One of the most important and influential historical figures of all times is Alexander the Great. Born in the ancient city of Pella, king in the kingdom of Macedonia, leader of the Greek alliance against the Persian empire, charismatic leader, conqueror of the then-known world. He created a huge empire that spanned from modern day Greece to India.

After his death he became a person of myth for centuries to come. For Greeks of the Classical times he was the one who carried their language and culture to the end of the world and marked a new era in history called the Hellenistic times. Egyptians worshiped him as a Pharaoh, Persians accepted him as their king, Arabs considered him a hero and prophet, Byzantine Greeks read popular books about him and admired his virtues and abilities. In medieval Europe he was an exemplary knight. Even legends of central Asia are inspired by him.

According to one myth Alexander went on an expedition to find the water of immortality. He traveled far away from home, passed through two moving mountains and then killed a dragon.

Unfortunately when he returned to his palace his sister, Thessaloniki, accidentally spilled the water. It made her so sad that she morphed into a sea creature, a mermaid, and left the palace never to return.

The legend says that she lived in the waters near the island of Crete.

When Alexander died, she swam across the seas asking the captains of the ships if her brother was still alive. If they answered that he had died, she started crying. Her tears were so many that they eventually sank the ships and drowned the sailors.

If they told her that he was alive and well she smiled happily and blew a soft wind that helped the ships and sailors get to a port safely.

There is a song that says: "She wasn't an island, she was a beast in the sea. She was the Gorgona, the sister of Alexander the Great. She lamented and stirred the seas. If Crete is free, my heart will be free. If Crete is free, I will smile..."

Sources:

-http://www.snhell.gr/kids/content.asp?id=184&cat_id=7

-http://akritas-history-of-makedonia.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_07.html

-https://parallaximag.gr/thessaloniki/gorgona-thessaloniki

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9CXh-uo2EQ