Discover the Top 12 Entertaining and Unusual Facts About Alexander the Great That You Never Knew!

1. Master Chef of Warfare

Who needs a melting pot when you can have a mixed salad of doom: Alexander the Great was a master chef of warfare recipes, throwing together the finest military tactics and weapons from conquered lands to create an army dish that left his enemies hungry for mercy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. A Student of Aristotle

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but what about a future conqueror learning from the best?: Alexander the Great was tutored by none other than Aristotle until he was 16 years old, training him in skills like horseback riding, hunting, and knowing how to hit the right note with music. He also showcased his budding bravery at the tender age of 10 when he tamed a wild horse, who loyally galloped alongside him into numerous battles until its death at the ripe old equine age of 30.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know Cleopatra had royal pythons as pets and believed she was the goddess Isis? Discover her slithering secrets and more fun facts!

=> Fun Facts about Cleopatra

3. The Ultimate Power-Duo

Move over BFFs and bromances, Alexander the Great and his right-hand man Hephaestion took the cake for ancient power-duos: Out of the many cities Alexander named after himself, he dedicated one - Hephaestia on the island of Lemnos in Greece - to his beloved buddy during his lifetime.
Source => ancientheroes.net

4. A Literary DJ

Who needs an iPod when you have the Iliad? Alexander the Great was a literary DJ, mixing military badassery with a passion for reading: No joke, he carried a copy of Homer's Iliad with him on campaigns and even built Alexandria, an intellectual hotspot and home to one of history's largest libraries.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Beard Battle Tactics

Before the "no-shave" trend and burly beards became the rage among hipsters, ancient warriors knew a thing or two about the pitfalls of facial hair in the heat of battle: Alexander the Great made his soldiers shave before going to war, as beards proved to be quite the 'hairy situation' when enemies could easily grab them in hand-to-beard combat. A clean-shaven face was not only a tactical move but also a sign of higher status and wisdom in Alexander's time.
Source => almanac.com

6. Bottoms Up or Bust

When Alexander the Great says "bottoms up," he really means it: In 324 BC, he hosted a binge-drinking bash in Persia in honor of his advisor Calanus, which devolved into a lethal contest with 41 casualties from alcohol poisoning; even the victor, Promachus, who guzzled down 13 liters of potent Macedonian wine, perished three days later due to his overindulgence.
Source => cracked.com

7. Alexandria: Ancient Party Hub

In ancient times, if you were looking for a hip place to explore, kick back, and maybe get your scroll on, Alexandria was the word: Alexander the Great founded this happening city in Egypt, turning it into a cultural hotspot with the magnificent Library of Alexandria attracting the best brains from all corners of the Mediterranean world.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Google of the Ancient World

Before Google and Wikipedia saved the day with a swish of a finger, our one-stop-shop for information was hefty scrolls at a place called the "Library": Alexander the Great founded the first major library and research center of the ancient world, housing over 700,000 scrolls, and boasting Aristotle as a contributing author.
Source => english.hawaii.edu

9. Ego Trip: City Edition

Talk about a massive ego trip: Alexander the Great named over twenty cities after himself, including Alexandria in Egypt, spreading Greek culture and Hellenistic civilization from Europe all the way to the Indian subcontinent.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Real Estate and Entertainment Guru

Before GPS and Yelp, one guy had the knack to choose perfect real estate locations and design smashing entertainment complexes – step aside, Caesar!: Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria, not only plotting its boundary walls and major buildings, but also conceptualizing its iconic lighthouse and library, which evolved into one of the most renowned intellectual hubs in the ancient world.
Source => metmuseum.org

11. Original Bromance Goals

Move over, bromance goals: Alexander the Great and his BFF Hephaestion were the original dynamic duo! While conquering Asia together, Hephaestion helped with everything from bridge-building to catching up on correspondence with philosophers like Aristotle and Xenocrates: In fact, after Hephaestion's untimely death at just 32, Alexander was so devastated that he sought divine honors for his friend, ultimately dubbing him a "Divine Hero" and preserving his memory through grandiose monuments in Babylon.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. The Stable Genius Duo

Talk about the original "stable genius": Alexander the Great's favorite horse, Bucephalus, was a fierce, forward-thinking animal that wasn't horsing around when it came to winning battles! The horse even had its own war strategy – fighting shadows by making sure its back was towards the sun: In reality, it took Alexander's keen observation and ability to tame the wild horse by simply turning him towards the sun, allowing Bucephalus to overcome his fear of his own shadow. This dynamic duo went on to achieve many victories together, even establishing a city, Bucephala, in honor of the fearless steed after its death.
Source => historyskills.com