Alexander the Great c. 332–323 BC
The Macedonian king conquered Egypt from Persia in 332 BC, was greeted as pharaoh, founded Alexandria and visited the oracle of Amun in the Siwa oasis.
Birth name: Alexandros
ꜣlksindrs
Sign by sign
- Egyptian vulture G1ꜣ The sound ꜣ; often read as 'a' in names.
- Recumbent lion E23rw The sounds rw; spells L in names like Cleopatra and Ptolemy.
- Basket with handle V31k The sound k; also means 'you, your'.
- Door bolt O34z The sound z (later s).
- Flowering reed M17i The sound i.
- Ripple of water N35n The sound n; also means 'of, to'.
- Hand D46d The sound d.
- Mouth D21r The sound r; also means 'mouth'.
- Door bolt O34z The sound z (later s).
Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).