Surrounding a 4,000-year-old Iraqi temple, the discovery of coins and temple offerings have suggested that Alexander the Great was worshipped as a divine figure.
British Museum archaeologists believe that the Greek temple may have been founded by Alexander himself, with the silver coin, dating to around 330BCE demonstrating that Alexander may have visited the temple after defeating the Persians.
If the dating of the coin is correct, this could mean that the founding of the temple was one of the last acts Alexander did before his death at the age of 32.
Archaeologist Dr Sebastien Rey believes that the Greeks had founded their own temple on the ancient site, with the aim of declaring the divinity and importance of Alexander.
In addition to the coin, other discoveries such as terracotta cavalrymen and the structural foundations of an altar all imply that the site was used by Alexander and his personal forces for worshipping.
In an interview, Dr Rey states that the offerings found on the site all suggest that the temple links to Alexanders lifetime.
Source: Daily Mail.
