Alexander and his great horse.

Alexander the great's father, Philip, was offered a horse by Philonicus for 13 talents. While estimations vary, a talent could be similar in value back then to $100 to us, meaning this horse cost 1300 dollars in today's terms. While that may not seem like much today for a horse, 13 talents for a horse was quite expensive. However, this horse was unruly and seemingly impossible to ride. As they were about to dismiss the horse as useless, Alexander says, "What an excellent horse do they lose for want of address and boldness to manage him!" Alexander and his father made a bet to see if Alexander was able to tame the horse. The stakes were that if Alexander was successful his father would buy it, however, if Alexander wasn't able to tame him he was going to cover the cost. Alexander, having noticed the horse being afraid of his shadow, he turned him to the sun and mounted him. Alexander called this horse Bucephalus, in reference to him being quite strong. 

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