Alexander's Lost Myth

Alexander's Lost Myth

Alexander the
Great, King of the Macedonians, was a prominent general. His army was
powerful and invincible. Alexander conquered most of the territory from
West to East with his army and in the process became a legendary hero.
However, everything was different in reality.


Alexander was not a general. And his army was
nothing, but troupe of actors in Greek powerful and invincible drama.
The conquest was a voluminous and long-term performance, due to which
Alexander the Great bestowed upon numerous countries the power and
splendor of arts and science, thus making possible the rich culture of
the Hellenistic age.

One day Alexander reached the
boundaries of ecumene /Gr. Oikoumene/. He stopped at a wonderful and
sunshiny bank of the Indus while it was sunset. He was deep in thought,
and there was great sorrow on his face.

It was the
first time in his life that the question "Afterwards? What would happen
next? " erupted from him. And the reply was quick to follow.


"It is a question of a person who has lost his
myth," said a golden-haired kid with bright blue eyes. Alexander was
amazed. He came closer to him and sat by his side.


"Hey, you know me, but I am not familiar with you,"
spoke out Alexander very softly.

The kid caressed
his hand.

"You uttered afterwards, didn't you?" It
means you have recognized me. Nobody but you has seen me so far. I was
not born hitherto. I will come forth only in some ages' time. You would
not be alive then. "Why shouldn't I?" "As soon as I come forth, I will
bring more powerful and more beautiful things that you have given to
lots of people. The latters won't pity me and consequently, won't be
able to take whatever I give. As it will happen the way I've told you,
you are destined not to survive anymore. "

"Why on
earth do you think so? For much blood not to be shed?" continued
Alexander and added. But, you see, I've never fought against anybody,
never shed blood."

"I am aware of it, "smiled the
kid. "It is the splendor and the power that you take to people that
makes those, unable to take them, oppose each other. They are against
what you have brought. It is they that shed blood and in the end are
foreordained to disappear since they are unable to take what you have
shared.

"But I just want to share with them the
things I do love indeed, whatever is beautiful, powerful and eternal,"
Alexander's words died away with his latest words. He bent his head
against his breast and embraced it with his hands.


"You know? I love you," said the kid. It made
Alexander burst into tears. The kid put his arm on Alexander's
shoulder. " I beg you please, don't be unhappy. I understand you have
lost the myth that made you survive. But instead you have found the
truth. See how wonderful it is?

They both kept
silence for a while, for long enough. The kid smiled. "Listen! Return
home, please, the place where everything will remind you of your lost
myth all the time and help you to keep on living with it, the only
place able to help you forget the truth for a while and survive. Don't
hesitate to return home. It will ease your sufferings."


Leaving his seat by Alexander's side, the kid stood
up and kissed the latter's frown forehead. Walking through water, he
crossed the river and dissolved in the lucid light of the rising sun.


Alexander stared at the sun for quite a long time.
He then returned to his tent where he found Thais sleeping. He put his
arms around her and set her forward to his breast. "Wake up, honey!
We'll be back home".

It was for the first time in
his life that Alexander saw the authentic face belonging to the servant
of the Goddess of Love. Deteriorated face, deprived of nose and with
lost hair? For the first time he embraced Thais, real Thais and not his
perception of her. It was then that for the first time he realized how
passionately he loved her and not the gorgeous myth on her.


It was the first time that Thais saw whatever was
called love in Alexander's eyes, real love.

"Help
me, please to survive, Thais!" Alexander's voice melted within him. "I
will never leave you, sweetie, never" replied Thais and caressed his
neck. She was wiping bitterly.

Alexander returned
home. Alexander could not survive and tolerate his lost myth. Perhaps,
the splendor of the bare truth was unable to replace the splendor of
his lost myth.

Alexander's only defeat was his
death.

translated from Armenian into
English

by Noune Aidinian