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The Dream of Flying |
Page 3 |
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| Alexander the Great (c. 300 BC) | ||||
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Alexander the Great, who during his short life
conquered most of the world known to the ancient Greeks
did, according to the legend, a voyage up in the skies.
This
medieval woodcut gives an impression of the approach. Alexander sat in a
cage to which griffins were fettered. At the top of the cage pieces of
meat were fixed on poles. As the griffins got hungry they tried in vain to
reach the meat by flying upward. Alexander rose higher and higher until he
saw a glimpse of heaven. |
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Left: Coin (silver tetradrachm) issued by Erythrai ca. 200–180 BC, obverse: Alexander the Great as Herakles wearing the lion skin. © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons | |||
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| © Lars Henriksson |
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Updated 2009-05-13 |
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