THE JOURNEY ITSELF
1
True or False: When Alexander overcomes Porus and his troop early on in the letter, he claimes to have captured 40 elephants.
FALSE!
Supposedly, he not only captured 400 elephants, but insists that they were also adorned with "armed archers" standing on great "towers and platforms".
1
Name one (or more!) of the people in Alexander's life he claims to hold Aristotle in the same regard of at the beginning of the letter.
ANSWER(S)
His mother and/or his sisters.
(Remember though, we can't be sure that this was actually written by Alexander himself, so that level of closeness may be inaccurate).
1
Why does "Alexander" encounter so many beasts on his journey? (there can be more than one possible answer!)
SOME POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
To symbolize the challenges, dangers, and wonders of his journey
To make his story seem more legendary!
1
How many kings does Alexander mention by name in this letter? (Excluding himself)
ANSWER: 2
Porus of India and Darius of Persia!
2
What part of India that Alexander journeys to does he claim has "the most fruitful soil in the country"?
A. Fasiacen B. Caspia
C. Gande D. Patriacen
B. CASPIA
It also, according to this account, had a dangerous array of "savage wild beasts", such as deadly serpents and hippopotami. These creatures supposedly dwelled in every sort of terrain, ranging from the hills and valleys to the woods and even in "open country".
2
What nation does Alexander claim he just came off the heels of conquering before his expedition to India?
ANSWER: Persia
(And the kingdom of Darius, in which he supposedly took complete control of and was subsequently "enriched with royal honours").
2
Alexander the Great describes a terrifying battle with what he calls “water monsters,” creatures “more terrible than elephants” that dragged his men underwater. What real animal was he describing?
ANSWER: HIPPOPOTAMI
Encountered early on by Alexander's forces at the river village.
2
Who does Alexander first encounter when he arrives at the holy grove to see the Sacred Trees of the Sun and Moon?
A. A local leader B. A bishop
C. One of the guides who betrayed him
B. A BISHOP
He was reported in this account to be "ten foot tall" and adorned head to toe in jewelry and the skins of wild animals. He says he will let him and his companions in only if they are "pure of the touch of women".
3
When Alexander encounters a magical tree of the Sun and Moon in the holy grove and gains divine knowledge from it, what does it tell him about his death?
ANSWER
He is told by the tree in Indian words that he will die in Babylon a year from then, in May, and the source will be one that he least expects to be "betrayed by". This as far as we know would end up being true as he died there in 323 BCE in his early thirties, rumoredly by typhoid fever or a related cause.
3
What were Alexander's main motivations during his expeditions around this time period? (think back to the slideshow!)
ANSWER: CONQUEST AND CURIOSITY
Obviously we know he was keen on empire-building and saw India as a sort of "final challenge", but due to Aristotle's life and study philosophy (peripatetic) being a large part of his own scholarly background, he went about his conquests with the frame of mind that the lands themselves had much to teach.
3
Why did Alexander describe the animals as “savage wild beasts”?
ANSWER:
In order for the narrative to emphasize his bravery and create a sense of wonder that captivates the reader.
3
Alexander and his army arrive upon a "great plain" about halfway through the text, and encounter a group of "shaggy" people, who were supposedly "nine feet tall and naked". What are these people called according to the text?
A. Indians B. Grove Dwellers
C. Ictifafonas D. Enisios
C. ICTIFAFONAS
According to the text, they were called this by the local Indians due to the name having connotations relating to living by the water. These people were reported by "Alexander" as snatching up whales from the nearby lakes and rivers, eating them and drinking these waters in order to survive.
What does Alexander and his army encounter when they arrive in the woods by the river Beswicmon?
(Bonus point: what does he do to deal with it/them?)
ANSWER
He claims that he and his army were surprised by "a great multitude of elephants" that came to attack the camp they set up (kinda ironic).
(Bonus: Alexander readies his cavalry and has some of them round up a herd of pigs to use in defense, supposedly thinking that elephants find them "loathsome")
What timeframe would Alexander have gone about his Indian expedition?
(Hint: it was near his death date).
ANSWER: 327-325 BCE
This was his ultimate expedition according to the primary source and the crowning jewel of sorts for his conquesting career and rule.
4
Name at least one of the animals "Alexander" describes as attacking him and his troops throughout the night after his encounters with the water monsters.
Get one bonus point for every additional animal your team names!
ANSWER(S):
Lions! Bears! Tigers! Leopards! Wolves!
Of course, he and his troops were able to constantly keep them at bay, such a powerful warrior as he is.
4
Alexander mentions relatively early on in the text that he and his troop suffered greatly as they ventured through the desert-like regions of India to track down Porus. Who does he attribute to saving him from tremendous thirst?
(Two bonus points here: 1 for getting his name and 1 for saying what he did in order to cure Alexander's thirst!)
ANSWER: One of his thegns
Bonus 1: His name was Seferus
Bonus 2: He found water in a "hollow stone", and supposedly used his helmet to capture it and bring it to Alexander, caring more for "his life and health than for his own". This caused Alexander to praise his deed and openly give him "precious gifts" in front of the other thegns.