Who is 'the Great' Alexander or Akbar?
@shivamani10 (11035)
Hyderabad, India
July 31, 2016 10:07am CST
Recently there had been a discussion while I was sitting in the cafeteria which I usually prefer to sit for a cup of coffee listening to the discussions of others interestingly.
A discussion on Alexander and Akbar interested me a lot. Everybody put forth his own arguments and counters with some valid quotes and references.It was centered mainly on the point the suffix 'the Great' is suitable for whom?
what do you say about it dear friends? One is the Macedonian and the other is Indian. How do you justify the suffix? Is it 'Alexander the Great' or 'Akbar the Great?'
2 people like this
3 responses
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
31 Jul 16
Both can be called The Great. In western world, Alexander is more known
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
3 Aug 16
A year back in India, there are people who were trying to call RANAPRATAP as the great.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
3 Aug 16
@shivamani10 - Please write a brief discussion about RANAPRATAP. Who is that?
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
31 Jul 16
It depends on which context they are refereed to as great, if greatness is defined by winning wars and territories then both Alexander and Akbar are great, Alexander in greater though. If great is defined by compassion shown towards others then none of them are great, both rulers mercilessly killed thousands of people and plundered states.
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
3 Aug 16
For some reason or other, they are termed as 'the great'.
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
3 Aug 16
I'm not sure the suffixes are justified. Tend to think that they are just arbitrary or subjective intended to describe certain feats people accomplished during their lifetime. Many people thought the deeds were great and since they were accomplished by that person, then the person must be great! Some people even give the suffix to themselves. Muhammad Ali called himself “the Greatest” and lots of people agreed with me, including me. I happen to think he was one of the greatest boxers that ever lived. Funny you ask the question because I never really concerned myself with the suffix at all. It was just a means of identification in historical records. You know? Alexander the Great or Akbar the Great, as opposed, some other person also named Alexander or Akbar, who didn't do whatever it was that they did that was great!
