Roxana and olympias

Alexander the Great was lucky to have very supportive women at his side throughout his life. Historical records show that he was well-protected by them and that they were his secret source of power as well.

The most important woman in Alexander's life was his mother Olympias, but Barsine and Roxana also seem to have had key influences on him. Some of the Macedonian king's shorter romances also affected his life positively. It is worth wondering if he would have been such a successful person if he had not had the strong women who took care of him at his side.

Olympias Mother, Protector, and Best Friend

Olympias was Alexander's mother, protector, and best friend. She was a woman who fought like a lion to protect her son and even sacrificed her husband, king Philip II of Macedonia, to support Alexander.

Her birth name was Myrtle, and she was a daughter of Neoptolemus, the king of Epirus. Legend says that she had relatives who fought in the Trojan War.

A statue of Alexander and Olympias, Schnbrunn, Vienna. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )

Olympias wasn't lucky in her marriage. When she couldn't have more children, Phillip became interested in other women. He didn't accept monogamy, and Olympias suffered. She promised herself that she would do her best to not allow any of Phillip's other sons to become king just her own. She became Alexander's most demanding teacher and supporter. She hired an army of people who earned lots of money for protecting the boy who would become the king of Macedonia.

After Alexander's death, Olympias did her best to be the same source of support and strength for his wife and son. She hoped that her grandson would be able to continue the reign of Alexander, but unfortunately things did not go as she planned

Roxana the Beloved

Some historians believe that Roxana was Alexander's greatest weakness. He lost his heart to her when he was 28, and with this relationship he also lost interest in other women. She was described by the writers who saw her as one of the most beautiful women in all of Asia. Her Afghan name was Roshanak, meaning ''little star''. The ancient historians say that she was Persian.

Alexander the Great and Roxana, in a 1756 painting by Italian Baroque artist Pietro Rotari. ( Public Domain )

Roxana and Alexander also married for political reasons. After conquering many lands in Asia, Alexander wanted to strengthen the bonds with the new parts of his Empire. The marriage took place in spring or in August of 327 BC. According to ancient sources, Roxana became Alexander's greatest passion. He was so charmed by her beauty and wisdom that he spent more time with her than his soldiers wanted him to.

When Alexander died in 323 BC, Roxana's position was still strong, but she already knew the cruel ways of royal courts. She decided to kill two of Alexander's other women, hoping to protect herself and her unborn son. She gave birth to a boy named Alexander (Alexander IV), six months after the death of Alexander the Great.

Originally posted by: Vicariously

The statue made of Olympia and Alexander is truly stunning ! When I first saw it, I had an impression that one hand of Olympia was on little Alexander's head, patting him 😆 When infact, it was just the back of his helmet. The way Olympia is represented as she was guiding her son, by the way her hand appoints forward all the while holding her son's hand in hers, gives her that angelic aura of a fairy mother. Very courteous and gallant.

Originally posted by: Vicariously

It is worth wondering if he would have been such a successful person if he had not had the strong women who took care of him at his side.

Allow me please to doubt this assumption. Exception made of Olympia and Sisygambis, whom bore him real maternal affection, care and their actions only led by the intention of his welfare, they weren't any other women in his life who really played a fundamental role in his success. Roxanne, no matter how much Alexander the Great was fond of her and loved her greatly, didn't do him any good in return and Barsine, was simply his wife. That's all about it ! So there wasn't any strong women who truthfully assisted him in his triumph, exception made of his mother, Queen Olympia obviously.

Originally posted by: luckySnow

That fairy mummy be khoon ki nadhiya baha di thi wqais😆

Originally posted by: luckySnow

Dear sasygambis bhi bahut strong woman thi...she gave him great lessons on politics...she even made Olympia jealous

Originally posted by: Vicariously

Fir theek hai😆 warna Olympia aur fairies ka door door tak koi sambandh nahin hain


Lungs 🤣 I was talking about the representation only 😆

Originally posted by: luckySnow

Roxana ko bahut jyada hatred milti hai...let me again remind you people she was only 22 ...and she was great patriot...Bessus was father figure to her...when he was stone to death by Alexander to make Sasygambis happy...she did what strong girl would have done...attack... Alexander married her...after marriage she only loved him never confronted him...