[Eternal_Bear]

Alexander the Great literally believed in the account provided by the Iliad. For him, his invasion of the Persian Empire was the resumption of a war started 800 years previously between Europe and Asia. He later went on the conquer Southwest Asia and ascribed it to divine providence. It just all goes to show what believing in myths can do for you.

[eleni121]

The Persian Wars took place between 490 (Battle of Marathon) - 449 B.C. (Peace at Callias) hardly the 800 years you refer to.

And the Persian Wars (invasions of the West) are not myths.

[RightWhale]

The story of the philosopher Xenophon is interesting in respect to Alexander's later conquests. Philosophers in those days didn't just sit and think.