Alexander the Great as a Judge

Alexander the Great by Rembrandt

http://www.wikiart.org/en/rembrandt/alexander-the-great
public domain

Behind the Dark Mountains there was a country ruled by a king who was famous as a lawyer and judge. Alexander the Great went to see him one day to watch the proceedings.

The plaintiff was a man who declared that he had bought a field and found a pot of gold in it. He wanted to return the gold to the field’s former owner.

The former owner however refused to accept the gold claiming that he had sold the field with all of its grass including what was under the grass.

The King asked the plaintiff: Do you have a son? And then he asked the defendant: Do you have a daughter?

When both answered yes, the King addressed them both and said: Let them get married, and the pot of gold will be for the new family and their children. 
Then the King turned to Alexander: What do you think of my sentence?

Alexander answered: Well, apparently you can afford that kind of largesse. If I had to decide, I would put them both to death and confiscate the gold.

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Alexander the Great

by the anonymous (?) "Master of the Griselda legend"

from http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/alexander-the-great-356323-bc-33006, a BBC public foundation. There is no copyright information.

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The story of the Pot of Gold would show that Alexander was cruel and knew it.



After all, the anecdote of the Gordian Knot, what does it illustrate ?
Impatience.
No way to do real things.
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After Alexander's death, the empire fell apart, while his fame became more diverse and international.

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This time it is called "A man in Armour" and is at http://www.museumsyndicate.com/, but apparently this address is not valid. Its complete address was http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=989 also not valid.