Alexander and Bucephalus, by French artist Antoine-Jean Gros (1771-1735), a sketch now kept in the Louvre. The artist is careful to show that Alexander has turned the horse into the sun so that he can no longer be spooked by his own shadow. Bucephalus died in 326 BC following the Battle of the Hydaspes (the River Jhelum) in what is now Punjab, Pakistan, about 90 miles from the Indian border. Alexander founded the town of Alexandria Bucephalous nearby in the horse’s memory, but the exact location remains to be pinpointed.
Part 1 of 2
WHEN Philonicus, the Thessalian,* offered the horse named Bucephalus in sale to Philip,* at the price of thirteen talents,* the king, with the prince and many others, went into the field to see some trial made of him.
The horse appeared extremely vicious and unmanageable, and was so far from suffering himself to be mounted, that he would not bear to be spoken to, but turned fiercely upon all the grooms. Philip was displeased at their bringing him so wild and ungovernable a horse and bade them take him away. But Alexander, who had observed him well, said: ‘What a horse are they losing, for want of skill and spirit to manage him!’
Philip at first took no notice of this; but, upon the prince’s often repeating the same expression, and showing great uneasiness, he said ‘Young man, you find fault with your elders, as if you knew more than they, or could manage the horse better.’
‘And I certainly could,’ answered the prince.
‘If you should not be able to ride him, what forfeiture will you submit to for your rashness ?’
‘I will pay the price of the horse.’
* A Thessalian is a person from Thessaly, a region of mainland Greece on the western side of the Aegean Sea. The ancient Kingdom of Macedon lay to the north, almost wholly in what is now northern Greece. Its chief city was Pella. The modern Republic of North Macedonia lies further north still, corresponding roughly with the Kingdom of Paeonia which Philip II, Alexander’s father, subdued and turned into a vassal state, Macedonian Paeonia, in 355-354 BC.
* Philip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 BC), father of Alexander (r. 336-323 BC).
* A foot-soldier in Alexander’s army was typically paid a silver drachma a day, with 100 drachmas to the mina, and 60 minas to the talent. Numismatist Ursula Kampmann at Zürich’s Money Museum estimates that Alexander’s army cost him 20 talents a day, a burden he could meet only by plundering the treasuries of the cities he captured. In 2021, the basic pay for an infantryman in the British army was £16,500 per annum, or £45 a day.
Précis
Plutarch told the story of how Alexander, the young prince of Macedon, tamed his warhorse Bucephalus. The horse had been purchased by Alexander’s father King Philip, but his grooms could not handle him. Alexander wagered the price of the horse that he could tame him and Philip, who thought Alexander was out of his depth, accepted the bet. (58 / 60 words)
Part Two
Alexander and Bucephalus, by Scottish sculptor Sir John Robert Steell (1804-1891). It stands outside the City Chambers in Edinburgh. Originally modelled in 1832, it was not cast until 1883, and the monument was erected the following year thanks to public subscription.
UPON this all the company laughed, but the king and prince agreeing as to the forfeiture, Alexander ran to the horse, and laying hold of the bridle, turned him to the sun; for he had observed, it seems, that the shadow which fell before the horse, and continually moved as he moved, greatly disturbed him. While his fierceness and fury lasted, he kept speaking to him softly and stroking him; after which he gently let fall his mantle, leaped lightly upon his back, and got his seat very safe. Then, without pulling the reins too hard, or using either whip or spur, he set him a-going. As soon as he perceived his uneasiness abated, and that he wanted only to run, he put him in a full gallop, and pushed him on both with the voice and the spur.
Philip and all his court were in great distress for him at first, and a profound silence took place. But when the prince had turned him and brought him straight back, they all received him with loud acclamations, except his father, who wept for joy, and, kissing him, said: ‘Seek another kingdom, my son, that may be worthy of thy abilities; for Macedonia is too small for thee.’
Précis
Alexander, who had noticed that Bucephalus was nervous of his own shadow, turned him to face the sun. Once the horse was calm, the prince mounted and let him gallop. The court watched on anxiously, but Alexander came home safely. Macedonia, said Philip proudly, was too narrow a realm for such a prince: prophetic words, as it proved. (58 / 60 words)
