The following story derives from one in a series of fictional biographies of Alexander the Great composed in antiquity. Fancifully attributed to Alexander’s court historian, Callisthenes, The Alexander Romance was passed down in several versions over many centuries, but the Armenian, on which this translation is based, is believed to be particularly close to the lost Greek original. Alexander is described in the story not as the son of Philip II of Macedon and his wife Olympias, but as the son of Olympias and the ram god Ammon (see previous story). Alexander is presented as strong and heroic but prone to violent outbursts. He has campaigned against the ‘barbarians’, subdued Persia, travelled to India and arrived in Babylon, where this portion of the story is set. The Chaldeans – local astrologers – are summoned to interpret a peculiar omen. Alexander’s mother writes to him complaining of her ill-treatment by Antipater, the regent of Macedonia, prompting Alexander to send his general Krateros to investigate. Antipater’s response is to forge a plot against Alexander.