Buried Alive or Divine: The Enduring Mystery of Alexander the Great’s Death and Burial

In the annals of history, Alexander the Great remains a figure of enduring fascination for scholars and enthusiasts alike. By the time he was just 25 years old, he had created an empire that spanned the known world. One of the many mysteries surrounding his death is the theory that he may have been buried alive.

While it’s true that ancient understanding of death and medical knowledge was limited, practices like embalming and burial rites were varied and could have led to misunderstandings about life and death. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Alexander died on June 13th after collapsing during a party where he was challenged to drink a large amount of wine. Even when his soldiers were brought in to see him before his burial, Alexander was unable to speak but made eye contact with each of them.

Despite being declared dead, Alexander’s body did not decay as expected, leading some to believe he was a god. However, there are other explanations for his death, including natural causes like malaria or typhoid fever or even foul play like poisoning or assassination. The exact circumstances surrounding Alexander’s death and burial remain a subject of ongoing debate among historians.