Alexander the Great

Some people have ruined their brilliant public careers by not being able to control themselves. A classic example of this is Alexander the Great (356–323 BC), who was educated by the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle and became a symbol of successful conquering power. At the age of twenty, Alexander became king of Macedon. Shortly afterward, he invaded and conquered the Greek city-states.

He expanded his domain significantly by conquering first the Persian Empire in the east and then Egypt in the south, where he founded Alexandria, the city named after him. Pushing farther east, he hoped to conquer India, but his exhausted troops refused to fight any longer, and he had to give up his ambitious plan. While in Babylon, Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II on June 10, 323 BC, at just thirty-two years old, having developed a fever and struggled with illness for twelve days.

The real cause of Alexander’s illness remains hidden. Some modern scholars have suggested that he could have contracted typhoid fever or malaria or even smallpox. However, some historians are convinced that the wine he drank in his debauchery at a party hosted by a friend named Medius was intentionally poisoned.

Other historians reject this theory, claiming that twelve days would be too long for a poisoned person to survive. The ancient Greek historian Diodorus said that Alexander was struck with pain after “he drank much unmixed wine in commemoration of the death of Heracles.”22 Whatever the case, Alexander conquered the world in twelve years but was conquered by a fever that took his life in twelve days! Alexander’s tragic end provides important lessons. Jesus raised the crucial question, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

Remember, “a wise man will not be governed and controlled by his appetites and passions, but will control and govern them.”