Internet Curiosities on Alexander

[amyntoros]

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I had compiled a list of myths on Alexander for my own amusement. I finally found part of it, but I haven't posted the URL's here as I doubt anyone wants to take the time to explore all the web pages, though they are available for anyone who wants them. I doubt that these belong on the Myths page of Pothos as they aren't really pervasive internet myths - more little curiosities that turned up during my web searches. And several of them are medieval rather than modern. Still, some of them are quite entertaining. :-)Alexander was a FreemasonThis goes back to the legend of Alexander visiting Jerusalem There is a sign used in Freemasonry which was "used by Moses" when he came down the from the mount. When Alexander approached Jerusalem he was met by the High Priest who saluted him with this significant sign. "It is a historical fact that Alexander was so much struck with the sight of this procession that he did homage to Gods vice-regent, and it is said, on more questionable authority, that his reverence proceeded from the mutual recognition of the Masonic Brotherhood." There is also a very high order in the Freemasons known as the Synods of the Ancient and Heroic Order of the Gordian Knot!Alexander and the Philosophers Stone or Emerald Tablet of AlchemyThis myth seems to have originated in medieval records supposedly written by Albertus Magnus though they are believed to be spurious. "Central to the mysteries of alchemy was the belief that ancient texts contained forgotten secrets of nature. The most definitive of these texts was the Tabula Smaragdina or Emerald Tablet, which, according to legend, had been discovered by Alexander the Great in the Egyptian tomb of Hermes Trismegistos (GÇÿthrice-greatGÇÖ), the Greek counterpart of the Egyptian god of wisdom and magic, Thoth. The Emerald Tablet was inscribed with thirteen axioms. Unfortunately, they were rather difficult to understand. The riddle-like language of the fourth is typical: GÇÿIts father is the sun, its mother the moon; the wind carries it in its belly, its nurse is the earthGÇÖ. This cryptic style was emulated by the alchemists, who christened themselves sons of HermesGÇÖ or Hermetic philosophers.""Another version of the legend suggests that Alexander the Great found the Tabula Smaragdina in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Alexander mythology persisted through the entire Near East literally for hundreds of years after his death, and legends of ea

[amyntoros]

Alexander mythology persisted through the entire Near East literally for hundreds of years after his death, and legends of earlier heroes have been subsumed into his mythos: for instance, both Alexander and the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh were supposed to have found the fountain (or rose) of immortality somewhere under the ocean, and both were supposedly unable to bring it back to mankind - foiled by the depth of the waters which kept the treasure safe. Though Alexander's existence is far more documented than (for instance) that of King Arthur, exactly the same sort of folk mythology circulated about both men."Another quote from Magnus, but the URL has been taken down. "The always victorious Alexander the Great wore a chrysoprase stone in his girdle. One day a snake bit off the girdle and dropped it in the river. From that time forward Alexander never won another battle." (Presumably, these battles were ones fought after Alexander died, as he never lost one in his lifetime!)The Secret of Secrets Bacon became immensely interested in a pseudo-Aristotelian text, "Secretum secretorum" (Secret of Secrets), which is thought to have been written by Aristotle for Alexander the Great, his pupil, on kingship. This pseudo-Aristotelian text was one of the most widely read books of the Middle Ages and there were different versions. The first was introduced to medieval Europe by the translator John of Seville in Toledo (Spain) around 1130. The text contained a lot of ethic questions and occult lore ranging from astrology to the magical properties of plants, gems, and numbers, as well as a strange account of a unified science. According to the text, only a person with the proper moral and intellectual background could discover this unified science.Palmistry "The ancient Greeks were keen traders and it is believed that palmistry spread there from India. Aristotle wrote on the subject in De Historia Animalium more than 2,500 years ago. Alexander the Great had Aristotle write a book for him on the subject."Aloe Vera. "Greek and Roman physicians such as Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder used it (Aloe Vera) to great effect and legend suggests that Aristotle persuaded Alexander the Great to capture the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to get its rich supply of aloe to heal his wounded soldiers."Chess "According to myths persisting to this day, the origin of the game of chess is shrouded in the midst of time. Ever since an archaeologist

[amyntoros]

Ever since an archaeologist brought to light a 6,000-year-old Greek manuscript apparently depicting a chessboard, there has been many an overzealous historian eager to date the play of this game to the days of Methuselah. However, modern research suggests that the so-called 'chess board' represented nothing more than a run of the mill battle plan. Today, it is believed that the inspiration for the game dates back to the year 326 BC when Alexander the Great massed his army at the gates of the Orient. Opposing him, stood the four divisions of the Hindu army: chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry. Almost 1,000 years passed before someone thought to immortalize this memorable battle as a diversion reserved for the rich and powerful."The Indians had firearms! "In the preface to a Code of Gentoo Laws or Ordinations of the Pundits: From a Persian translation, made from the original, written in the Shanscrit language, -áoccurs the following passage: GÇ£It will no doubt strike the reader with wonder to find a prohibition of firearms in records of such unfathomable antiquity; and he will probably from hence renew the suspicion which has long been deemed absurd, that Alexander the Great did absolutely meet with some weapons of that kind in India as a passage in Quintus Curtius seems to ascertain. -á Gunpowder has been known in China, as well as in Hindustan, far beyond all periods of investigation."Leprosy(A possible truth here?). Hansen's Disease (leprosy) is a good example. This disfiguring bacterium probably originated in Egypt, spreading to India by 600 B.C. But leprosy was apparently unknown in Europe until the return of Alexander the Great's armies from India in 326 B.C. Starting in Greece the bacterium rapidly spread throughout the continent. By the time of the Roman Empire leprosy was already considered ancient and was widely feared and discussed. And my favorite - Alexander died of syphilis! "But Alexander was ultimately defeated by epilepsy, syphilis and madness. As his illness progressed, he became more ambitious, greedy and cruel. Bouts of erratic and violent behavior replaced pragmatism. He killed one of his top advisers in a drunken brawl over a trinket or two at a party."Hmm... this would make Alexander a syphilitic, epileptic Freemason with an abiding interest in the occult and palmistry! Thank goodness there are sites like Pothos on the internet. :-)Best regards,Linda Ann

[jona]

The Indians had firearms:It is interesting to note that the same is mentioned by Francis Bacon in one of his essays. He is even more specific, mentioning the Oxydracae as the owners of the guns.Jona

[marcus]

Hi Linda,Thanks for all those - I had a good chuckle!D'you know, I don't think I'd heard the syphilis one before. It seems from the paragraph you quote that this conclusion was reached because syphilis sufferers were often noted for extreme mood-swings - due to pressures on the brain, or deterioration of it, I suppose.But it's a bit of a leap, all the same - unless someone saw a defaced bust of Alexander with the nose missing, and made an additional sideways jump... :-)All the bestMarcusPS: I think the myths section is excellent, and I'm going to start looking out for others!

[amyntoros]

Hi Marcus:
The bit about Alexander and Syphilis is from an article which appeared in the Detroit News in 2002 called Alexander the Great Offers Lesson in Afghanistan War, by Mike Madias (freelance writer). The link is: http://www.detnews.com/2002/editorial/0 ... 433024.htm Detroit is a huge city, so this was presented as fact to a rather large population! :-)A question for Jona - do you know which passage from Curtius supposedly implies that firearms were used? I'm mildly curious as to why Bacon (or anyone else) would have come to such a strange conclusion.Best regards,
Linda Ann

[jan]

That was the worst piece of journalism I have read. And he got a byline! Ouch! He should be ashamed of his article, it is so rank.

[nick]

I updated the article, if you don't mind. If anyone has objections, please reply and I with edit the paragraph.Regards -Nick

[jona]

"A question for Jona - do you know which passage from Curtius supposedly implies that firearms were used? I'm mildly curious as to why Bacon (or anyone else) would have come to such a strange conclusion."So am I. I haven't got a clue. Anyone else?Jona

[chris]

Hi LindaThanks for these, they were great fun. I only wish I'd known which sites to avoid in my early search for the truth surrounding ATG. I trawled many,and, not surprisingly, believed Alexander to be a most unusual chap! Since sticking to Pothos, the truth is somehat easier to find, if at times less amusing. So, thanks for the list.Chris

[amyntoros]

Hi Chris:You're welcome - glad you enjoyed the list. You can add to this the more credible claims of a connection to Alexander. I've seen in recent news reports that he was responsible for gold thread (for fabrics) being brought back to Europe, and that he "discovered" bananas. Now he did open up trade routes for import/export of goods so the above is technically true. I'm just amused how Alexander's name keeps popping up without explanation. Best regards,Linda Ann

[beausefaless]

Hi Linda,Maybe Alexander was bit by that monkey for stealing its bananas.Take care, LOL

[amyntoros]

Andrew - you never fail to make me literally laugh out loud! Only you could come up with that one. :-)All the best,Linda Ann