreover, on the orders of Cassandra, Alexander’s son and his widow were subsequently killed. Researchers of the biography of Alexander the Great indicate that Aristotle himself could have been involved in his murder, since he was close to Cassandra’s family. Historians suggest a variety of versions of the cause of his death - from an infectious disease to murder by poisoning. Most likely, we will never know what killed the famous commander.

26. Many modern bibliographers do not exclude the possibility that the cause of Alexander’s death could have been one of the diseases - malaria, lung infection, typhoid fever or liver failure.

27. Plutarch reports that the body of Macedon was first sent to Babylon to Egyptian embalmers. However, leading Egyptologist A. Wallis Budge has suggested that the remains of the ancient Egyptian warrior were immersed in honey to prevent decay. A year or two later it was returned to Macedonia, but it was intercepted by Ptolemy I, one of the former generals. Therefore, knowing the location of the Macedonian body, Ptolemy received the status of successor to the great empire.

28. The body of the Great commander was buried in Alexandria, his grave was visited by many famous personalities. It is known that Alexander's grave was visited by Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian (the future Augustus Caesar), and the Roman Emperor Caracalla. This chronicle describes how Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and the future Emperor of Rome Octavin (Augustus Caesar) made a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Macedonian in Alexandria (Egypt). In 30 BC. Octavian examined the 300-year-old mummy of Macedon and laid a wreath on it. And the last record of a visit to the grave by the Roman emperor Caracal dated back to 215 BC. e. The tomb was subsequently destroyed and its location forgotten due to political upheaval and the onset of the Roman era.

29. Alexander was ambitious and did not pay attention to public opinion. Therefore, he was friends with Thais, the famous heterosexual, and married the captive Roxana for love.

30.He had 2 sons who were killed as children.

31. His army used the lightest and most durable armor made from flax.

32 Alexander always walked ahead of the army and knew each of his warriors by sight.

33.He was a cunning and far-sighted politician, his “divide and conquer” is still alive today. Natives of these lands were appointed rulers of the conquered territories.

34. Alexander was very cruel; at the age of 16, he managed to suppress the uprising, killing all the inhabitants of the rebel city.

35. Thanks to Macedonian, the name Alexander is popular all over the world.

36. He firmly adhered to the principle that he who betrayed once will betray again, and therefore executed the defectors.

37. After his sudden death, all his blood relatives were killed. The line of the great Alexander was interrupted.

38.The profile of the great commander and ruler was the first to be minted on coins.

39. Alexander the Great is a man who conquered half the world, but who fell victim to his own ambitions.

40. The saddest fact of the biography of Alexander the Great is that the grave site of such a famous historical figure was lost. It is sad that the exact date of his birth was not recorded, and the burial place was lost.