The city of Athens, the heart of Greece, has become the latest location to host a statue dedicated to Alexander the Great. This development comes several decades following the statue’s completion by Yannis Pappas, one of Greece’s most respected sculptors from the 20th century. The bronze representation portrays Alexander in his youth, and uniquely, without any weapons. For several reasons, mainly bureaucratic and politically motivated ones, the installment of the statue had been delayed up until now.
The Delay in the Statue Installation
Statues of Alexander have been popular in various parts of Greece, but Athens had been an exception until recently. The significant delay in installation was due to mandatory procedures and the Greek authorities’ hesitation to stir up tensions amidst efforts to resolve a name dispute with neighboring Macedonia. The issue centered around the legacy of Alexander and the appropriation of the name ‘Macedonia.’ The Republic of Macedonia eventually renamed itself as the Republic of North Macedonia in January 2019, which led to an uptick in bilateral cooperation in multiple sectors between the two countries.
About Alexander the Great
Born in 356 BCE in Pella, Macedonia, Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III or Alexander of Macedonia, was the King of Macedonia from 336-323 BCE. He was relentless in overthrowing the Persian empire and spent the majority of his ruling years on an extraordinary military campaign traversing Asia and northeast Africa. By the time he had reached the age of thirty, Alexander had built one of the largest empires of the ancient world, spanning Greece to northeastern India.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 356 BCE | Alexander the Great is born |
| 336-323 BCE | Alexander rules as king |
| 326 BCE | Alexander invades India |
| 323 BCE | Alexander dies |
| 2019 | Macedonia is renamed as the Republic of North Macedonia |
Alexander’s Invasion of India
In 326 BC, Alexander ventured into India. After traversing the river Indus, he moved towards Taxila, where he met King Porus, the ruler of the kingdom between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab. Despite fierce resistance in the Battle of Hydaspes, the Indians were defeated. Alexander captured Porus but allowed him to continue governing his territory. Alexander’s stay in India, which lasted for about 19 months (326-325 B.C.), was characterized by frequent fighting. In July 325 BC, Alexander and his army began their journey back to Greece.
