Alexander the general, and his horse.

[AdityaMookerjee]

Alexander was known as a young general, and his horse Bucephalous, was very well known, also. Apparently, Bucephalous was afraid of his shadow, but perhaps he had learned not to trust humans, as he identified with humans. It seems, the horse was not violent, and he saw violence, inflicted around with whom he identified. It seems, Alexander was as violent, as his horse kept deliberately under control, but exhibited anger. When his horse saw Alexander exhibiting apprehension against an elephant, he perhaps jumped on the elephant, and lost his life, in distress.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Well...Alexander got the horse when he was young, before he was a general. It was apparently 'untameable', but he simply turned it so it no longer saw it's own shadow, which turned out to be the thing which had been spooking it.

In terms of the horse's death, I have heard of two versions. One in which the horse died of old age (30 years). The other in which the horse died of injury suffered in battle whilst Alexander was leading the Companions.

Haven't heard stories involving an elephant, nor of Alexander treating the horse cruelly.

Do you have a source? Or a question?