In 'Funeral Games, ' Alexander, the Macedonian who conquered Persia and northern India in the 4th century B. C. , dies early on and the novel goes on to describe the breakup of his empire.

An ancient town of southeast Asia Minor near modern-day Iskenderun, Turkey. Alexander the Great defeated Darius III of Persia here in 333 b. c.

In 338 B. C., Philip of Macedonia conquered the Greek city-states. His son, Alexander the Great, enlarged the empire, introducing Greek culture to the lands he conquered.