Once you’ll reach the Macedonia Square of Скопје you will be astonished: in its center there is a big column reminding one of the Trajans column at Roma, surrounded by lions and large statues of soldiers. And on top is a giant statue of Alexander the Great on his horse Bucephalus. One of the largest monuments I’ve ever seen in a city center and one the creates a conflict with the neighbor Greece as both countries fight about whom the heritage of this leader belongs to.
Alexander the Great was born as the son of Philip II of Macedon in 356 BC at Πέλλα. He became king of Macedonia at the age of 20 and extended the kingdom of his father massively: to the East over to India as well to the South into Egypt. That is also why still today we find a city named after him there, Alexandria. But he also founded a city named after his horse: Alexandria Bucephalous, todays Jhelum at Pakistan. Alexander died at Babylon in 323 BC and was buried in Alexandria; his grave has been destroyed later and the exact location is unknown. His empire broke apart as his family couldn’t provide another leader, but he had shaped the world. The newly founded state North Macedonia sees itself in the tradition of the ancient Macedonia and therefore honors Alexander and Philipp II at its capital city.
Споменик Александар III Македонски
Плоштад ‘Македонија’
Скопје / Skopje
North Macedonia
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