The death of Alexander the Great
The circumstances of Alexander’s death are reviewed. Since contemporary sources vary in their accounts of the reason for his death, they are briefly reviewed and assessed. The account of Alexander’s final illness is then discussed as recorded in the King’s Journal and the Liber de morte testamentum...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of the Free State
2005-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Theologica |
| Online Access: | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2074 |
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| _version_ | 1823858364932685824 |
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| author | Francois P. Retief Louise Cilliers |
| author_facet | Francois P. Retief Louise Cilliers |
| author_sort | Francois P. Retief |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The circumstances of Alexander’s death are reviewed. Since contemporary sources vary in their accounts of the reason for his death, they are briefly reviewed and assessed. The account of Alexander’s final illness is then discussed as recorded in the King’s Journal and the Liber de morte testamentumque Alexandri Magni. The theory that he was poisoned is rejected, as is the hypothesis that he drank himself to death. His final illness shows symptoms characteristic of malignant tertian malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), possibly precipitated by recent wounds, exhaustion and heavy drinking.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c65ec186d4f34d039a487f9de6039be0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1015-8758 2309-9089 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2005-06-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Theologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-c65ec186d4f34d039a487f9de6039be02025-02-11T12:26:25ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892005-06-01710.38140/at.v0i7.2074The death of Alexander the GreatFrancois P. Retief0Louise Cilliers1University of the Free StateUniversity of the Free State The circumstances of Alexander’s death are reviewed. Since contemporary sources vary in their accounts of the reason for his death, they are briefly reviewed and assessed. The account of Alexander’s final illness is then discussed as recorded in the King’s Journal and the Liber de morte testamentumque Alexandri Magni. The theory that he was poisoned is rejected, as is the hypothesis that he drank himself to death. His final illness shows symptoms characteristic of malignant tertian malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), possibly precipitated by recent wounds, exhaustion and heavy drinking. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2074 |
| spellingShingle | Francois P. Retief Louise Cilliers The death of Alexander the Great Acta Theologica |
| title | The death of Alexander the Great |
| title_full | The death of Alexander the Great |
| title_fullStr | The death of Alexander the Great |
| title_full_unstemmed | The death of Alexander the Great |
| title_short | The death of Alexander the Great |
| title_sort | death of alexander the great |
| url | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2074 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francoispretief thedeathofalexanderthegreat AT louisecilliers thedeathofalexanderthegreat AT francoispretief deathofalexanderthegreat AT louisecilliers deathofalexanderthegreat |