Haley Garfield

Professor Kimberly Lark

HIST 134
25 July 2016
Cultural and Military History: Alexanders Horse: Bucephalus
Alexander the Great was known for many things: his powerful reign, his outstandingly
quick expansion of the kingdom, and the legacy his father left. However, Alexander was also
known for his horse, Bucephalus. Bucephalus claimed the title of the most well-known horse in
Greek history (Carroll 2015).
Bucephalus was originally brought to king Philip II, Alexanders father, for a price that
was three times higher than the average cost of a steed, 13 talents (Wasson 2011). This horse was
beautiful but untamable, wild, and had remained unable to be managed. However, when the
horse was brought before Alexander and his father, Alexander noticed something that others
hadnt, the horse was afraid of its shadow (Felando). While being questioned and doubted by his
father, the trainers, and the others surrounding him, Alexander approached the horse by first
turning him into the sunlight so he could not see his shadow. From here Alexander gently
warmed the horse up to him before mounting the horse.
Many historians have agreed that Alexanders ability to tame the horse was the beginning
of his conquest of Asia (Wasson 2011). Alexander not only won over the trust of Bucephalus but
also his loyalty as he only allowed Alexander to ride him. The duo rode together into every
battle, conquering the Greek city-states and Thebes through Gaugamela and into India (Wasson

2011). Eventually Bucephalus was abducted while Alexander was away at one point, leading
Alexander to vow to scour every city, and even threatened the destruction of an entire country
unless he was returned (which he was) (Steinmetz 2011). Eventually their time together came to
an end.
Although historians disagree as to how Alexanders great horse died, many agree that the
most likely cause of his death was old age, around the time of the Battle of Hydaspes River, 326
BCE (Felando). Regardless of the cause of great Bucephalus death, Alexander founded a city
in his beloved horses memory and named it Bucephala, forever living on as the most wellknown horse in ancient history (Wasson 2011).

Works Cited
Carroll, Anna. Horses in History: Bucephalus and Alexander the Great. Horse Collaborative , 6
Feb. 2015. Web. 25 July 2016. <http://www.horsecollaborative.com/horses-historybucephalus-alexander-great/>.
Felando, Andrew. The Legend of Bucephalus. pothos.org. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.pothos.org/content/index.php?page=bucephalus>.
Steinmetz, Katy. Bucephalus the Horse. Time Magazine, Mar. 2011. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2059858_2059863_2060
461,00.html>.
Wasson, Donald L. Bucephalus. Ancient History Encyclopedia , 6 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.ancient.eu/Bucephalus/>.