By Ralph Rewes

Alexander the Great was an admirable man. He was practical. He had the mind of a scientist. He soaked up knowledge and invented things, like the diving bell, and descended within its protection to the bottom of the sea to study the marine fauna. He was loyal. He was humble, yet he showed the courage of a titan. He gave proof of all the above through his 33-year-old life, shortened not by his worst enemy: grief.

In ancient times, when Alexander (Aléksandros) began to expand his conquest of the known world, and he was approaching the coast of Asia, some idle priests in the city of Gordium had already concocted an artifice to prevent the world-conqueror from stepping farther into Asia at his arrival. They called it the Gordian knot, a rope knot with its ends hidden in the inside of the large rope wrapped around a pole.

They told Alexander that only “he who would be able to untie that knot will conquer Asia.” “Fine!” said Alexander. Then he lifted his sword and cut the knot in two. “There are many ways to untie a knot, this is mine!”

He was only 12 when he subdued the fire-spitting violence of Bullhead (Bukéfalos), a wild and till then untamable. And thereafter, everywhere he went his two most loyal companions Bullhead, his horse, and Hephaestos, his loving friend, accompanied him.

Alexander was short and not as good-looking as Hephaestos, beautiful male specimen tall, blond and with bewitching blue eyes. So striking and captivating were Hephaestos’ looks that when the Queen Mother visited Alexander, she confused him with Hephaestos.

The Queen’s attendant rushed to tell her, “Your Majesty, Alexander is the other one.” Alexander showed his love for his friend by saying to the Queen, “It is all right. He is also Alexander.” When Hephaestos died, Alexander was appalled. Months later he died of grief.