Did we find Alexander?

The discovery of Alexander the Great's tomb is a pursuit that captivates every archaeologist; it represents the ultimate aspiration in the field. From the aspiration of hearing the voice of Alexander the Great to employing some of the most advanced technology available, this story tells how a researcher ultimately located the tomb of Alexander the Great. Prior to his death, Alexander had expressed a unique desire to be referred to as the son of Zeus Ammon and wished not to be interred alongside his father, Philip. Alexander was noted as a raging alcoholic which made him suffer multiple injuries from battle that affected his overall health. Historical records from antiquity indicate that upon Alexander's unexpected demise in Babylon in 323 BC, his body was mummified in a manner akin to that of the Pharaohs and placed in a gold coffin, intended for transport to Siwa. However, his wishes were not honored. The funeral procession carrying his remains was intercepted in Syria by one of his generals, Ptolemy I Soter, around late 322 or early 321 BC. Ptolemy redirected the journey of the body to Egypt, where it was ultimately laid to rest in Memphis, a city that had been central to Alexander's administration in Egypt. While Ptolemy held custody of Alexander's remains, his personal belongings, including his armor, diadem, and royal scepter, were retained by other generals, including Perdiccas and Cassander. In the late 4th or early 3rd century BC, Ptolemy Philadelphus arranged for the transfer of Alexander's body from the tomb in Memphis to Alexandria for a second burial. His successor, Ptolemy II, later placed Alexander's remains in a communal mausoleum in Alexandria. According to Strabo, this mausoleum was referred to as the Soma, which translates to "body" in Greek. By 274 BC, it was widely recognized that Alexander's final resting place was in Alexandria, and his tomb became the focal point of a cult dedicated to his memory. A recent archaeological discovery has provided additional evidence supporting the belief that Alexander the Great is indeed interred in Alexandria. Archaeologists uncovered a significant artifact on the final day of their excavations, which turned out to be an early Hellenistic statue resembling Alexander the Great, greatly invigorating the ongoing research efforts.