CONTD

One such point occurs in the mention of Alexander's westward journey (vs86).He saw the sun set in a piece of murky water which is described as a "spring". Most Commentators have understood the " spring" to be the sea, and the "murky water". to be its dark-blue water,Nizami, in his Romance of Alexander, takes the Alexander right west along North Africa to Andalusia and the Atlantic ocean. There is no historic proof that Alexander ever reach the Atlantic. But he was of course familiar with the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean interpretation may pass if we had not a closer explanation. Alexander's first exploit were where he was a mere boy, in the reign of his father Philip. The region if Illyricum was due west of Macedonia, and Macedonia's first expansion was in that direction. The town of Lychnis was annexed to Macedonia and thus the western frontier of Macedonia was secured. The northern frontier towards the Danube had already been secured, and the lesson he subsequently gave to The be secured him againt attack from the Greek states to the south, and prepared way for his great march east against the Persian Empire. To the west of the town of Lychnis is a lake 170 square miles in area, fed by underground springs that issue through limestone rocks and give out murky water. Both town and lake are now called Ochrida, about 50 miles west of Monastir. The water is so dark that the river which forms outlet of the lake to the north is called the Black Drin. Looking at the sunset from above the town, the observer would see the sun set in a pool of murky water (vs 86). It was a question before the boy Alexander --- the dreamy, the impulsive, fearless rider--- whether he would put the barbarous Illyricans to the sword or to show them mercy. He showed true discrimination and statesmanship. He punished the guilt but showed kindness to the innocent, and thus consolidated his power in the west. This I construe to be meaning of (vs 86-87); otherwise these verses do not seem to be perfectly clear.

Another point may be noted. The three episodes mentioned are the journey to the west , the journey to the east, and the journey to the Iron Gate. The journey to the east was to the Persian Empire. Here he found a people who lived in an inland place in the latitude of Persepolis or Multan. He left them alone as they were(vs91). He was not warring against populations : he was warring against the proud but effete Persian Empire. He left them as they were,with their local institutions, and under their local chiefs. In feeling he treated them as his own, not as aliens. In some things he himself adopted their ways. His followers misunderstood him. But God understood, for He approves of all things that lead to unity among mankind.

The direction of the third journey is not mentioned. The Commentators suggest the north, but they might with better reason have suggested the south, as Alexander visited Egypt. But the visit to the Iron Gates was to the East ---- a continuation of his journey east. That is why the direction is not mentioned again. Here his mission was different. He had to protect a peaceful industrious population, whom perhaps the Persian Empire has failed to protect, against turbulent and restless invaders. He helped them to protect themselves, but warned them that all human precautions, though good and necessary, are vain without God's help.

Each of the episodes mentioned is historical. But the pomp and glitter of military conquest are not mentioned. On the contrary spiritual motives are revealed and commended. We need not to know or learn any history or geography or science or psychology or ethnics to understand them. But the more real knowledge we have, the more completely shall we understand them and the lesson to be drawn from them. The earthly journeys are treated as a mere symbols to show us the evolution of a great and a noble soul which achieved so much in a short earthly life. Alexander was a focus of Christian and Jewish learning for some centuries. The Christians also made Alexander a saint. The Jews carried the Alexander cycle into the East.
Personally, I have not the least doubt that dhul-qarnain is meant to be Alexander the Great, the historic Alexander, and not the legendary Alexander.