Alexander's Campaign > Alexander the Great in Egypt

Alexander the Great in Egypt

Background

Alexander the Great’s Egyptian Campaign and Hellenistic Influence

Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 BC), known as 'Alexander the Great', spent several months in Egypt as part of his ongoing campaign against the Persian Empire of Darius III. After capturing Persia's naval bases along the coast of Asia Minor and the Levant, Alexander advanced into Egypt, staying for about six months. His time in Egypt, while often seen as a diversion, was crucial for his strategic and commercial ambitions. He needed a robust coastal base to communicate across the Mediterranean and to control the lucrative sea-borne trade network, diverting it from Phoenicia. By October 332 BC, Alexander’s Macedonian army reached the fortified coastal town of Pelusium.

The Conquest of Egypt

Alexander’s reputation preceded him, and Egypt's Persian governor, Mazaces, surrendered without resistance, handing over 800 talents and royal furniture. Mazaces was retained in the new administration alongside Cleomenes, who was responsible for finance and founded the royal mint around 331 BC. Cleomenes, known for his unscrupulous nature, amassed a fortune but remained loyal to Alexander, even sending him delicacies like smoked quail.

Alexander established a garrison in Pelusium and ordered his fleet to sail up the Nile to Memphis. He traveled by land, passing significant religious sites like Heliopolis, impressing his troops and himself with Egypt's rich culture and grand temples. At Memphis, Alexander received a rapturous welcome. The Greeks had long admired Egyptian culture, and Alexander’s encounter with it deeply influenced him.

Cultural and Religious Integration

Alexander was hailed as a liberator and offered the double crown of the Two Lands, becoming pharaoh on November 14, 332 BC. He was declared 'son of the gods,' a title that profoundly affected him, reinforcing his belief in his divine status, a notion supported by his mother Olympias’ tales of his divine parentage.

Alexander, always devout, easily integrated Egyptian deities into his worship, equating Amun with Zeus. At Sakkara, he offered sacrifices to the Apis bull and organized Greek-style games and contests, marking the beginnings of Hellenism in Egypt, a blending of Greek and local traditions that would endure for centuries.

Founding of Alexandria

After two months in Memphis, Alexander ordered the restoration of key religious centers and appeared in traditional Egyptian regalia in statues and reliefs. He then traveled to the Greek trading colony of Naucratis and moved on to the coast, where he founded the city of Alexandria. Noting its strategic harbor and excellent location, Alexander personally designed the city's layout with his architect, Deinocrates of Rhodes, planning the market, temples, and defenses.

Journey to Siwa and Divine Validation

In January 331 BC, Alexander journeyed to the Siwa Oasis to consult the Oracle of Amun. The perilous journey across the desert, marked by divine interventions like sudden rainstorms and guiding ravens, reinforced Alexander’s belief in his divine mission. At Siwa, he was greeted as 'son of god,' further solidifying his divine status in his mind. The Oracle's favorable response convinced him of his divine paternity, and he continued to send gifts and questions to the Oracle throughout his life.

Departure from Egypt

Returning to Memphis, Alexander made sacrifices to Zeus-Amun and organized a grand parade of his troops. He divided the governance of Egypt among trusted officers, blending Egyptian, Macedonian, and Persian elements to maintain balance. He left Egypt in mid-April 331 BC, never to return alive. However, the city he founded, Alexandria, would become his final resting place when his body was returned for burial a decade later.

Legacy

Alexander’s respect for Egyptian religion and his administrative appointments ensured a smooth transition to Macedonian rule. His establishment of Alexandria as a new capital harnessed Egypt’s wealth for his future conquests. Although Alexander never returned, his impact on Egypt was profound, blending Greek and Egyptian cultures in a way that shaped the region for centuries.