Did Alexander erect any new temples?

[smittysmitty]

I haven't had the opportunity to go through any of the sources, but does anyone recall if Alexander erected any new temples of worship during his campaigns, or rather, do the sources make mention of such activity? I seem to recall temples of Asclepius being mentioned but can't remember if he simply restored them or erected new ones.

One would imagine that with the building and planning of several Alexandria's that he also made allocation for the building of temples ( I kinda recall Plutarch making such a reference) but is there a specific temple mentioned and who was the patron deity it was dedicated too.

In appreciation to anyone that may respond.


Cheers!

[Theseus]

I found this for you Smitty:


The temple of Alexander the Great located in the Bahariya Oasis has the distinction of being the Macedonian ruler's only known temple in Egypt. The temple was built during Alexander's lifetime and dedicated to Amun and Horus.

I am still searching for more.

[amyntoros]

There are these two records in Arrian.

Arrian 1.17.5-7 (Sardis) He was thinking of building a temple on the citadel to Olympian Zeus, and of setting up an altar near it, but as he was surveying the citadel for the best place, suddenly (it was summer time) a storm broke with heavy crashes of thunder and violent rain, just where the palace of the Lydian kings was; Alexander supposed that here was a divine intimation where he must build the temple of Zeus and gave orders accordingly.

Arrian 3.1.5 (Alexandria) A longing for the work therefore seized him; he himself marked out where the city’s marketplace was to be built, how many temples there were to be and the gods, some Greek, and Isis the Egyptian, for whom they were to be erected, and where the wall was to be built around it.

Although I didn't find anything in Plutarch or Diodorus there could be further records in Curtius. (Something niggles me about another time Alexander built a temple but I just can't bring the memory to the fore.) Unfortunately, without a computerized version of Curtius it's not so easy to check.

Best regards,

[smittysmitty]

Thanks for your response Theseus and Amyntoros.

It must have been the Arrian quote on Alexandria that I was thinking of and not Plutarch at all the - thanks Amyntoros.

The reason I ask the question is that I've been reading up on some archaeological literature which suggests the Macedon's were more likely to display their piety through their mortuary practices rather than the erection of sanctuaries.

Presumably this is based on the large amount of 'warrior graves' uncoverd in Macedon and the scant detection of temples.

It is interesting to note then that Alexander (or the sources at least) mention the erection of temples.


Many thanks.

Cheers!

[Theseus]

You are welcome Smitty. I always welcome researching things like this because I end up learning something I didn't know. It's a very interesting subject and I fully enjoyed looking for information for you. I hope what I found did help.