Philip of Macedon married Olympias, the daughter of the king of Epirus, who traced his descent up to Achilles.  She was beautiful, but fierce and high-spirited; and the first time Philip saw her she was keeping the feast of Bacchus, and was dancing fearlessly among great serpents, which twisted about among the maidens’ vine-wreathed staves, their baskets of figs, and even the ivy crowns on their heads.  Her wild beauty charmed him, and he asked her in marriage as soon as he had gained the throne. The son of this marriage, Alexander, was born at Pella in 356.  On the same day a great battle was won by Parmenio, Philip’s chief general, and the king’s horses won the prize at the Olympic games.  Philip was so prosperous that he declared he must sacrifice to the gods, or they would be jealous, and cast him down in the midst of his happiness.  That same night the wonder of the world, the temple of Diana at Ephesus, was burnt down by a madman named Erostratus, who thought the deed would make him for ever famous.  It was built up again more splendidly than ever, and the image was saved.