Alexander is known as one of the most successful and courageous warriors in the history of mankind. His conquests that began with his homeland in Greece ended a long way from home before the Ganges. But before he could rule the vast kingdom, he died at a young age of thirty two.

Most people know about the various victories of Alexander, but they don’t know much of other intriguing and amusing facts about him. It is also said that some of these stories and facts might just be rumours and myths, but this just adds to the reputation of the great warrior.

Alexander is listed as one of the few people who had different coloured eyes. This condition is called Heterochromia Iridium and manifests due to some abnormality in the concentration of melanin content.

It will be hard to believe that a man who conquered almost the entire known world in his time suffered from epilepsy, just like another famous man, Julius Caesar.

During Alexander’s time it was believed that a powerful man’s birth is accompanied by omens. Plutarch has described that the night before the consummation of King Philip II and Olympias, she dreamt of thunderbolt that struck her womb and started that a fire that spread fast, rapid and far, and extinguished.

Alexander’s conquests were similar in nature, they spread fast and rapid and he died suddenly.

Another myth surrounding Alexander was that he was the son of Zeus, Father of Gods and Men, and Olympias. This gave Alexander the status of a demi-god. This legend is said to have been initiated by Olympias.

Alexander was tutored till the age of sixteen by the one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Aristotle.

One of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World, The Temple of Artemis, is said to have been burnt down on the day of Alexander’s birth. This act of arson was committed by Herostratus, a man who in an attempt to become famous, burnt down the temple.

It is also said that Artemis couldn’t save the Temple from destruction as she was attending Alexander’s birth.  The term Herostratic fame comes from this incident and roughly translates to ‘fame at any cost’.

According to many historical accounts Alexander’s body was buried in a sarcophagus of gold.

According to one legend there was a knot called the Gordian knot. It was rumoured or prophesised that the one to untie it would rule Asia. When Alexander found he could not untie it he sliced the knot in half. There are more than one versions of this legend, all pointing to Alexander’s conquest of the world.

Alexander massacred many people in the cities and kingdoms that he conquered, and sold a large number of women and children into slavery.

Alexander’s general and bodyguard, Hephaestion, the son of a noble, was also his best friend.

Bucephalus, one of the most famous horses in history, belonged to Alexander, who was the first and the last person to tame it by turning it towards the sun as Bucephalus was afraid of its own shadow.

Alexander never lost a battle.