ABSTRACT
A monarch visiting a sacred site is a popular topic in classical historiography. In Greco-Roman culture – as in many religious systems – gods, demigods, and deceased ancestors were worshipped in temples, tombs, and oracular shrines. These places became objects of sacred travel where people venerated and made contact with divine forces. One of the most famous sacred travelers of antiquity was Alexander the Great (356–323 BCE). Narratives of his journeys spread far and wide and were mythologized soon after his successful Persian and Indian campaigns and sudden death. His undisputed legacy of conquest and greatness motivated Roman rulers and emperors to imitate his heroic persona and practices. 1 One way of doing this was to visit sacred places.
