A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

ALEXANDER,

surnamed the GREAT, was of a middling stature, and rather small than great, as his Medal represents him on the Reverse, and as Historians speak of him, which has given occasion for this Verse,

Magnus Alexander corpore parvus erat.

He had a very lofty Countenance, and his Eyes placed very high in his Head, well-shap'd, and generally looking upward. He was the Son of Philip, King of Macedon, and Olympias; he succeeded his Father in his Kingdom, which he found full of Tumults, and wavering after his Death; but he soon settled it by the Pu∣nishment of his Murtherers, and made Greece tremble by the Destruction of Thebes. He ad∣vanc'd his Arms farther than any King before him, and passing the Hellespont, defeated the Captains of Darius in a pitch'd Battel, and

conquer'd all the Provinces as far as Cilicia, and vanquisht Darius, King of Persia. Lastly, not to mention Tyre or Arbella, he subdu'd Asia, as far as the Indies, and then the Indies themselves, making the Ocean the Bounds of his Empire. He dyed at Babylon of Poyson, or a Feaver, be∣ing 32 years of Age, having reign'd Twelve Years. He was liberal and magnificent, and lov'd Glory and Learning. He is accus'd of Cruelty to his Friends who had not Complai∣sance enough to flatter him, and believe him the Son of Jupiter. He kill'd Clitus because he would not approve that he should use the Customs of those he had conquer'd, nor that he should be ador'd as a God: Yet 'tis said, that Aristobulus, one of his Captains, reading to him, as he was sailing upon Hydaspes, a Relation he had written of his Battel with Porus, in which he flatter'd him very much; Alexander threw the Book into the Water, and told him, that he ought to do so, because he was so base-spirited to attribute false Actions to Alexander, as if he had done no real ones. In like manner he re∣primanded an Architect, who would have cut Mount Athos after his likeness, and make him to hold a City in one Hand, and pour a River out with the other. He would not meddle with Darius's Wife, and took care of his Mo∣ther and Children.