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Quiz about Roxana Wife of Alexander the Great
Quiz about Roxana Wife of Alexander the Great

Roxana: Wife of Alexander the Great Quiz


Imagine being the wife of the world's greatest conqueror. Roxana of Bactria lived this unusual reality, as consort to Alexander the Great.

A multiple-choice quiz by pagiedamon. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
pagiedamon
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
291,584
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
759
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
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Question 1 of 10
1. How do ancient writers depict the marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxana of Bactria? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Greek writer Arrian of Nicomedia gives a brief description of Roxana. What does he state? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Who was Roxana's father? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Alexander took Roxana along on a military expedition.


Question 5 of 10
5. Three years after marrying Roxana, Alexander took as a concubine another high-ranking woman named Stateira II (also called Barsine). Why was she of interest to Alexander? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What did Alexander think of the son Roxana bore him, Alexander IV Aegus? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Approximately how long were Alexander and Roxana married? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When Alexander died in 323 BC, what did Roxana do to his other wife Stateira II? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Olympias, Alexander's mother, remained active in the political scramble after her son's death. Did she support Roxana and wish to place her infant grandson on the throne?


Question 10 of 10
10. How did Roxana die? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. How do ancient writers depict the marriage of Alexander the Great and Roxana of Bactria?

Answer: A great love story

Roxana's marriage to Alexander the Great was likely the result of an effort to bring unity to Alexander's conquered eastern territories. Roxana, a Bactrian noblewoman, was chosen as Alexander's wife, and he ordered his own troops to marry other Persians.

However, ancient writings add a romantic twist to all of this political convenience: that Alexander fell madly in love with Roxana upon first sight. She was already his captive, yet he made her his wife.
2. The Greek writer Arrian of Nicomedia gives a brief description of Roxana. What does he state?

Answer: She was the most beautiful woman in Asia

Arrian of Nicomedia writes that Alexander's soldiers said "she was the loveliest woman they had seen in Asia..." He also claims that it was love at first sight for Alexander and "captive though she was, he refused, for all his passion, to force her to his will, and condescended to marry her." ("Anabasis" translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt)
3. Who was Roxana's father?

Answer: Oxyartes

Oxyartes was a Bactrian nobleman who initially resisted Alexander's conquest. When his family fell captive to Alexander, he was amazed by the kindness which Alexander afforded them. Soon after, he submitted to Alexander. Some sources state that Alexander left him as governor of Bactria and that he enjoyed high favor with his son-in-law.
4. Alexander took Roxana along on a military expedition.

Answer: True

Alexander allowed Roxana to travel with him to India in 326 BC.
5. Three years after marrying Roxana, Alexander took as a concubine another high-ranking woman named Stateira II (also called Barsine). Why was she of interest to Alexander?

Answer: She was the daughter of his enemy

Stateira II (also known as Barsine) was the daughter of the great Persian king Darius III. Darius' mother, wife, and daughter fell into Alexander's hands soon after the Battle of Issus. Though Alexander fought Darius for dominion over land, he held no personal enmity towards the older ruler.

In fact, he treated all of Darius' female relatives with great respect. He eventually took Stateira II into his own household, as his personal consort.
6. What did Alexander think of the son Roxana bore him, Alexander IV Aegus?

Answer: Nothing - Alexander died before his son was born

Roxana gave birth to a male child approximately two months after the death of Alexander. As Alexander did not know the gender of his unborn baby, he had never named his successor.
7. Approximately how long were Alexander and Roxana married?

Answer: Four years

Roxana only enjoyed the position of being the powerful leader's wife for about four years. During that time, he never slowed down his military campaigns nor lost his obsession with ruling the world. Her life in his shadow was indeed a turbulent one!
8. When Alexander died in 323 BC, what did Roxana do to his other wife Stateira II?

Answer: She had her murdered

Roxana, likely aided by the regent Perdiccas, contrived to have both Stateira II and her sister murdered. With her now precarious position as widowed queen, and mother to infant heir, Roxana was taking no chances in securing herself a position of power.
9. Olympias, Alexander's mother, remained active in the political scramble after her son's death. Did she support Roxana and wish to place her infant grandson on the throne?

Answer: Yes

Olympias threw in her lot with Roxana and her grandson, Alexander IV Aegus. Unfortunately, her dominating and vindictive personality drew the hatred of many. She eventually had to submit to her enemies, and Cassander ordered her execution. Thus, Roxana lost her strongest supporter.
10. How did Roxana die?

Answer: She was murdered along with her young son

In 316 BC, Roxana was taken captive by the powerful commander Cassander. Cassander and the other leaders agreed to a peace treaty and promised to govern the realm until Roxana's son came of age. The treaty was a ruse, however, and both mother and son were murdered (likely by poison) about seven years after their capture.
Source: Author pagiedamon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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