On the victorious return after conquering many lands, in 323 BC, Alexander the Great fell ill. At that moment, he realized death was near, and he would not have time to return to his homeland. The territories he had conquered, his mighty army, the sharp swords, the wealth… all became meaningless. He called his generals and said: “I am about to leave this world. I have three wishes, and you must fulfill them.” The generals echoed their obedience through tears.
The Leader Who Never Tasted Defeat
Alexander the Great – a brilliant military leader. (Photo: Cleopatraegypttours)
Alexander the Great is considered one of the most exceptional military talents in ancient history. His unique leadership style set him apart. He possessed an innate warrior spirit.
Starting at the age of 18, he led large armies to conquer vast territories from Greece to Egypt and as far as Asia Minor and the distant Persian Empire.
In the 13 years of his leadership until his death at the age of 32, facing and battling various powerful military forces – Alexander the Great and his elite army never tasted defeat.
After each glorious victory, he named the conquered cities after himself, with a total of 70 cities named Alexandria. The most famous among them is Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile River, established in 321 BC. To this day, that location remains Egypt’s second-largest city.
Alexander was educated in politics, culture, and warfare by the best minds in his land, including the philosopher Aristotle. Surrounded by talented individuals, he grew up to be an outstanding warrior and ascended to the throne at the age of 20.
The Last Wishes of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great.
As he approached death, Alexander the Great summoned his court officials to convey his three final wishes. He declared:
- His coffin must be carried by the most skilled physicians of the time.
- All his treasures (gold, silver, jewels, etc.) should be scattered along the path leading to his tomb.
- His hands should be left hanging outside the coffin for everyone to see.
One of his courtiers, astonished by these peculiar requests, asked Alexander why he wanted such things.
Alexander explained as follows:
- I want the best physicians to carry my coffin so that everyone can see that when faced with death, even they (the most skilled) have no power to save.
- I want my treasures to be scattered on the ground to show that the wealth and possessions I have gathered in this world will forever remain in this world (once I close my eyes and depart).
- I want my hands to dangle in the air, to show that we come into this world with empty hands and leave this world with empty hands.
At the end of life, we will realize that the most valuable treasure in this life is: Love.
Conclusion
As we lie on our deathbeds, reflecting on our lives and what has passed, we discover that the things we obsess over and suffer from are not as significant.
We feel hurt by rejection, being fired, or failing in various situations. We feel heartbroken and defeated when we lose a relationship or waste time. We worry about how others perceive us, what they say about us, and all of this impacts our emotions.
We continuously search for meaning or purpose in our lives to become someone truly great, but in reality, the important things are not as grand; they are the small matters in your everyday life. You deserve to love, to be loved, and above all, to live a life that is authentically you.
The only thing you should fear is not death, but not living truthfully to yourself.
