Alexander the Great in the Quran called them the Caspian Gates. Twenty and two Kings did I shut up therein. These pseudepigraphic letters from Alexander to his mother Olympias and his tutor Aristotle, describing his marvellous adventures at the end of the World, date back to the original Greek recension α written in the 4th century in Alexandria. The letters are "the literary expression of a living popular tradition" that had been evolving for at least three centuries before the Quran was written. Several historical figures, both Muslim and Christian, searched for Alexander's Gate and several different identifications were made with actual walls. During the Middle
Clearchus (consul 384) Clearchus (consul 384) Flavius Clearchus was a Roman politician who was consul of the Roman Empire in 384 AD. Born into a moderately successful family in the region of Thesprotia, as a boy Clearchus was taught by the philosopher and sophist Nicoles. Moving to Constantinople, in 356 or perhaps 357 he visited Antioch, and throughout this period (until 363) he was an associate of Themistius. From 359 Clearchus was holding a number of unknown posts in Constantinople, and was promoted in 360 to a higher position during this time. It is possible that he was appointed to the post of