Alexander The Great And The Prophecy Of The Tree Of The Sun And Moon

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - The outstanding military accomplishments of Alexander the Great are well-known to everyone interested in ancient history. Still, few had heard about what happened when he entered a deep, dark forest where he listened to a prophecy foretelling his death.

Credit: Public Domain

It is said that the legendary history of Alexander the Great describing his campaigns for the conquest of the world refers to these Trees of the Sun and of the Moon.

The Tree Of The Sun And Moon In The Garden of Bakavali

The exact location of these two magnificent trees is unknown, but they were believed to grow in the beautiful Garden of Bakavali.

As previously mentioned on Ancient Pages, the "description of the Garden of Bakavali can be found in Gul-e-Bakavali, one of the earliest Persian–Arabic and Hindustani stories collated by the British at the Fort William College in Calcutta at the turn of the nineteenth century." ¹

The Garden of Bakavali was famous for its unusual plants and trees. Just like Greek nymphs guarded Hesperides, the fabled garden with divine apples of immortality, the Garden of Bakavali was also complicated to access, but some managed to find this mysterious place. One of them was Prince Taj-al-Maluke who went there searching for Gul, a healing flower he needed to cure his father.

The Garden of Bakavali was a magical place where one could find the most beautiful plants. Credit: Public Domain

According to ancient sources, two magnificent trees were said to grow on some part of the frontiers of India to the east of Persia. They were called the Trees of the Sun and the Trees of the Moon.

Alexander The Great And The Prophecy Of The Tree Of The Sun

An ancient Persian legend tells that while marching toward India, Alexander the Great encountered two trees, and at this place, he was told a prophecy that was later fulfilled.

"Alexander came to a famous Plane tree which grew near Damghan, standing alone and solitary on a vast and arid tableland. This tree had a double trunk, one trunk being male and the other female. The former spoke during the day, and the latter during the night. Alexander, taking counsel with these mystic Plane trees, was warned in a boding voice that he would die while yet in his prime and that others would reap the fruits of his victories," Alexander Porteous wrote in The Forest in Folklore and Mythology. ²

Did the Trees of the Sun and of the Moon describe Alexander the Great's campaigns and conquests of new lands?

The Roman d'Alexandre en prose (Prose Alexander-Romance) is an interesting Medieval manuscript that relates many adventures of Alexander the Great. From the French Prose Romance of Alexander (A.D. 1180), one can learn about the Macedonian king's journeys and his encounters with strange, exotic people and animals. Some of the stories are fantastic and paint a very colorful image of Alexander the Great's life.

The romance is recorded in seventeen manuscripts and of which ten are extensively illustrated. ³ It's an astonishing ancient work that is appreciated among all students of mythology, folklore, and history.

From this Medieval text, we learn that "Alexander and his chief companions ascended a certain mountain by 2,500 steps, which were attached to a golden chain. At the summit, they found the golden temple of the Sun with an old man sleeping therein." ²

In the Romance of Alexander, it is written that "when the old man saw them he asked them if they wished to see the sacred trees of the Moon and Sun, which tell us of future events. When Alexander heard this he was filled with very great joy.

They answered the old man, 'Yes, to be sure, we wish to see them.'

He said to Alexander, If you are born of parents both royal, you may enter this place,' and Alexander replied, 'We are born of parents both royal.'

Then the old man rose up from the bed whereon he was lying and said to them, 'Take off your mantles and shoes.' And Tholomeus and Antigonus, and Perdiacas followed him. Then they began to go through the forest, which enshrouded many marvels. There they found trees like unto Laurels and Olives. And they were a hundred feet high, and there emanated from them much incense called ypobaume (opobalsamum).

Afterward, they entered deeper into the forest and found a very tall tree with neither leaf nor fruit. Perched on this tree was a large bird, having on its head a crest like a peacock's, and the feathers of its neck shining like pure gold. It was rose-colored.

Then the old man said to him, 'This bird, which astonishes you, is called Fenis. It has no peer in all the world."

The bird the man mentioned reminds us of the Phoenix, the legendary bird of immortality that rises from the ashes.

As the story goes, Alexander and his companion "passed on and went to the Trees of the Sun and of the Moon. When they reached them, the old man said,' Look up above, and think in your hearts what you wish to ask, and do not speak it aloud.

Did the Tree of the Sun foretell Alexander The Great's future? Credit: Public Domain

Alexander asked him in what language the trees replied to people. And he replied, 'The Tree of the Sun begins to speak Indian.'

Then Alexander kissed the trees and began to think in his heart whether he would conquer the whole world and return to Macedonia with all his army.

Then the Tree of the Sun replied,' Alexander, you will be king of the whole world, but Macedonia you will never see.'"

Alexander the Great is today considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all time.

"Alexander of Macedon conquered and expanded an Empire extending from Greece to faraway Indian Asia in a life cut short at the age of only 32. In the key battle of Chaeronea – a decisive encounter in Phillip's campaign to defeat the Greeks and add their lands to the Macedonian Empire – the 18-year-old Alexander was given the responsibility of commanding the left-wing in the line of battle. Even at this age, his military genius shone through and he was the first to break through the enemy's lines. He fought bravely and was seen as a great credit to his father." ⁴

Interestingly, what was prophesied by the Tree of the Sun also happened. Alexander the Great died in Babylon, and the great military leader never saw Macedonia again.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated on December 2, 2023

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