While fake “historians” block me because I expose them publicly, let me tell you another story. A story about The parents of the Great Alexander. The meeting of Philip and Olympias could not have been a coincidence. Philip was a Temenid, a member of the royal house of the Argeads.
He was born in Pella and was a descendant of Perdiccas I, the founder of the Macedonian state, and a descendant of the royal Temenid-Argead dynasty. He was also the great-grandson of Karanos, the patriarch of the Macedonians and a Temenid. This dynasty was a continuation of the Temenids of Argos from Peloponnese. All of them were known as Heracleidae—a term used in ancient texts to refer to the sons of Heracles and all his descendants, up until the death of Alexander IV, son of Alexander III (Alexander the Great), which marked the end of this divine bloodline.
[ By the way the name Alexander (Ἀλέξανδρος) comes from ancient Greek and is composed of two elements:
- ἀλέξω (alexō) – This verb means “to defend,” “to ward off,” or “to protect.” It reflects a sense of protection, particularly in the context of guarding against danger or enemies.
- ἀνήρ (anēr), genitive: ἀνδρός (andros) – This word means “man” or “warrior.” In ancient Greek, it often referred to a strong or courageous man.
The full name “Alexander” (Ἀλέξανδρος) can be interpreted as:
“Defender of Men” or “Protector of Warriors.”
Alternatively, it can mean “He who wards off or protects mankind.” ]
On the other hand, Alexander’s mother was originally named Polyxena. She was the second daughter of Neoptolemus II, king of the Molossians of Epirus, and was born in the Molossian capital, Passaron (modern-day Ioannina region). Her family belonged to the Aeacid Dynasty. The Aeacidae (Αἰακίδαι) were descendants of Aeacus. Her father, Neoptolemus II of Epirus, was the son of Alcetas I and was named after Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who was the founder of the dynasty.
Polyxena learned the priestly art at the Oracle of Dodona, where she spent many years as a priestess. As an initiate in the Mysteries of Bacchus, she was also a priestess of the Cabirian Mysteries of Samothrace.
According to tradition, Philip saw Polyxena at the religious festivals of Samothrace, where he had gone to be initiated. Personally, I believe that Polyxena knew from the very first moment when she saw him. It is known that from a young age, she had remarkable foresight, and her prophetic abilities were noteworthy.
They fell in love immediately, and Philip married her quickly. Premarital relations were forbidden, so Philip hastened the marriage. Within a year of their meeting in 357 BCE, Alexander was born in 356 BCE. Upon their marriage, Polyxena took the name Myrtale. In ancient Greece, people often had multiple names. Achievements, personal successes, and other characteristics were usually the reasons for acquiring new names throughout life.
In the same year that Alexander was born, 356 BCE, Philip won in the 106th Olympic Games in the event called Keles (Dionysian equestrian games). The Keles was a horseback race where the rider completed six laps around the hippodrome. Philip went on to become an Olympic victor three times in total. His other victories were in 352 BCE (107th Olympics) in the Tethrippon event and in 348 BCE (108th Olympics) in the Synoris event.
- In the Synoris, the chariot was drawn by two horses.
- The Tethrippon was a small wooden chariot with two wheels, driven by one rider and pulled by four horses, completing twelve laps.
Philip had been an excellent horseman from a young age, and his love for horses was the reason behind his name: Philippos (Φίλιππος), derived from “philos” (friend) + “hippos” (horse), meaning “friend of the horse” or “the one who loves the horses”.
Because he became an Olympic victor in the same year that his son Alexander was born (356 BCE), Myrtale took the name Olympias, as she was now the wife of an Olympian champion.
Until we meet again.
