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Secondary sourceArtifactc. 120-100 BCE (copy of an earlier Hellenistic painting)

Alexander Mosaic

Philoxenus of Eretria · c. 120-100 BCE (copy of an earlier Hellenistic painting)

A Roman floor mosaic from Pompeii showing Alexander charging Darius III in battle, copied from an early Hellenistic painting.

The most famous ancient image of Alexander, showing him in the heat of battle against the Persian king Darius III.

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Detail of the Alexander Mosaic: a large ancient mosaic of a battle scene, with riders on horseback, spears raised, and fallen figures, in warm earth tones with a decorative border.
Mosaic after Philoxenus of Eretria, Alexander Mosaic, c. 120-100 BCE. Naples National Archaeological Museum.

About this source

What it is

This is a Roman floor mosaic made of about one and a half million tiny colored tiles, found in the House of the Faun in Pompeii. It is probably a copy of an earlier Hellenistic painting, perhaps by Philoxenus of Eretria, made soon after Alexander's lifetime. It is now kept in the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

Why it matters

The mosaic shows Alexander the Great charging at the Persian king Darius III, likely at the Battle of Issus. It is one of the most detailed ancient depictions of Alexander and of ancient warfare, showing over fifty figures with careful attention to expression and movement. That a Roman family chose this scene for their home floor shows how, centuries later, Alexander was still seen as a model of heroism and conquest.

Look closer

  • What details make Alexander stand out from the other soldiers?
  • Why might a Roman homeowner want a scene of Alexander's victory on their floor?
  • What might the artist have left out or changed in showing such a chaotic battle?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Alexander the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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