ABSTRACT
When Philip II was assassinated, Alexander's friends armed themselves expecting trouble, and all Macedonia was seething with discontent, looking to Amyntas and the sons of Aeropus. Antipater probably led Alexander before the Macedonian people in their Assembly soon after his father's murder. Macedonian custom was for the people to acclaim the heir king and then swear an oath of loyalty to him. The Macedonian army solemnly marched past it in full armour. Then Arrhabaeus and Heromenes of Lyncestis were put to death next to the pyre, as were the horses to which Pausanias the assassin had tried to flee. Precious gold and silver vessels were also placed in the tomb, as were some of the king's arms and armour. On a wooden bench was a series of small ivory heads of the members of the royal family. Alexander spent the winter in final preparations, probably with Antipater and Parmenion, whom he had recalled from the advance force in Asia.
