Death of Alexander - Sunday Times magazine

[Linda]

HiIn today's Sunday Times magazine (UK) there is an article on A's death, examining the case for and against poisoning. It has some photos (including the cover photo), quotes from various people, including Carney and Lane Fox. It is the companion piece to a TV programme, to be shone on Five on 22nd Oct at 8pm. An ex-Scotland Yard detective believes he has nearly solved the mystery. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but I think he is suggesting an accidental death by an overdose on white hellebore.About programme "(Alexander the Great's Mysterious Death) Documentary in which former Scotland Yard Commander John Grieve tries to shed some light on the mysterious death of Alexander the Great at the age of 32. One of the world's greatest military leaders, he was on the verge of conquering the known world in 323 BC before falling foul to a simple fever. But were there more sinister causes for his untimely death?"A video is available to buy 020 7371 3200 - -ú13.99.Linda

[rasoolpuri]

The posioning was due to injury of a posioned arrow .Which strucked lung of ELEXander in the battle with Maloi tribe near Multan [Now in Pakistan]

[yiannis]

Don't you think that three years is a bit too much for poison to act? The idea of poisoning one with a poisoned arrow is to disable him.
If he's going to be around, fighting you for another 3 years then there's not much benefit in using poison to begin with...

[Tre]

I've already seen the one they did on Caesar. Hellbore was a common and highly dangerous purge used during those times. I don't have my books at the office, but as I recall Alexander was well versed in the danger and dosage having written a note to Krateros' physician about same (it would not be unlikely in my view, that Alexander may have been treated with hellbore when he fell ill at Tarsus in which case, I suspect he learned a great deal about this noxious concoction). IMHO however, it unlikely as the cause of death and ditto than on poisoning whether intentional or not.Regards,Tre

[kate]

Hi,I read this article and thought it was interesting. At first the theory about Alexander accidentally poisoning himself with white hellebore sounds plausible, but it doesn't make sense when you take into account that Alexander knew its effects very well. Unless he took it when he was too drunk to realise he was taking an over-dose or someone deliberately tampered with the amount? So although the symptoms sound as if they fit I'm wary of accepting this theory as the definitative answer as to how he died. (I'll still watch the TV programme though!)Cheers,Kate