Alexander Death

Alexander death happens either on 10 or 11 June 323 BC, Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II, in Babylon, at age 32.

In beginning of June 323 BC,  Alexander entertained admiral Nearchus, and spent the night and next day drinking with Medius of Larissa.

Alexander was struck with pain after downing a large bowl of unmixed wine in honour of Heracles, followed by 11 days of weakness; he did not develop a fever and died after some agony.

Assassination??

There is assassination theory behind Alexander Death. Given the propensity of the Macedonian aristocracy to assassination, foul play featured in multiple accounts of his death.

The strongest argument against the poison theory is the fact that twelve days passed between the start of his illness and his death; such long-acting poisons were probably not available.

Natural Cause??

The most probable cause of Alexander death was natural cause. Several natural causes (diseases) have been suggested, including malaria and typhoid fever.

Natural-cause theories also tend to emphasize that Alexander’s health may have been in general decline after years of heavy drinking and severe wounds.

The anguish that Alexander felt after Hephaestion’s death may also have contributed to his declining health.

Prophecy of Calanus

Calanus was likely to be a Hindu Naga sadhu, whom Greeks called gymnosophists. Later he had accompanied the Greek army back from Punjab, upon request by Alexander.

He was seventy-three years of age at that time. However, when Persian weather and travel fatigue weakened him, he informed Alexander that he would rather die than live disabled. Soon he decided to take away his life by self-immolation.

He did not flinch as he burnt to the astonishment of those who watched. Before immolating himself alive on the pyre, his last words to Alexander were “We shall meet in Babylon”. Thus he prophesied the death of Alexander in Babylon.

At the time of the death of Calanus, Alexander, however, did not have any plan to go to Babylon. No one understood the meaning of his words “We shall meet in Babylon”.

It was only after Alexander fell sick and died in Babylon, that the Greeks came to realize what Calanus intended to convey.