The Tale of Alexander of Macedon
by Alexander Afanasyev
The Tale of Alexander of Macedon Once upon a time there lived a king on the earth whose name was Alexander of Macedon: this was in the old days very long ago. So long ago that neither our grandfathers, nor great-grandfathers, nor our great-great-grandfathers, nor our great-great-great-grandfathers recollect it. This Tsar was one of the greatest knights of all knights that ever were. No champion of earth could ever conquer him. He loved warfare, and all his army consisted entirely of knights. Whomsoever Tsar Alexander of Macedon might go to combat, he would conquer, and he numbered under his sway all the kings of the earth. He went to the edge of the world, and he discovered such peoples that he, however bold he was himself, felt afraid of them; ferocious folk, fiercer than wild beasts, who ate men; live folks who had but one eye; and that eye was on the forehead; folks who had three eyes, folks who had only a single leg; others who had three, and they ran as fast as an arrow darts from the bow. The names of these peoples were the Gogs and Magogs. Tsar Alexander of Macedon never lost courage at seeing these strange folk, but he set to and waged warfare on them. It may be long, it may be short, the war he waged—we do not know. Only the wild peoples became dispersed and ran away from him. He began to hunt and to chase after them, and he chased them into such thickets, precipices and mountains as no tale can tell and no pen can describe. So at last they were able to hide themselves from Tsar Alexander of Macedon. What then did Tsar Alexander of Macedon do with them? He rolled one mountain over them, and then another roof-wise on top; on the arch he put trumpets, and he went back to his own land. The winds blew into the trumpets, and a fearsome roar was then raised to the skies, and the Gogs and Magogs sitting there cried out, “Oh, evidently Alexander of Macedon must still be alive!” The Gogs and Magogs are still alive and to this day are afraid of Alexander. But, before the end of the world, they shall escape.
Characters
Alexander of Macedon ★ protagonist
Implied to be physically imposing and courageous, as a great knight and conqueror.
Attire: Armor befitting a 'great knight' and Tsar, likely including a crown or helmet, and a sword.
Courageous, warlike, conquering, relentless.
Gogs and Magogs ⚔ antagonist
Ferocious, fiercer than wild beasts, man-eating. Some have one eye on the forehead, some three eyes, some a single leg, others three legs.
Attire: Likely primitive or non-existent, reflecting their 'wild peoples' description.
Ferocious, wild, fearful (of Alexander).
Locations
The Edge of the World
A remote and dangerous frontier where Alexander encounters ferocious, man-eating people, one-eyed and three-eyed folk, and single-legged and three-legged people. It is a place of the unknown and the monstrous.
Mood: eerie, dangerous, awe-inspiring, alien
Alexander's encounter with the Gogs and Magogs, and his initial fear and subsequent decision to wage war.
Thickets, Precipices, and Mountains
An impassable and indescribable landscape of dense vegetation, sheer drops, and towering peaks where the Gogs and Magogs attempt to hide from Alexander.
Mood: desperate, wild, formidable, claustrophobic
Alexander's pursuit of the Gogs and Magogs to their hiding place.
The Mountain Prison of Gogs and Magogs
Two mountains rolled one over the other like a roof, forming an arch. Trumpets are placed on the arch.
Mood: imprisoning, echoing, ancient, foreboding
Alexander traps the Gogs and Magogs, and the trumpets create a fearsome roar that reminds them of his power.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Alexander of Macedon, an ancient and unconquerable king, journeys to the edge of the world where he encounters the terrifying, monstrous Gogs and Magogs. Despite his fear, he wages war, defeats them, and pursues them into an impassable mountain range. He then traps them by rolling mountains over them and places trumpets on the arch. The wind blowing through the trumpets creates a roar, making the Gogs and Magogs believe Alexander is still alive and keeping them in perpetual fear until their prophesied escape before the end of the world.
Themes
Emotional Arc
awe to wonder
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale reflects the widespread medieval legends surrounding Alexander the Great, often depicting him as a world conqueror who encountered and contained monstrous races at the ends of the earth, a narrative distinct from historical accounts but deeply embedded in folklore.
Plot Beats (13)
- Introduction of Alexander of Macedon as an ancient, unconquerable king and warrior.
- Alexander's vast conquests, ruling over all kings of the earth.
- Alexander journeys to the edge of the world.
- He encounters terrifying, non-human peoples: the Gogs and Magogs, with strange physical features and cannibalistic tendencies.
- Despite his own fear, Alexander decides to wage war against them.
- Alexander defeats and disperses the Gogs and Magogs.
- He relentlessly pursues them into an inaccessible region of thickets, precipices, and mountains.
- Alexander traps the Gogs and Magogs by rolling two mountains over them, forming a roof-like arch.
- He places trumpets on the arch, then returns to his own land.
- Winds blow through the trumpets, creating a fearsome roar.
- The trapped Gogs and Magogs hear the roar and cry out, believing Alexander is still alive.
- The Gogs and Magogs remain trapped and fearful of Alexander to this day.
- The legend concludes by stating they will escape before the end of the world.
