Description
The above price is for the larger then original reproduction in bronze of the famous Alexander on Bucephalus sculpture from the museum original now in the National Archeological Museum in Naples, Italy . The original was found in the ruins of the ancient Roman city Pompeii which was buried under the ashes of the Vesuvius’ volcanic eruption in the 1st century AD. This is truly an extraordinary statue as it depicts both the most famous man and the most famous horse in a single composition. Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia (336-323 BC) is the most successful military commander in world history, conquering most of the known ancient world before his death and creating a Macedonian empire stretching from Europe and North Africa, to India. Bucephalus (meaning “ox-head”) was Alexander the Great’s horse and arguably the most famous horse in history. According to a legend narrated by several ancient writers including Plutarch, Bucephalus was a unruly stallion horse, unable to be ridden and devouring the flesh of all who tried. The horse was presented to Philip of Macedon (Alexander’s father) to purchase for 13 talents, but since no one could tame the animal, Philip was not interested. Alexander, however, publicly defied his father and claimed that he could handle the horse. Alexander’s reaction was viewed by his father to be immature, in addition to being disrespectful to all the people that failed to tame down Bucephalus. For that reason, Philip proposed, and Alexander agreed instantly, that if Alexander could ride the the “wild” horse, Philip would buy it; on the other hand, if not Alexander failed at taming down Bucephalus, he would have to pay the price of the horse. Alexander apparently noticed that the horse had been shying away from its own shadow, and so he led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it, all the while stroking it gently and whispering into its ear. Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and the 12 year-old boy was able to show his equestrian skill to his father and all who were watching: “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’ “, writes Plutarch (Alexander 6.8.). Alexander went on to name his horse Bucephalus, which means Oxhead, as the horse had a rather sizable head. Alexander rode Bucephalus in all of his major battles and was victorious in every single one of them. The king’s stallion died of battle wounds in June of 326 B.C., in Alexander’s last great battle on the left bank of the Hydaspes in India. The young conqueror founded two cities there, Alexandria Nicaea (to celebrate his victory) and Bucephala (modern Jhelum), named after Bucephalus. For his beloved horse, he held a generous funeral, which he himself led. Three years later in 323 B.C., Alexander died in Babylon. He was just one month shy of attaining 33 years of age. For more on the story see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucephalus
