Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 7, 2023

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Alexander riding Bucephalus, from the Alexander Mosaic
Alexander riding Bucephalus, from the Alexander Mosaic

Boukephala and Nikaia were two cities founded by Alexander the Great on either side of the Hydaspes river during his invasion of the Indian subcontinent. The cities, two of many founded by Alexander, were built shortly after his victory over the Indian king Porus at the Battle of the Hydaspes in early 326 BC. It is not certain which settlement had which name. Built on the site of the battlefield, the city on the eastern bank was most likely called Nikaia, while its western companion was probably named after Alexander's horse Bucephalus, who died during or after the battle. Their construction was supervised by Craterus, one of Alexander's leading generals. Boukephala seems to have had a more distinguished legacy than Nikaia: it was mentioned by Roman authors and appears on later manuscripts. The cities' precise locations are unknown, but it is considered likely that Boukephala was located in the vicinity of modern Jalalpur, Pakistan, and that Nikaia was across the river near present-day Mong. (Full article...)

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