Alexander the Great Sarcophagus

Late 4th Century BCE

This sarcophagus was discovered in the late nineteenth century during excavations in Lebanon close to the Phoenician city of Sidon. It depicts Alexander and his soldiers in combat. The sarcophagus was probably made for Abdalonymus, the king of Sidon.
A marble relief sculpture shows three figures in battle: a mounted warrior attacks another figure who is falling from a horse, while a third figure takes a defensive pose. Two additional figures, apparently dead, lie on the ground.

Credits

Ronald Slabke “Alexander Sarcophagus Battle of Issus,” commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_Sarcophagus_Battle_of_Issus.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

Engage with this Source
Mosaic with three registers, arranged vertically. In the center register is a depiction of a person with a halo surrounded by the zodiac. In the top register is a Torah shrine flanked by two menorahs, surrounded by ritual objects. In the bottom register is a grid with Greek inscriptions, flanked by lions.
Tooltip info icon

Related Guide

Ancient Rabbinic Constructions of the Past

2nd–6th Centuries
Ancient mosaic depicting a warrior in ornate armor, holding a spear, riding a horse into battle. The warrior has wavy hair and a determined expression and is surrounded by other soldiers. The background is partially damaged.
Tooltip info icon

Related Guide

Rabbinic Constructions of the Past: Alexander the Great

3rd–6th Centuries

You may also like

Alexander’s Ascent into the Air

The sages say: The only [idolatrous image] that is forbidden is one which has a staff, or a bird, or a sphere in its hand. “A staff”: with which it suppresses the world; “a bird”: My hand has found…
View Source

Alexander in Daniel’s Vision

And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece; and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. . . . And a mighty king shall stand up. . . . And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall…
View Source
Front and back of an ancient silver coin. One side shows a profile of a man's head with curly hair, while the other side depicts a seated figure holding a bird, with Greek inscriptions beside the figure.
Tooltip info icon

Alexander the Great Coin

During Alexander’s reign, official coins bearing his name and image were struck throughout the empire. The front of this silver coin depicts Alexander as Herakles, and the back depicts a seated Zeus…
View Source