Alexander the Great 4
"Growin' Up": Raising Alexander
by CTCWeb Editors
"Never Once Gave Thought to Landing" - Bruce Springsteen
When Alexander was 13, he began studies at the School of Royal Pages. About 50 boys of approximately the same age entered the school each year. They formed the next group of young men who would learn to serve the king as bodyguards and hunters, and otherwise serve Macedonia in various other roles. It was here that the philosopher Aristotle entered Alexander’s life. Aristotle was hired as a tutor for the School of Royal Pages. Together, Aristotle and the young Macedonians studied politics, ethics, philosophy, marine biology, and geography, among other subjects.
Aristotle
Later, Aristotle would be Alexander’s political and military advisor. However, the prince and the philosopher eventually parted company due to different stances with regard to foreigners. Specifically, Alexander wanted to unite diverse groups of people while Aristotle saw foreigners simply as barbarians.
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Kids Say the Darnedest Things
A famous legend portrays Alexander as a born politician and diplomat. It claims that when the boy was seven, Persian ambassadors came to Philip’s court. Instead of asking questions typical of boy of his age, Alexander inquired about the Persian Empire, their military, and their Great King. According to the legend, the child’s mature deportment and intelligence impressed the Persians.
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Alexander did not neglect his physical training in lieu of academics. He trained just like any of his classmates, although he did not participate in many athletic competitions. Boasting that he would only compete against kings, Alexander did not enter into normal tests of athletic skill. He had an aptitude for horsemanship and would demonstrate this in full view of his father’s court when he was a bit older. Later, as a military commander, Alexander drove himself relentlessly, ensuring that he excelled in horsemanship and battle maneuvers.
