Horns of Alexander facts for kids
The Horns of Alexander refer to a famous way of showing Alexander the Great, one of history's most successful military leaders, with two horns on his head. These weren't real horns, but a powerful symbol. They were originally linked to the Horns of Ammon, connected to the powerful Greco-Egyptian god Zeus Ammon.
Showing Alexander with horns was a way to say he was special, powerful, and even god-like. After he died, other rulers who took over parts of his empire put his horned image on coins and statues. This was to show that they were his rightful successors. You can find the image of a horned Alexander on ancient coins, sculptures, and in famous stories like the Alexander Romance. This unique look was almost always used just for him.
Contents
Why Was Alexander Shown with Horns?
The tradition of showing Alexander with horns started for a very specific reason, connected to a legendary journey he took.
A Visit to the Oracle
According to the story, in 331 BC, Alexander traveled to the Siwa Oasis in the Egyptian desert. This was the location of a famous temple for the god Zeus Ammon. This god was a mix of the Greek king of the gods, Zeus, and the Egyptian ram-headed god, Ammon.
At the temple, an Oracle (a person believed to speak for the gods) declared that Alexander was the son of Zeus Ammon. Because the god Ammon was often shown with ram's horns, this meant Alexander could also be shown with them. These horns became a symbol of his divine connection and his right to rule over different parts of the world, like Greece and Egypt.
Horns on Coins and in Art
While Alexander was alive, we don't have evidence that he was shown with horns. But after his death, the rulers who followed him started using the image.
- On Coins: Kings like Ptolemy I Soter in Egypt and Lysimachus in Thrace made coins with Alexander's face and ram's horns. This was a way to link their own power to his legendary status.
- In Sculptures: Artists also created statues of Alexander with horns. A life-sized marble head with ram's horns can be seen today at the National Museum of Denmark. The writer Clement of Alexandria wrote that Alexander himself wanted to be shown with horns to look more like a god.
- A Recent Discovery: In April 2024, a small bronze object showing a two-horned Alexander was found in Denmark. It dates back to around 200 AD, during the time of the Roman emperor Caracalla, who greatly admired Alexander and saw himself as a new version of the great conqueror.
The Legend of the Horned King Grows
For centuries after his death, the image of Alexander with horns continued to appear in art and stories across different cultures and religions.
The Horned King in Stories
A very popular collection of tales about Alexander's adventures is known as the Alexander Romance. In some versions of this story, an oracle calls Alexander "the horned king" after his death. These stories were translated into many languages and spread his horned image far and wide.
In another story, the Syriac Alexander Legend, Alexander is shown as a hero chosen by God. In this tale, his horns are a symbol of the power God gave him to defeat his enemies. The story includes a prayer where Alexander says:
"Oh God... you caused horns to grow on my head, so that I may gore with them the kingdoms of the world."
Later, God tells Alexander:
"I caused horns of iron to grow on your head, so that you may gore with them the kingdoms of the world."
Here, the horns are like a mighty weapon given to him for a special purpose.
Dhu al-Qarnayn in the Quran
The Quran, the holy book of Islam, tells the story of a great and righteous ruler named Dhu al-Qarnayn, which means "The Two-Horned One" in Arabic. He travels the world, helps people, and builds a mighty wall to protect the innocent from a destructive force.
For a long time, many scholars and storytellers in the Islamic world have identified Dhu al-Qarnayn as Alexander the Great. This connection made the idea of a "two-horned" Alexander very important in Arabic traditions.
Alexander's Horns Around the World
The story of Alexander and his horns became popular in many different places.
In the Medieval Islamic World
Because of the story in the Quran, Alexander was often called "Dhu al-Qarnayn" in the medieval Islamic world. His name, Iskandar, was often combined with this title, as in "al-Iskandar Dhūl-qarnayn."
Many stories were written about his adventures under this name. For example, the Qissat Dhulqarnayn ("Story of the Two-Horned One") was a popular legend that clearly identified this great ruler as Alexander.
In Ethiopia
The legend also traveled to Africa. The story of Alexander's horns is mentioned in the Ethiopic Alexander Romance, showing how far his famous story spread.
See also
- Gates of Alexander
- Hadith Dhulqarnayn
- Horns of Moses
