Alexander was born around 356 BC. His mother was of royal lineage, as was his father, Philip II. When Alexander was fourteen, he studied under the Athenian philosopher Aristotle. Perhaps no culture has ever produced a greater mind than that of Aristotle. So thorough and thorough was Aristotle's work that by the 12th and 13th centuries CE much of the Christian Church considered his teachings to be divinely inspired. No subject was spared from its contemplation. Philosophy, botany, geography, zoology, astronomy and art were all subjects of deep concern to him. Aristotle was the student of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great. Either role would have earned him an important place in history. Most likely, Aristotle educated Alexander by reading and discussing Homer and Greek tragedies. Aristotle also trained Alexander in politics. Through Aristotle, Alexander acquired his deep love for Hellenic culture, which led him to the Far East to spread the Hellenic spirit. Tradition says that Alexander even carried a copy of the Iliad with him throughout his Persian and Eastern campaigns. One of Alexander's most prized possessions was the horse he had trained in his youth; his name was Bucephalus. It was his mount in all his great battles and conquests. The horse died in India and Alexander built the city of Bucephala on the Hydaspes River in memory of his horse. (Packer)When Alexander was twenty years old, his father Philip was murdered under mysterious circumstances and Alexander became the new king of Macedonia. His rivals spread rumors of Alexander's own death, and he spent much of the next year suppressing revolts inspired by these rumors. He destroyed Thebes in the process. This gave...... middle of paper ......Classical tradition. New York, New York. Oxford University Press. Boardman, John et al. (1988). The Oxford History of the Classical World: Greece and the Hellenistic World. New York, NY Oxford University Press. Freeman, Charles. (2004). Egypt, Greece and Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean 2nd ed. New York, NY Oxford University Press. Gardner, Joseph L. (1983). Bible Atlas: An Illustrated Guide to the Holy Land. Pleasantville, NY. Reader's Digest Association. Packer, JI et al. (1995). Nelson's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Nashville, TN. Thomas Nelson's Publishers. Winks, Robin W et al. (1992). A History of Civilization: Volume I: Prehistory to 1715. Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice Hall Inc. Zook, David H. and Highman, Robin. (1966) A Brief History of War. New York, NYTwayne Publishing Inc.