Carrying Greatness: Alexander's Buchephelus
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Controversial filmmaker Oliver Stone’s 2004 epic Alexander generated more than its fair share of controversy for alleged historic inaccuracies and racy sexual scenes. But, horse enthusiasts might have taken issue with him for largely ignoring one of the real-life Alexander’s most trusted friends, his legendary horse, Bucephalus.

According to historical records, the steed was a big black stallion with a white flare on his forehead. The untamed horse was offered for a modest price to King Phillip II of Macedonia – Alexander’s father.

The Greek historian Plutarch wrote that Phillip decided Bucephalas was too wild and unmanageable. But, Alexander made a wager with his father that he could ride the horse. If he could tame the beast, the 12-year-old Alexander could keep him as his own. Alexander's reaction was viewed by his father to be immature, and it showed disrespect to the grown men who failed to tame Bucephalus.

As a punishment, Philip proposed that, if Alexander failed to break Bucephalus, he would have to pay the price of the horse – 13 talents. When you consider that historians estimate that amount to be equivalent to about $1,560, it was a huge sum for a boy of Alexander's age to pay – whether he was of royal birth or not.

Fortunately, Alexander noticed Bucephalas was afraid of his shadow on the ground. H e led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it – all the while stroking it gently and speaking softly into its ear – horse whisperer-style.

Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and Alexander was able to show off his equestrian skill to his father and the assembled crowd. Plutarch writes:

"Philip and his friends looked on at first in silence and anxiety for the result, till seeing him turn at the end of his career, and come back rejoicing and triumphing for what he had performed, they all burst out into acclamations of applause; and his father shedding tears, it is said, for joy, kissed him as he came down from his horse, and in his transport said, 'O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.'"

Alexander named the horse Bucephalus or “ox head,” as the horse sported a huge black skull. The pair would ride thousands of miles together over their lives – and fight in vicious, bloody conflicts upon arriving at their destination.

In Alexander’s day, warriors used only bridles and cloths laid over their horses' backs to ride as leather saddles and stirrups were not yet in use.

After carrying his owner through the conquering of the known world, Bucephalas died of battle wounds in June of 326 B.C., in Alexander's last great battle. During Alexander’s Far East campaign against the elephant-borne armies of India, the horse perished on the left bank of the Hydaspes River.

Gripped with grief, Alexander founded two cities there – naming one to honor his lost steed. He put a flag in Alexandria Nicaea (to celebrate his victory) and coined Bucephala (modern Jhelum) after Bucephalus.

For his beloved horse, Alexander held a state funeral, which he himself led. The warrior king stated in his memorial remarks that it was only with the help of Bucephalus that he became Alexander the Great . According to Plutarch, Alexander viewed his Bucephalus like his hero Achilles viewed his horses – as creatures that could "excel all others - for they are immortal; Poseidon gave them to my father Peleus, who in his turn gave them to myself.”

Related Links

• Alexander -- The Official Movie Website
• Alexander the Great - Wikipedia
• Bucephalus - Wikipedia

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