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p. 686. King of the world: Alexander and Persialocked

  • Hugh Bowden


‘King of the World: Alexander and Persia’ examines where the title ‘King of the World’ to describe Alexander came from and his image as a ‘King of the World’. It first appears in the narrative of Alexander's campaign in the story of the Gordian knot. Babylonians had no distinct concept of ‘Asia’, and ‘King of the World’ may have been a Babylonian way of rendering the term ‘King of Asia’. The issue that most concerned ancient writers, and many modern scholars, is the question of whether Alexander wanted his companions to prostrate themselves in his presence. Alexander historians seem to have believed that it was normal for Persians to do so, but in fact only defeated enemies were required to do this.


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