of Alexander I. It was around this point that Alexander was given the epithet "philhellene".

Herodotus and Plutarch report another story about Alexander's assistance to the Greeks. On the eve of the decisive Battle of Plataea (479 BC), the Macedonian king secretly made his way to the Athenian positions at night and informed them of the enemy's plans. In his speech, Alexander indicated the patriotic motives of his actions: "Athenians, I lay up these words of mine