THE BIGGEST WEDDING EVER KNOWN

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2300, 23 February 1900, Page 6

THE BIGGEST WEDDING EVER KNOWN

On the day that Alexander the Great was married no fewer than 20,202 persons in one ceremony were made husbands and wives. This seems impossible, but the event really took place, as historical records tell us. This monster wedding occurred upon the conquest by Alexander the Great of Persia, which was then ruled over by King Darius. Alexander married Statira. the daughter of the conquered king, and decreed that 100 of his chief officers should be united to 100 ladies from the noblest Persian and Median families. In addition to this, he stipulated that 10,000 of his Greek soldiers should marry 10,000 Asiatic women. When everything was settled, a vast pavilion was erected, the pillars of which were 60 feet high. One hundred gorgeous chambers adjoined this for the hundred noble bridegrooms, while for the remaining 10,000 an outer court was enclosed, outside of which tables were spread for the multitude. Each pair had seats, and ranged themselves in a semicircle round the Koyal throne. Of course the priests could not marry this vast number of couples, so Alexander the Great devised a very simple ceremony. He gave his hand to Statira, and kissed her—an example that all the bridegrooms followed. Thus ended the ceremony, and that vast number were married. Then followed the festival, which lasted five days, the grandeur of which has never been equalled since.