★★★★
This
didn't have the focus on ancient beliefs that I was anticipating, but
it addresses runaway religion in a roundabout way. Alexander the Great's
loyal horse, Bullheaded Black, dies in the war against India, and from a
winged vantage point up in heaven narrates his version of Alexander's
dreams and victories. We hear straight from the horse's mouth what
Alexander was thinking and what was behind his great drive for conquest.
Alexander's
personal tutor, Aristotle, teaches him an appreciation for natural
sciences and inquisitive learning. Alexander loves the writings of Homer
and its wonderful stories of heroes and gods, but Aristotle cautions
against unwarranted belief. "The written word is valuable and it is
ancient and it is powerful, but that doesn't make a book completely
true. Let no book and no person ever close your mind to reality, not
even the epics, not even Homer."
Yet
Alexander was born a warrior. Horses are not real big on war, but B.B.
reigns in his criticism, instead focusing on the positive side of world
domination. Alexander becomes a proponent of religious tolerance, much
to the frustration of his comrades. Much of the story centers around his
personal quest to understand his anointed place among men and gods ...
and which gods. Is he really the son of Zeus? In Egypt, he seeks out the
oracle of Siwah, and though he's closed-mouthed about what he learned
there, he returns from this personal pilgrimage even more confident of
his destiny. It turns out he is not only the son of Zeus, but of Amon
and of Ra. Says Alexander within earshot of his horse, "It seems the
principal gods are one.God is one. It matters not the name."
A cute story-book read, and I enjoyed it.
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