Alexander Statue in Athens

• 20 Apr 2019

A statue of Alexander the Great has been installed in central Athens, Greece. Three decades after it was finished by Yannis Pappas, one of the greatest Greek sculptors of the 20th century.

• In the bronze statue, Alexander bears no arms and is depicted at a very young age.
• In the past, statues of the Alexander have been erected in other parts of Greece, but not in Athens.
• The long delay is mainly due to bureaucratic reasons and Greek authorities delayed installing so as not to raise tensions during efforts to resolve a row with neighboring Macedonia over its name.
• The figure, the history and the legacy of Alexander were found in recent years at the center of the dispute between the two countries over the use of the name Macedonia.
• The Republic of Macedonia was renamed as Republic of North Macedonia in January 2019 and since the two sides have stepped up efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many sectors.

About Alexander

• Alexander the Great, also known as Alexander III or Alexander of Macedonia was born in 356 BCE in Pella, Macedonia. He died on June 13, 323 BCE in Babylon.
• He was the king of Macedonia (336–323 BCE), who overthrew the Persian empire.
• He spent most of his ruling years on an unprecedented military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa, and by the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to northwestern India.

Alexander Invasion of India

• In 326 BC, Alexander invaded India, after crossing the river Indus he advanced towards Taxila.
• He then challenged king Porus, ruler of the kingdom between the rivers Jhelum and Chenab.
• The Indians were defeated in the fierce battle (Battle of Hydaspes).
• Alexander captured Porus and, like the other local rulers he had defeated, allowed him to continue to govern his territory.
• Alexander remained in India for 19 months (326-325 B.C.), which were full of fighting in July 325 BC Alexander and his army returned westward for home.