Alexander's horse

[kurbside517]

I was wondering if anyone knows what the name of Alexander the Great's horse was. Also, what city in what state and country was named after him?

[DimitriosPoliorketes]

ATG HORSE WAS NAMED Alexander named the horse Bucephalus GREEK FOR ("ox-head") because the horse's head seemed as broad as a bull's. Bucephalus carried Alexander on many military campaigns and finally died of battle wounds in June of 326 B.C., in Alexander's last great battle on the left bank of the Hydaspes.; Alexander reportedly wept at the horse's burial and founded the city of Bucephala to commemorate his deeds. Bucephalas was purchaed by Phillip from a Thessalian trader.

[smittysmitty]

Hi Peter and Dimitrios,
my understanding is Bucephalus was named so either (a) due to being branded with an ox-head figure, or
(b) he had a white mark on his head that was shaped like an ox-head.Some contraversy surrounds Bucephalus' death; some writers in antiquity write he died during the battle of the Hydaspes, but seems to me both Arrian and Plutarch lean (my own observation) towards the belief he died of old age some time after the Hydaspes aged 30. cheers!

[beausefaless]

Name of Alexander's horse, Bucephalus
Also, what city in what state and country was named after him? Modern Jhelum Voukephala (now Djemoul, India).

[Manny]

Also:Mary Renault said that the horse's asking price of thirteen talents was an astronomical exaggeration. One talent is equivalent to...oh dear I've forgotten my foreign exchange rates for 2300 years ago. Help.Manny

[beausefaless]

Various ancient units of weight, fifty seven lbs. equals one (silver), your guess would be better than mine! If you're talking gold, you tell me for I could care less.
This field attracts a great many crazy people. Are you one of those people? No offence.

[ruthaki]

The Webster's dictionary says a 'talent' (Gk: talenton) was worth 6,000 drachmae or 3,000 shekels (in Palestine or Syria). This would have been an awful lot of money so 15 talents sounds outrageous.