Alexander the Great's True Legacy

Ο "ΟΡΚΟΣ"
ΤΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ

"ΣΑΣ ΕΥΧΟΜΑΙ ΤΩΡΑ ΠΟΥ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΝΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΙ ΝΑ ΕΙΣΤΕ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΟΙ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΕ ΕΙΡΗΝΗ. ΟΛΟΙ ΟΙ ΘΝΗΤΟΙ ΑΠΌ 'ΔΩ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΝΑ ΖΗΣΟΥΝ ΣΑΝ ΕΝΑΣ ΛΑΟΣ, ΜΟΝΙΑΣΜΕΝΟΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΟΙΝΗ ΠΡΟΚΟΠΗ. ΝΑ ΕΧΕΤΕ ΤΗΝ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΗ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ ΣΑΣ, ΜΕ ΝΟΜΟΥΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΥΣ, ΟΠΟΥ ΘΑ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΙ ΑΝΕΞΑΡΤΗΤΑ ΑΠΌ ΤΗΝ ΦΥΛΗ. ΔΕΝ ΧΩΡΙΖΩ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥΣ, ΌΠΩΣ ΚΑΝΟΥΝ ΟΙ ΣΤΕΝΟΜΥΑΛΟΙ, ΣΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΥΣ. ΔΕΝ Μ' ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΕΙ Η ΚΑΤΑΓΩΓΗ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΟΥΤΕ Η ΡΑΤΣΑ ΠΟΥ ΓΕΝΝΗΘΗΚΑΝ. ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΤΑΜΕΡΙΖΩ ΜΕ ΜΟΝΑΔΙΚΟ ΚΡΙΤΗΡΙΟ ΤΗΝ ΑΡΕΤΗ.
ΓΙΑ ΜΕΝΑ, ΚΑΘΕ ΚΑΛΟΣ ΞΕΝΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΘΕ ΚΑΚΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΑΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΧΕΙΡΟΤΕΡΟΣ ΑΠΟ ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟ. ΑΝ ΠΟΤΕ ΣΑΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑΣΘΟΥΝ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΣ, ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΚΑΤΑΦΥΓΕΤΕ ΣΤΑ ΟΠΛΑ, ΠΑΡΑ ΘΑ ΤΙΣ ΛΥΣΕΤΕ ΕΙΡΗΝΙΚΑ. ΣΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΓΚΗ ΘΑ ΣΤΑΘΩ ΔΙΑΙΤΗΤΗΣ ΣΑΣ. ΤΟ ΘΕΟ ΔΕΝ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΤΟΝ ΕΧΕΤΕ ΑΥΤΑΡΧΙΚΟ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΤΗ, ΑΛΛΑ ΣΑΝ ΚΟΙΝΟ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ ΟΛΩΝ, ΩΣΤΕ Η ΔΙΑΓΩΓΗ ΣΑΣ ΝΑ ΜΟΙΑΖΕΙ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΖΩΗ ΠΟΥ ΚΑΝΟΥΝ Τ' ΑΔΕΛΦΙΑ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑ. ΕΓΩ, ΑΠ΄ ΤΗ ΜΕΡΙΑ ΜΟΥ ΟΛΟΥΣ ΣΑΣ ΘΕΩΡΩ ΙΣΟΥΣ, ΛΕΥΚΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΛΑΨΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΘΑ ΗΘΕΛΑ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΑΙΣΘΑΝΕΣΤΕ ΜΟΝΟ ΣΑΝ ΥΠΗΚΟΟΙ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑΣ ΜΟΥ, ΑΛΛΑ ΝΑ ΝΟΙΩΘΕΤΕ ΟΛΟΙ ΣΑΝ ΜΕΤΟΧΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΣΥΝΕΤΑΙΡΟΙ. ΟΣΟ ΠΕΡΝΑ ΑΠ' ΤΟ ΧΕΡΙ ΜΟΥ ΘΑ ΠΡΟΣΠΑΘΗΣΩ ΝΑ ΓΙΝΟΥΝ ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑ ΑΥΤΑ ΠΟΥ ΥΠΟΣΧΟΜΑΙ. ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟΝ ΟΡΚΟ ΠΟΥ ΔΩΣΑΜΕ ΑΠΟΨΕ ΜΕ ΣΠΟΝΔΕΣ ΚΡΑΤΗΣΤΕ ΤΟΝ ΣΑΝ ΣΥΜΒΟΛΟ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ".

This oath is allegedly given by Zolakostas in his book Alexander the Great, Precursor of Christ (p. 235, in Greek text), who quoted the 3rd book of Pseudo-Callisthenes and the philosopher Eratosthenes.

Arrian 7.2.6-9 On this Alexander sacrificed to the gods to whom it was his custom to sacrifice, and gave a public banquet, seated all the Persians, and then any persons from the other peoples who took precedence for rank or any other high quality, and he himself and those around him drank from the same bowl and poured the same libations, with the Greek soothsayers and Magi initiating the ceremony. Alexander prayed for various blessings and especially that the Macedonians and Persians should enjoy harmony as partners in government. The story prevails that those who shared the banquet were nine thousand and that they all poured the same libation and gave the one victory cry as they did.

There are many variants of the following themes.

Jews throughout the centuries have been using the name Alexander. This has been in accordance with their high priest's decision that "Alexander's name should remain in eternity." The decision was taken because, when Alexander visited Jerusalem, he exhibited respect towards the high priest and for the Jewish religious worship. It is said that when the Jews of Jerusalem offered Alexander gold and silver, he refused to accept them; the Jewish high priest told Alexander: "We serve only one God who created Heaven and Earth and all visible and invisible things that no human being is able to explain." To this Alexander replied, "As worthy worshippers of the true God, be in peace, for your God is my God and my peace is your peace. I shall not treat you any different from the other nations, since you serve the living God."

According to Josephus in "Ant." xi. 8, §§ 4-6, Alexander went to Jerusalem after having taken Gaza. Jaddua, the high priest, had a warning from God received in a dream, in which he saw himself vested in a purple robe, with his miter—that had the golden plate on which the name of God was engraved—on his head. Accordingly he went to meet Alexander at Sapha ("View" [of the Temple]). Followed by the priests, all clothed in fine linen, and by a multitude of citizens, Jaddua awaited the coming of the king. When Alexander saw the high priest, he reverenced God (Lev. R. xiii., end), and saluted Jaddua; while the Jews with one voice greeted Alexander. When Parmenio, the general, gave expression to the army's surprise at Alexander's extraordinary act—that one who ought to be adored by all as king should adore the high priest of the Jews—Alexander replied: "I did not adore him, but the God who hath honored him with this high-priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea, promising that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians." Alexander then gave the high priest his right hand, and went into the Temple and "offered sacrifice to God according to the high priest's direction," treating the whole priesthood magnificently. "And when the Book of Daniel was shown him [see Dan. vii. 6, viii. 5-8, 20-22, xi. 3-4], wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks [] should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that he was the person intended, and rejoiced thereat. The following day Alexander asked the people what favors he should grant them; and, at the high priest's request, he accorded them the right to live in full enjoyment of the laws of their forefathers. He, furthermore, exempted them from the payment of tribute in the seventh year of release. To the Jews of Babylonia and Media also he granted like privileges; and to the Jews who were willing to enlist in his army he promised the right to live in accordance with their ancestral laws. Afterward the Samaritans, having learned of the favors granted the Jews by Alexander, asked for similar privileges; but Alexander declined to accede to their request.

The myths often seem closer to the truth than the theories people continually bring forth about Alexander. His father's tomb alone says more about him than all the theories. His legacy is to demonstrate that the myths can come true.