Bucephalus, known as Βουκέφαλας (Bouképhalas) in Ancient Greek, was the horse of Alexander the Great, an equine that only yielded to Alexander’s grasp. It faithfully accompanied Alexander throughout his campaigns in Asia, actively engaging in pivotal conflicts.
Tragically, its life concluded shortly after the significant Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC, succumbing either to wounds sustained or the effects of time. In a tribute befitting its loyalty, Alexander established a city named Boukephala (alternatively known as Alexandria Boukephalos) in the Pakistani province of Punjab, positioned along the banks of the Jhelum River. This city served as the final resting place for the remarkable steed.
Origin of the Name Bucephalus
Bucephalus is considered a representative of a now extinct genus of horses called Nisean or Nisaean. Nisean horses were famous for their endurance, strength and maneuverability. These characteristics made them an ideal breed of horse, especially for cavalry units.
The name Bucephalus comes from βοῦς / boûs, “ox,” and κεφαλή / kephalê, “head.” Various explanations have been proposed:
- It might be the name of a Thessalian horse breed that was well-known in antiquity and distinguished by a mark resembling an ox head on its shoulder or hip.
- Bucephalus might have had a white mark on its head in the shape of an ox head.
- The name could allude to the fierce appearance of the horse.
- The horse could have had one or two horn-like protuberances on its head.
- The horse’s head might have resembled that of an ox.
Taming of Bucephalus
According to Greek tradition, Bucephalus is said to be descended from one of the Mares of Diomedes. A Thessalian merchant named Philonicus, from Pharsalus, shows the horse to Philip II of Macedon, but the horse proves so unruly that the king refuses to buy it. Just as he orders the horse to be taken away, Alexander, son of Philip, expresses his regret, and his father agrees to the purchase, on the condition that it is Alexander who tames the beast; otherwise, he would have to pay for the purchase himself, a sum amounting to a considerable 13 or even 16 talents.
Alexander notices that the horse is afraid of its own shadow (skittish), and he manages to tame it by facing it towards the sun until it calms down and becomes more docile. Plutarch gives this anecdote prophetic significance. Seeing his son’s success, Philip is said to have declared, “O my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee.” Greek historians often over-glorified their leaders with similar insertions.
Bucephalus died during one of Alexander’s campaigns in India, which deeply saddened Alexander. In memory of his beloved horse, Alexander founded a city called Bucephala at the location where his horse died, which is modern-day Jhelum in Pakistan.
Carolyn Willekes, a scholar in Greek and Roman literature, notes in his book that Bucephalus’ aggressiveness, according to the sources, stemmed from fear; the horse could not escape the source of this fear and it became the catalyst for Alexander to identify the source of it and remove the horse from it. When the horse was no longer exposed to what caused its anxiety, its aggressiveness disappeared, and it finally became possible to ride the animal.
Alexander and Bucephalus
From then on, Alexander and Bucephalus became a team, with the horse allowing only Alexander to mount it, bending its knee for him. As the king of Macedonia, Alexander rode his horse in all battles, leading the Macedonian cavalry from Greece to India. He even rescued his horse once, as seen before the Battle of Gaugamela, where he inspected the troops while mounted on another steed. Near Hyrcania, Bucephalus was captured along with his escort, but Alexander managed to retrieve him after threatening to kill all the enemies his army encounters in the region.
The Battle of Issus was a decisive battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire led by King Darius III. The brave Bucephalus carried Alexander into the heart of the battle and contributed to the Macedonian victory.
Claudius Aelianus narrated an anecdote about Alexander’s official painter, Apelles. After completing an equestrian portrait in Ephesus that Alexander was not pleased with, Bucephalus saw the painting and started to neigh, prompting the painter to say, “O king, your horse seems to know much more about painting than you.”
According to Plutarch, Bucephalus died from his wounds shortly after the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC. Other authors suggest that Alexander’s horse died of old age at the age of 30.
Alexander founded the city of Boukephala (or Alexandria Boukephalos) on his tomb on the banks of the Jhelum River. Several hypotheses about its exact location are considered such as Phalia or Jalalpur Jattan in Pakistani Punjab. On some coins minted by Alexander’s successors, Bucephalus is depicted with horns, a symbol of divinity in the ancient East.
Legacy
Bucephalus was a popular subject in ancient art and literature. He appeared in various sculptures, coins, and paintings, often alongside Alexander the Great. His story has been immortalized in historical accounts and works of fiction.
- In Mankiala, near Taxila in Pakistan, the inhabitants still call their horses Bucephalus to this day, believing that he was buried under a stupa (mound).
- It is also the name given to one of the horses in the group adorning the fountain on Quirinal Square in Rome.
- It is also the name of the legendary horse of Baron Munchausen. It appears notably in Terry Gilliam’s film “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen,” released in 1988.
- In Franz Kafka’s short story “The New Advocate,” the first story in his collection “A Country Doctor,” published in 1919, Kafka imagines Bucephalus becoming a lawyer.
- Salvador Dalí created a lithograph featuring this horse as the subject.
