The modern mythology of the left-handedness of Alexander the Great.
The prevalent modern suggestion that Alexander the Great was left-handed probably derives from Michael Barsley's (1966) book, Left-handed man is a right-handed word, perhaps by mutation from as earlier story cited by Wile in 1934 from a 17th century Rabbirical exegesis, which said that Alexander discovered a country where all the inhabitants were left-handed. That itself may derive in part from the medieval Hebrew Book of Jossippon, which mentions Alexander talking of the superiority of the left hand and of how "kings stemming from the tribe of kings are left-handed".
McManus
I C
IC
Department of Psychology, University College, London, UK. i.mcmanus@ucl.ac.uk
D007839:Functional Laterality; D000076145:Greece, Ancient; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000266:history*