The teacher of the man who conquered the world

Around 343 BC, King Philip II of Macedon invited Aristotle to tutor his thirteen-year-old son, Alexander. Philip set them up at the Sanctuary of the Nymphs at Mieza, away from the distractions of court.

There Aristotle taught Alexander and a small group of noble boys, including future generals Hephaestion, Ptolemy and Cassander. They studied medicine, philosophy, ethics, politics and literature. Aristotle gave Alexander an annotated copy of the Iliad, which, Plutarch tells us, the king later kept under his pillow on campaign, next to a dagger.

Alexander said he loved Aristotle no less than his own father: from one he had received life, from the other a good life. During his campaigns he is said to have sent back plant and animal specimens for his old teacher to study.

The relationship cooled later. Aristotle had advised treating Greeks as friends and non-Greeks as subjects; Alexander did the opposite, adopting Persian dress and customs. The student had learned to think for himself, which may be the best lesson a teacher can give.