Was Alexander the Great worse then Hitler

[Didz]

I do think that portrays Nazis as being somehow inhuman monsters to distance ourselves from them is incorrect, but then again, I don't see how one could compare Alexander the Great, an enlightened ruler who respected the culture of the people he conquered, to a man who set out to wipe out the Jews and Slavs.

Again I would argue that you are being very selective about what aspects of Alexanders character you include in this assessment. Alexander was essentially a teenage thug with a huge ego complex, probably bought on the abuse of his father. During the course of his short life he not only committed murder on a regular basis just from his own amusement but supervised acts of genocide against any nation which he took a dislike to. There is even a theory that in the end he was poisoned by his own friends who could no longer tolerate his abuses.

Alexander's empire was no rosegarden. Especially after the final defeat of King Darius the court was plagued by controversy and intrigue. Alexander had some of his loyal aides tortured and killed. The justification for these acts is still subject to debate. Especially during the campaign in India, the Macedonians used brutal force to subdue the conquered peoples. Even the sick and elderly, it is written, were butchered.

But also earlier on, during the long siege of Tyre (Lebanon) in 332 BC, Alexander had 2,000 inhabitants mercilessly crucified. In modern Iran he is still known as an evil king - a personification of the devil if you like - who did his very best to destroy the respectable old Persian culture and religion.

None of that detracts from his acheivements but one needs to keep a clear perspective on the fact that many of the people we are encouraged to worship are no less human than we are when it comes to abusing power.