Adel Allahyari
Abstract
Historians of Alexander the Macedonian have reported that while conquering the Iranian lands, the Macedonian conqueror revered the memory of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid ...
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Historians of Alexander the Macedonian have reported that while conquering the Iranian lands, the Macedonian conqueror revered the memory of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. The point that the destroyer of the Achaemenid Empire was a devotee of the founder of that Empire is something worthy of consideration. However, earlier some historians have pointed out that during his battles, the Macedonian conqueror was trying to show his eligibility to succeed the Achaemenid kings. The problem is, to what extent does the examination of the available records of Alexander the Macedonian in dealing with the memory of the founder of the Achaemenid Empire allow us to certify the view claimed by his historians? Was Alexander actually a devotee of Cyrus the Great? Using classical sources and focusing on the reports that link the Macedonian conqueror to the memory of Cyrus the Great, the Author of the following article has shown that the Macedonian conqueror due to his Greek upbringing, extensive knowledge he had about the structures of power and legitimacy of the Achaemenid kings and his political position before and after the death of Darius III, had a dual and in fact political approach to the memory of the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, Cyrus the Great.
