Alexander rides Bucephalus for the first time in Macedonia

"The Warhorse:
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms.
He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.

The Book of Job

Alexander the Great was the king of Macedon from 336 until his death in 323 B.C.E. He inherited the kingdom from his father, Philip II of Macedon, and his successful military campaigns expanded the Greek world all the way to northwestern India. Alexander's death led to the creation of a number of new kingdoms, including not just the Hellenistic Greek kingdoms of the Mediterranean, but also the Mauryan Empire in India (321-185 B.C.E.) headed by Chandragupta Maurya.

Bucephalus was Alexander's horse and one of the most famous horses in world history. He was described as being black with a large white star on his forehead. The horse's name is a combination of the Greek words ""bous,"" meaning ox and ""kephalos,"" meaning head, perhaps a nod to the horse's intractable nature. According to the 2nd century C.E. author Plutarch in his Life of Alexander (6.1-5), Bucephalus was given as a gift to Alexander's father, Philip II. The horse proved to be too vicious and unmanageable and would not allow anyone to mount him. Alexander, just a boy at the time, undertook the challenge to tame the horse, much to the amusement of the older men around him. Alexander, however, had noticed that the horse was afraid of its shadow and gently turned its head toward the sun and was able to mount him and attach the bridle. Philip II was so impressed and declared that Alexander would secure for himself a large kingdom, as Macedonia was too small for him.

Philonicus the Thessalian brought the horse Bucephalus to Philip, offering to sell him for thirteen talents. But when they went into the field to try him, they found him so very vicious and unmanageable, that he reared up when they endeavored to mount him, and would not so much as endure the voice of any of Philip's attendants.

[6.2] Upon which, as they were leading him away as wholly useless and untractable, Alexander, who stood by, said, ""What an excellent horse do they lose for lack of address and boldness to manage him!""

[6.3] Philip at first took no notice of what he said; but when he heard him repeat the same thing several times, and saw he was much vexed to see the horse sent away, ""Do you reproach,"" said he to him, ""those who are older than yourself, as if you knew more, and were better able to manage him than they?""

[6.4] ""I could manage this horse,"" replied he, ""better than others do.""

""And if you do not,"" said Philip, ""what will you forfeit for your rashness?""

""I will pay,"" answered Alexander, ""the whole price of the horse."""