August 10, 2004
Alexander the Zu al Gheraneyn
Alexander the Macedonian (the Great) is often referred to by middle-eastern
historians and in literature as the “Zu al Gheraneyn” or
mistakenly as “Zu al-Gharneyn”. Why is this?
Suggested by Houman Younessi
Answer: During his campaign in Egypt (B.C. 331) Alexander visited
the temple of Amun on the border with today’s Libya. There
he consulted the oracle of the temple and was told that he is the
son of Amun and was destined to rule the world. Alexander therefore
adopted the “persona” of his newly found heavenly father
Amun (who is symbolized by a ram-headed human body; specifically
a species known as Ovis aries platyra aegyptiaca, a curved horn
ram and thus was referred to as the “Lord of the two horns”).
Alexander had coins minted depicting him with two curved horns
and also adopted the title of “Zeus-Amun; Lord of the two
horns”. This latter term “of the two horns” or “possessor
of the two horns” has been translated into Arabic as “Zu
al-gheraneyn”.
Many Islamic thinkers and intellectuals consider that
the said Zul-Quarnain "the lord of two quarns (horns)" mentioned in
Quran (The Zul-qarnain story was narrated
in Quran by series of verses 18:83-98)is the Greek conqueror Alexander
the great. The famous Quranic translator maulana A. Yousuf Ali gave a long story
(titled: Who was Zulqarnain; page 760-765) detailing the facts and
figures why
most Islamic scholars including himself considered very strongly that, Quranic
Zulqarnain was nobody but Alexander the Great. According to Maulana Yousuf Ali, Zul-Quarnain means "Lord
of the two Qarns" (horn). And other meanings may be applicable
as implying: (1) is a man or a great king; (2) Lord of East and
West,
Lord of wide territory or of two kingdoms; (3) Lord of two crests
on his diadem, typifying two kingdoms , or rank superior to that
of an ordinary king; (4) Lord of more than one Epoch "one whose
power and influence extend far beyond his lifetime."
But
other sources believe this name refers to "Cyrus" the
great, king of iran in 2500 years ago, the great savoir of Jews,
which seems to be more exact.
Some references About Zul-Qayrnoon, Muhammad Ali says (p586):
{The word qarn means a horn, as also a generation or a century
and dhul qarnain
literally means the two-horned one, or one belonging to the two
generations or two centures. The reference here seems to be to
the two
horned ram of Daniel's vision (dan. 8:3), which he interpreted
as the Kindoms of Media and Persia, which were combined into a
single kindom under one ruler, Cyrus, who is erroneousy called
Darius in the Bible. The reference in Daniel's vision is, however,
not to Cyrus but to Darius I Hystaspes (521-485 B.C.), "who
allowed the Jews to rebuild their temple, and is reffered to in
Ezra 4:5,24;5:5;6:1; Hag1:1;2:10;Zech 1;7, and probably in Neh
12:22. His liberality towards the Jews is in complete accord with
what
we know otherwise of his general policy in relgious matter towards
the subject nations".
Winner: Arsia Ohadi. Sad Afarin!
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