The Cult of Alexander Outside of Macedonia

Alexander was an extremely influential leader during his time, and remained influential
after his passing. He had religious affiliations and his claim to a direct descent from a god
eventually gained him followers, which would spread out to many cities all over Asia Minor
(Erskine 435).
According to Fishwick, the Cult of Alexander was actually started because of Ptolemy,
who wanted a relationship with Alexander and also to put emphasis on the city Alexander created
that would serve as both the cult headquarters and capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom (14). The
already existing presence of religion would have made it easier for a cult to begin. This cult was
very present in the Ptolemaic kingdom and Fishwick also points out that Ptolemy I Soter brought
to life a worshipping of Alexander sometime after 311 B.C. (13). Taylor mentions Alexanders
will which explains that the king should find priesthood and that the anniversary of Alexanders
death continue[d] to be held sacred (162-163). The Romance discloses where the cult was
focused and which festivals it was celebrated at (Taylor 163). The cult was based in Alexandria
and festus dies Alexandri is the festival that honors Alexanders death. This festival in particular
celebrates the day when the new god entered the realm of heaven (Taylor 165). Festivals like
this one are important to the Cult of Alexander because they showcase the love and adoration the
people had for Alexander when he was alive and how those feelings were still present even after
he died. In a way, it is as though he was respected even more after he died because the people of
the cult saw his death as something sacred, as Taylor explained.
The information found in these sources proves that the Cult of Alexander was quite
complex and had details that were a challenge to trace, but it also shows that this cult was
definitely not contained to Macedonia.

Bibliography
Erskine, Andrew. A Companion to the Hellenistic World. Oxford: Blackwell Lt, 2003. Print.
Fishwick, Duncan. The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western
Provinces of the Roman Empire. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1987. Print.
Taylor, Lily Ross. "The Cult of Alexander at Alexandria." Classical Philology 22.2 (1927): 16269. Web.
Worthington, Ian. "Hyperides 5.32 and Alexander the Great's Statue." Hermes 129.1 (2001): 12931. Web.