Alexander's Journey Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pella

Archelaus, who was the Macedonian king from 413 B.C. to 399 B.C., moved the capital from Aegae (today called Vergina) to Pella and invited some of the leading citizens of Athens to live there. A magnificent tomb, believed to have belonged to Philip, II was discovered at Vergina in the 1970s.

Answer: Delphi

Philip's concern was finding out who Alexander's father really was. After finding his wife, Olympias, in bed with a snake, he believed Alexander might be the son of Zeus. Philip was told to make sacrifices to Zeus, and revere him above all others. He was also told he would lose the eye (which he did) by which he saw Zeus. Alexander was interested in finding if his father's real assassin had been punished. On the day he visited the oracle it was closed.

He went to the house of the priestess to persuade her to tell his future, and after a very strong battle of wills she told him, "My son, thou art invincible." Alexander took that as a good omen.

Answer: Thebes

Before his death, Philip had organized the Greek city-states into the League of Corinth. When they heard of Philip's death, Athens and Thebes began to talk of seceding from the League. Furious, Alexander marched 300 miles in two weeks, and demanded that Thebes surrender to him.

When they refused, he killed all of the people or sold them into slavery, and burned the entire city except for the house of the poet, Pindar. There is a legend that later, regretting his actions, Alexander would grant a favor to any Theban who asked.

Answer: Troy

Alexander studied from the Iliad and Odyssey, just like any other well-educated Greek boy. At the tomb of Achilles, who was his ancestor on his mother's side of the family, he gave an offering to Athena, and also took old armor in exchange for his own.

Answer: Granicus River

The exchange of armor in Troy wasn't the best idea that Alexander had ever had. At the Battle of Granicus River he was hit in the head with a battle axe so hard that it split his helmet in two.

Answer: Gordium

The knot secured a chariot that was said to have belonged to King Midas. According to the legend, anyone who could untie the intricate knot would be Lord of Asia. Alexander cut it with his sword, and unraveled the knot.

Answer: Issus

Alexander was very courteous to the Persian ladies. However, after receiving a letter from Darius that requested their release, he sent back a scathing response. "In the future let any communication you wish to make with me be addressed to the King of all Asia. Do not write to me as an equal. Everything you possess is now mine." I think that meant no!

Answer: Tyre

Alexander wanted to worship at the Temple of Herakles, which was located on the island, because it would show the city had been conquered. The people on the island politely told him that there was a temple on the mainland and he could worship there. Alexander's men built a half mile mole or causeway to the island, in spite of pressure from the Tyrian navy and archers.

The people were confident that Alexander would not be successful; King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had previously led an unsuccessfuly siege of the city that lasted for thirteen years.

It took seven months, but Alexander did worship at that temple. The Romans built a paved path over the original mole which still exists.

Answer: Siwa

Again, the burning question for Alexander seems to be the issue of who is his father. Did the high priest make an mistake on purpose? Did he mean to say "Oh, my son," instead of "Oh, son of Zeus!"? Or was his command of the Greek language that poor? If Alexander had any lingering doubts before that, they were vanquished at that time.

Answer: Persepolis

During the victory banquet, Alexander ordered that the city should be set on fire. Plutarch says that he immediately regretted the decision and tried to put it out. Arrian says that the fire was intentional to repay the Persians for the destruction of Athens during the second Persian War. Regardless of the reason, Alexander made a point of looting the royal treasury before the fire was started.

It took 20,000 mules and 5,000 camels to carry the treasure from the city.

Answer: Alexandria

Alexandria became the most important city of the Hellenistic World. The lighthouse on the island of Pharos was one of the wonders of the ancient world. A "Temple of the Muses", or museum, was the first institute to be founded and subsidized by a Western government for the purpose of reading and learning.

Historians believe that the library there held over 700,000 papyrus scrolls. Legend says that Alexander's body was embalmed in honey, placed in a gold sarcophagus, and eventually brought here, where it was on display even in Julius Caesar's time.

It's whereabouts today are unknown.

Answer: Bucephala

Becephalus was given to Alexander when he was thirteen years old. The horse was magnificent, but difficult for the handlers to manage. Alexander noticed that the horse was startled by his shadow. Taking care to lead the horse gently into the sun so its shadow was behind it, Alexander was soon riding. Bucephalus was mortally wounded in battle, but did not die until he carried Alexander to safety.

The city that was built in his honor is located in modern day India.

Answer: Bactria

One source says that Alexander believed that Roxane was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he immediately fell in love with her. It didn't hurt, however, that her father was the king of Bactria, and the marriage helped Alexander secure his eastern border. Three years later Alexander married Barsine, one of Darius's daughters.

In a mass wedding eighty of Alexander's officers also married Persian wives. Roxane and Alexander's son, Alexander IV, was born after his father's death.

Answer: Pakistan

Battle of the Hydaspes River took place in the Punjab region of ancient India, near Bhera in modern Pakistan. Alexander was forced to revise his battle plans, and his troops were victorious. In recognition of Porus's valor, Alexander left him in charge as governor of his own kingdom, as well as several other conquered cities. Shortly after the battle, confronted by his own homesick men, Alexander split his army into three groups, and began the long march home.

Answer: Babylon

Was Alexander poisoned? Had he contracted malaria? Did he drink himself to death? Did he die of grief after the death of his friend, Hephaestian? Had that nasty wound in Mali weakened him? Whatever the reason, Arrian says that Alexander's men filed past his bed one last time.

He could not speak, but raised "his hand, and with an effort, raised his head, and had a sign of recognition in the eyes for each man." Alexander was just thirty-three years old when he died. His crown, sceptre, and robe continued to preside at meetings after his death.

He had traveled over 20,000 miles in just twelve years.