In the later years of the empire, the principles of Magianism had gradually prevailed more and more over those of Zoroaster.  Magianism was essentially a worship of the elements.  Of these, fire was considered as the most worthy representative of the Supreme Being.  On altars erected, not in temples, but under the blue canopy of the sky, perpetual fires were kept burning, and the rising sun was regarded as the noblest object of human adoration.  In the society of Asia, nothing is visible but the monarch; in the expanse of heaven, all objects vanish in presence of the sun.

Death of Alexander.  Prematurely cut off in the midst of many great projects Alexander died at Babylon before he had completed his thirty-third year (B.C. 323).  There was a suspicion that he had been poisoned.  His temper had become so unbridled, his passion so ferocious, that his generals and even his intimate friends lived in continual dread.  Clitus, one of the latter, he in a moment of fury had stabbed to the heart.  Callisthenes, the intermedium between himself and Aristotle, he had caused to be hanged, or, as was positively asserted by some who knew the facts, had had him put upon the rack and then crucified.  It may have been in self-defense that the conspirators resolved on his assassination.  But surely it was a calumny to associate the name of Aristotle with this transaction.  He would have rather borne the worst that Alexander could inflict, than have joined in the perpetration of so great a crime.

A scene of confusion and bloodshed lasting many years ensued, nor did it cease even after the Macedonian generals had divided the empire.  Among its vicissitudes one incident mainly claims our attention.  Ptolemy, who was a son of King Philip by Arsinoe, a beautiful concubine, and who in his boyhood had been driven into exile with Alexander, when they incurred their father’s displeasure, who had been Alexander’s comrade in many of his battles and all his campaigns, became governor and eventually king of Egypt.

Foundation of Alexander.  At the siege of Rhodes, Ptolemy had been of such signal service to its citizens that in gratitude they paid divine honors to him, and saluted him with the title of Soter (the Savior).  By that designation—­Ptolemy Soter—­he is distinguished from succeeding kings of the Macedonian dynasty in Egypt.

He established his seat of government not in any of the old capitals of the country, but in Alexandria.  At the time of the expedition to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, the Macedonian conqueror had caused the foundations of that city to be laid, foreseeing that it might be made the commercial entrepot between Asia and Europe.  It is to be particularly remarked that not only did Alexander himself deport many Jews from Palestine to people the city, and not only did Ptolemy Soter bring one hundred thousand more after his siege of Jerusalem, but Philadelphus, his successor, redeemed from slavery