Bucephalus and Alexander the Great

Cyber School day 6

Bucephalus was Alexander the Great's horse and is considered to be the most famous horse in history. He was initially given to King Philip II, Alexander's father, in Macedonia. he was presented to him in 346 BC by Philoneicus of Thessaly. Bucephalus was also very expensive, three times the normal price. He was a tall, black horse and he was wild and could not be tamed by anyone. King Philip ordered them to take Bucephalus away because he was untamed. Alexander was watching in the stands with his mother and stood up and said, “What an excellent horse do they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him.” His father ignored him, but Alexander kept fighting for them to keep Bucephalus. Alexander approached the horse and calmed it down. He took the reins and got on Bucephalus. The horse didn't rear or try to buck him off. When Alexander did this it was a turning point in his life and he gained support from a lot of people. He was the only one who could ride Bucephalus. He rode him into every battle from the conquest of the Greek city-states and Thebes through Gaugamela and into India. After defeating Darius, Bucephalus was kidnapped, and Alexander threatened to kill everyone and destroy the land, and his horse was returned shortly after. Bucephalus died of old age in 326 BC.