ALEXANDER THE GREAT.Are his remains located in St. Mark's in Venice

ALEXANDER THE GREAT What became of the body of Alexander the Great? The story begins with one of the greatest thrillers of antiquity. In the summer of 323 BC, Alexander the Great draws his last breath in Babylon, at the age of just 32. At that exact moment, his body automatically transforms into the world's most powerful political symbol. Whoever possessed the remains of the conqueror acquired absolute legitimacy to rule over his vast empire. As the funeral procession begins its long journey destined for Macedonia, Ptolemy—one of Alexander's closest and most intelligent generals, who had taken over the administration of Egypt—makes a daring move. He intercepts the procession, "steals" the body, and transports it to Egypt. After a brief stop in Memphis, the remains end up at their final resting place: Alexandria. In the heart of the city, at the Public Cemetery (Dimosio Sima), a magnificent royal mausoleum is constructed, known in ancient sources as the "Sema" or "Soma". For the next several centuries, Alexander's tomb is no mystery at all. It is the most famous monument of the Mediterranean world and a place of pilgrimage for all nations. Great historical figures travel there to pay their respects: Julius Caesar weeps before it, the first Roman Emperor Augustus places flowers and a golden crown upon the body, while the notorious Caligula goes as far as to remove Alexander's breastplate to wear it himself, believing it possessed magical powers. All of this is historically indisputable. The tomb existed, it was visible, and it could be visited for hundreds of years. ********** The Great Disappearance of Alexander and the "Birth" of a Saint Darkness begins to fall somewhere in the 4th century AD.