One of the many legends of Alexander the Great comes his childhood when, at the young age of 13, he made a bet with his father that he could tame Bucephalus, a “very vicious and unmanageable” horse. Plutarch tells us how Alexander whispered to the beast and turned him toward the sun, hiding the horse’s shadow (6.1-8). He mounted it much to his father’s surprise and Alexander rode Bucephalus everywhere, even in battle.

Numerous artists and writers have romanticized this story for 2,300 years and visitors to Edinburgh, Scotland can see John Steell’s 10-ft high bronze statue, “Alexander and Bucephalus.” Molded in 1832, cast in 1883, and finally presented in 1884, this is a dramatic piece.

Shortly after its casting, an issue of The Architect (1883) published a detailed account of how Steell invited spectators to watch the casting, which took place in several parts—1-part Alexander, minus his head and arms, and 2-parts Bucephalus, split between his fore and hind quarters, minus the legs. With 9 parts copper and 1-part tin, Steell cast the various portions of the statue. The remaining head and limbs were cast later outside the ceremony.

Steell was putting on a spectacle and people were impressed. At the time, one American contemporary critic believed the final piece was “intensely academic” and it belonged “in a class by itself,” compared to other equestrian statues.

One of the most remarkable controversies throughout the years was that Steell was not immediately paid for his work and a rumor had circulated for years that Steell gave Bucephalus pig’s ears as some sort of revenge protest. In 2014, during restorations to the statue, newspapers believed that new photos seemingly revealed that yes, those are pig’s ears on the horse. That same year, a historian uncovered official records that revealed it took 50 years for Steell to receive full payment for his work, providing at least motive.

The smoking gun came in 2015, when it was revealed that Steell made a 20-in cast model of Alexander and Bucephalus in 1833. It went up for auction, selling for £3,750 in January 2015.

The model’s appearance seemingly revealed that Bucephalus originally sported more horse-like ears before his official casting in 1883. Newspapers had a field day with the story and it is an anecdote the Scots are sure to tell you.

Today, you can find Alexander and Bucephalus in the courtyard of the Edinburgh City Chambers where it has stood since 1916.

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