After his death, his body became one of the most sacred objects in history. Pilgrims, from the common man to the most powerful emperors, visited and knelt before the remains of their god-King. And then in the space of a generation, all trace of his tomb simply disappeared. What happened to Alexander’s body? Was it destroyed by a tsunami? Did Christians intent on stamping out all trace of other religions destroy it? Or, as one historian believes, does it still exist, renamed and venerated as a saint in one of the most glorious Christian basilicas in the world? With no archaeological evidence indicating the location of the lost tomb we are forced to examine ancient eyewitness accounts of people who visited the tomb and place it in Alexandria.
Andrew Chugg - Writer and historian with a lifelong interest in the subject of Alexander the Great
Pursuing a life-long interest in the subject of Alexander the Great, Andrew has been actively publishing on the subject for the past 8 years. He is the author of three previous books on Alexander: The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great (2004); Alexander’s Lovers (2006); The Quest for the Tomb of Alexander the Great (2007). Andrew has appeared on the BBC Radio 4 Today program and a National Geographic documentary associated with the first book in 2004. More recently, Andrew presented his theory of the location of Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria in the Atlantic Productions documentary on “Alexander’s Lost Tomb” (shown on National Geographic’s channel in the USA in November 2008 and on Channel 5 in the UK in January 2009). Andrew has also had academic articles on Alexander and his tomb published in the classics journal Greece & Rome, the American Journal of Ancient History and the Ancient History Bulletin and he has also written pieces on the theme for numerous magazines.
Andrew’s most recent book, ‘The Quest for the tomb of Alexander The Great ‘ provides one possible theory to the tomb’s location which we shall be investigating and exploring within the programme, and top Cambridge scholar Paul Cartledge, has said there is “certainly a chance that it is true.” Andrew also has a vast collection of antique maps and engravings, with strong relevance to our programme, and he will be using these to illustrate evidence and provide vital information for our story. Andrew read Natural Sciences at Trinity College in the University of Cambridge in the UK, graduating with honours in 1985.
Dr Michael Scott - Research Fellow in Ancient History at Darwin College
Michael Scott is a highly respected Cambridge academic, who’s research focuses on the ancient history and archaeology of the Greek and Roman worlds. Scott is the Mary and Moses Finley Research Fellow in Ancient History at Darwin College.
He studied classics at Christ's College, Cambridge where he gained a 1st class degree and masters while studying in Italy, France, Germany, Greece and the UK. He took his love of the ancient history and archaeology to the next level embarking on a PhD at Cambridge.
He has vast broadcast experience, featuring as a on-screen historian on numerous documentaries such as 'Ancient Discoveries,' ‘Egyptian Erotica,’ and ‘Ancients Behaving Badly.’
Dr. Nick Saunders - Archaeologist
Dr. Nick Saunders, archaeologist who specialises in conflict archaeology - the study of the sites of conflicts and battles
Jean-Yves Empereur - Director, Centre d’Etudes Alexandrines
Jean-Yves Empereur - Director, Centre d’Etudes Alexandrinesl
Ptolemy
Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals, who brought Alexander's remains to Egypt_small
Diocletian
The Roman emperor Diocletian, emperor at the time of Alexandria's Zenobian revolt (under the Queen Zenobia of Palmyra)
Zenobia
Zenobia, the warrior queen of Palmyra, in Syria, who lead a major revolt against Rome and conquered Alexandria_small
Alexander the Great changed the nature of the ancient world in less than a decade and is considered one of man kind’s greatest military leaders.
Alexander led his armies through continuous battles across the Persian territories of Asia, Syria and Egypt without suffering a single defeat. His greatest victory was at the Battle of Gaugamela, in what is now northern Iraq, in 331 BC. The young king of Macedonia, leader of the Greeks, overlord of Asia Minor and pharaoh of Egypt became 'great king' of Persia at the age of 25.
As king, commander, politician, scholar and explorer, Alexander led his armies a further 11,000 miles, founding over 70 cities and creating an empire that stretched across three continents and covered around two million square miles.
Alexander was tutored by the great Greek philosopher Aristotle.
During his youth, Alexander tamed the wild horse Bucephalus. Later, when his beloved horse died, Alexander renamed a city in India for Bucephalus.
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