answersLogoWhite

0

The earliest surviving reference we have of Alexander being called, 'Alexander the great', is found in a Roman play titled, "Mostellaria (The Haunted House), a play written by Titus Maccius Plautus c. 254-184 BCE testifying to the admiration that the Romans had for his military achievements.

The line from the play, "Alexandrum magnum atque Agathoclem aiunt maximas" in English reads, "Alexander the great and most importantly, they say, Agathocles". The character, Tranio, a slave in Rome owned by Theopropides is comparing himself admiringly to Alexander and Agathocles.

We don't know if the playwright Titus Maccius Plautus coined the title but we can safely assume that his audience would recognize who 'Alexandrum magnum' was, an indication that the epithet predated Plautus' play and suggesting that the Romans began styling Alexander as 'the great' fairly soon after his death.

Quintus Curtius Rufus also mentions 'Alexander the Great', by the epithet 'Great' in his "Historie Alexandri Magni Macedonis" in the 1st century CE. The 'Magni' has been translated into English as, "Great" and is a clear reference to his talent as a military leader which allowed him to build such a huge empire.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Additional name or epithet given to recognize a feat as given to Alexander the great?

Agnomen


Where did Alexander the Great gt his name from?

Alexander the Great got his name because he became king because of the death of his father. Alexander carried on with his father's goal and became famous in Greece as a conquerer. I am in 7th grade and i'm learning about Greece.


What is the name of Alexander the Great child?

The name of Alexander the Great's child was Alexander IV of Macedon.


What was the name given to cities by Alexander the Great?

He modestly named half (over 30) Alexandria after himself.


What name is given to the period of Greek history between the Persian Wars and Alexander the Great?

The classical period


The leaders with the territory given him after Alexander the Great died?

the land was given to the monks


What is the name Alexander in Turkish?

ALEXANDER - İskender The Great Alexander - Büyük İskender


What is Alexander the Great know for?

he has a GREAT name, i love this name... WOW:-)


Why is ancient India not given credit for defeating Alexander the great?

Ancient India is not given the credit because they DID NOT actually defeat Alexander the great. Alexander's troops made him stop his seige on India because they were too tired to go on.


What ruler is the only ruler in English history to be given the title the great?

Alexander The Great


True name of Alexander the Great?

King Alexander III of Macedon.


What was the name of Alexander the greates horse?

Bucephalus (Ox-Head) was the name of Alexander the great's horse.