bucephalus : beloved horse of alexander d great

Page

Cold coffee_mania

@Fruitcustard_9

Stunner

+ 3

Posted: 7 years ago

The Tale of Bucephalus

Alexander the Great was a very determined albeit stubborn individual. Once he had made up his mind about something it was near impossible to sway his decision. And, more often then not he would make the decision to do something that everyone else thought to be impossible One such incident was the taming of his famous stallion Bucephalus which occured when Alexander was approxamatly a mere ten year old boy. Bucephalus or "ox-head" was a magnificent black stallion that recieved his name from the ox shaped maker on his forehead. Phillip was considering paying a small fortune for the spirited and stong willed stallion. However, Bucephalus, much like his would be master, was exceptionally stubborn, and refused to let anyone mount him, rearing and snorting when anyone approached him. He had alredy defeated many of Phillips best riders and Phillip eventually ordered the horse to be taken away.

Alexander objected. He stated that the problem was not the horse, but the men who did not know how to handle such an animal. Fortunatly, he, Alexander, did. Alexander's arrogance nearly matched his stuborness, even at these early years. When asked by his father what consequences Alexander would face if he was wrong Alexander replied that he would pay the horses' full price- approxamatly $25,000 in today's money.

Alexander had noticed that Bucephalus was spooked by his own shadow, and the more the horse reared, the bigger and consequently more scarier the shadow became. The young prince gently took the horses head and turned him towards the sun and no sooner did the shadow disappear than Bucephalus grew calm. Alexander was than able to leap onto his back and gallop around the field. When he returned. his proud father said "My son, you will have to find another kingdom, Macedonia is too small for you". Alexander took the words to heart, and eventually his kingdom stretched from Greece all the way to India.

Alexander rode Bucephalus throughout his entire campaign, and the brave animal was nearly thirty years old when he was killed in a battle between Alexander and Porus, King of India. Mortally wounded and surrounded by attackers, Bucephalus, against all odds, carried his master to safety. Alexander later named a city, Bucephalia, in his beloved stallion's honour.

.Bucephaluswas Alexander the Great's horse and is considered by some to be the most famous horse in history. Alexanderand Bucephalus' initial meeting was unique but demonstrated the true character of one of the greatest generals in all of history. Initially, Bucephalus was brought to Macedonia and presented to King Phillip II (Alexander's father) in 346 BCE by Philoneicus of Thessaly. With a price tag almost three times the norm (13 talents), the beautiful black horse stood taller than the normal Macedonian steed but was considered too wild and unmanageable, rearing up against anyone who came near him. Phillip ordered him led away.

Alexander sat in the audience with his mother Olympias watching the spectacle before him. As the attendants tried to lead Bucephalus away, Alexander rose calling them spineless. According to Plutarch's biography of Alexander, the young prince said, "What as excellent horse do they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him. At first Phillip ignored the challenge, but finally said to Alexander, "Do you reproach those who are older than yourself, as if you were better able to manage him than they. Alexander, ignoring his father remark, repeated his challenge and said he would pay for the horse if he, Alexander, were unable to tame him.

BUCEPHALUS AND ALEXANDER WERE INSEPARABLE; ONLY ALEXANDER COULD RIDE HIM.

Amid wild laughter, Alexander approached the horse he would name Bucephalus calmly. He had realized something the others had not --- the horse was afraid of his own shadow. Turning Bucephalus toward the sun so his shadow was behind him and slowing taking the reins in his hand, Alexander mounted him. The laughter of the crowd turned to cheers as Alexander rode off.

According to Plutarch, as Alexander returned to the arena with Bucephalus and dismounted, Phillip said, "O my son look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee. Historians claim this taming of the wild Bucephalus was a turning point in the young prince's life, demonstrating the confidence and determination he was to show in his conquest of Asia.

Bucephalus and Alexander were inseparable; only Alexander could ride him, and indeed he did, into every battle from the conquest of the Greek city-states and Thebes through Gaugamela and into India. After the final defeat of Darius, Bucephalus was kidnapped while Alexander was away on excursion. Upon returning and learning of the theft, Alexander promised to fell every tree, lay the countryside to waste, and slaughter every inhabitant in the region. The horse was soon returned along with a plea for mercy.

Although historians disagree on the cause of the horse's death - some claim he died from battle wounds - most agree he died of old age after the Battle of Hydaspes River (326 BCE). While Plutarch spoke of both possible causes of death, he cites Onesicritus, a historian who accompanied Alexander on his conquests, as stating the horse died of old age. However Bucephalus died, in mourning, Alexander founded a city in his beloved horse's memory and named it Bucephala. It is also interesting that Alexander built another city after his favorite dog Peritas.

Edited by deepikagupta9 - 7 years ago

Quote

Frequent Posters

luckySnow

@luckySnow

Dazzler

Posted: 7 years ago

Originally posted by: deepikagupta9
The Tale of Bucephalus
Alexander the Great was a very determined albeit stubborn individual. Once he had made up his mind about something it was near impossible to sway his decision. And, more often then not he would make the decision to do something that everyone else thought to be impossible One such incident was the taming of his famous stallion Bucephalus which occured when Alexander was approxamatly a mere ten year old boy. Bucephalus or "ox-head" was a magnificent black stallion that recieved his name from the ox shaped maker on his forehead. Phillip was considering paying a small fortune for the spirited and stong willed stallion. However, Bucephalus, much like his would be master, was exceptionally stubborn, and refused to let anyone mount him, rearing and snorting when anyone approached him. He had alredy defeated many of Phillips best riders and Phillip eventually ordered the horse to be taken away.
Alexander objected. He stated that the problem was not the horse, but the men who did not know how to handle such an animal. Fortunatly, he, Alexander, did. Alexander's arrogance nearly matched his stuborness, even at these early years. When asked by his father what consequences Alexander would face if he was wrong Alexander replied that he would pay the horses' full price- approxamatly $25,000 in today's money.
Alexander had noticed that Bucephalus was spooked by his own shadow, and the more the horse reared, the bigger and consequently more scarier the shadow became. The young prince gently took the horses head and turned him towards the sun and no sooner did the shadow disappear than Bucephalus grew calm. Alexander was than able to leap onto his back and gallop around the field. When he returned. his proud father said "My son, you will have to find another kingdom, Macedonia is too small for you". Alexander took the words to heart, and eventually his kingdom stretched from Greece all the way to India.
Alexander rode Bucephalus throughout his entire campaign, and the brave animal was nearly thirty years old when he was killed in a battle between Alexander and Porus, King of India. Mortally wounded and surrounded by attackers, Bucephalus, against all odds, carried his master to safety. Alexander later named a city, Bucephalia, in his beloved stallion's honour.

.Bucephaluswas Alexander the Great's horse and is considered by some to be the most famous horse in history. Alexanderand Bucephalus' initial meeting was unique but demonstrated the true character of one of the greatest generals in all of history. Initially, Bucephalus was brought to Macedonia and presented to King Phillip II (Alexander's father) in 346 BCE by Philoneicus of Thessaly. With a price tag almost three times the norm (13 talents), the beautiful black horse stood taller than the normal Macedonian steed but was considered too wild and unmanageable, rearing up against anyone who came near him. Phillip ordered him led away.
Alexander sat in the audience with his mother Olympias watching the spectacle before him. As the attendants tried to lead Bucephalus away, Alexander rose calling them spineless. According to Plutarch's biography of Alexander, the young prince said, "What as excellent horse do they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him. At first Phillip ignored the challenge, but finally said to Alexander, "Do you reproach those who are older than yourself, as if you were better able to manage him than they. Alexander, ignoring his father remark, repeated his challenge and said he would pay for the horse if he, Alexander, were unable to tame him.
BUCEPHALUS AND ALEXANDER WERE INSEPARABLE; ONLY ALEXANDER COULD RIDE HIM.
Amid wild laughter, Alexander approached the horse he would name Bucephalus calmly. He had realized something the others had not --- the horse was afraid of his own shadow. Turning Bucephalus toward the sun so his shadow was behind him and slowing taking the reins in his hand, Alexander mounted him. The laughter of the crowd turned to cheers as Alexander rode off.
According to Plutarch, as Alexander returned to the arena with Bucephalus and dismounted, Phillip said, "O my son look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee. Historians claim this taming of the wild Bucephalus was a turning point in the young prince's life, demonstrating the confidence and determination he was to show in his conquest of Asia.
Bucephalus and Alexander were inseparable; only Alexander could ride him, and indeed he did, into every battle from the conquest of the Greek city-states and Thebes through Gaugamela and into India. After the final defeat of Darius, Bucephalus was kidnapped while Alexander was away on excursion. Upon returning and learning of the theft, Alexander promised to fell every tree, lay the countryside to waste, and slaughter every inhabitant in the region. The horse was soon returned along with a plea for mercy.
Although historians disagree on the cause of the horse's death - some claim he died from battle wounds - most agree he died of old age after the Battle of Hydaspes River (326 BCE). While Plutarch spoke of both possible causes of death, he cites Onesicritus, a historian who accompanied Alexander on his conquests, as stating the horse died of old age. However Bucephalus died, in mourning, Alexander founded a city in his beloved horse's memory and named it Bucephala. It is also interesting that Alexander built another city after his favorite dog Peritas.