The dispute over Alexander the Great’s legacy has functioned as a diplomatic minefield, significantly impacting political relations and international standing for Greece and North Macedonia. While the 2018 Prespa Agreement sought to resolve the issue by having North Macedonia clarify the Hellenic nature of the legacy, the issue remains a volatile symbol of national identity. Read more about the dispute at The New York Times . NYT: Who Claims Alexander the Great? A diplomatic minefield
“We do not claim that we are ‘descended’ from ancient Macedonians in a direct genetic line,” explains historian Goran N. from the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. “But the historical reality is that the Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander’s homeland, was centered right here. Pella, Aigai, the heartland of his realm—that geography is in North Macedonia. We have every right to celebrate the history that happened on our soil.” The dispute over Alexander the Great’s legacy has
“It’s nonsense,” said Dr. Theodoros Koulianos, a professor of ancient history at the University of Athens, in an interview. “We have Plutarch, Arrian, the Alexander Romance. He sacrificed to Greek gods, consulted the Oracle at Delphi, and spread the koine Greek language. This is not interpretation. This is nationalism dressed as history.” NYT: Who Claims Alexander the Great
The most visible and contentious struggle for Alexander’s legacy lies in the Balkans, specifically the decades-long dispute between Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje