Alexander the
Great
Macedonian
Dynasty
The Egyptians, oppressed under
the Persian rule, welcomed Alexander the Great with open
arms when he entered the country in 332 B.C. While there
he visited the Oracle of Amon, at Siwa, where he was declared
"the son of Amon." Exactly how this happened is
unclear. One story is that either upon entering or
exiting the temple he was greeted by the priest as
"my son." Alexander's army and followers were
not in a strategic position to see the priest and thought
the words came from the god himself. However it happened,
from that point on Alexander was instated as a son of
god, like the pharaohs of old. Alexander initiated the
building of Alexandria,
but never lived to see the city. He left Egypt in 331
B.C. and left Cleomenes of Naukratis in charge of the
territory. This position was later claimed by Ptolemy.
When Alexander died, Ptolemy's generals divided the
kingdom.
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