[christudor]

Some Greeks are very proud (even precious) about their cultural history. Check out this response to Dr Armand D'Angour's 'attempt to re-write Greek history' (and dont' forget to read the comments): http://eu.greekreporter.com/2014/07/23/bbc-attempts-to-rewri...

On the issue of Alexander specifically, it's important to note how important Alexander is in whole Greece/FYR Macedonia thing. Alexander was a Macedonian, of course, but what was then Macedonia is now part of Northern Greece, meaning the (modern) country of Macedonia can only be called (The Former Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonia. By 'locating' the tomb of Alexander in (modern) Greece, the Greeks further solidify their claim that Alexander is part of their cultural heritage, not (FYR) Macedonia's.

(This is interesting because when Alexander was actually alive, he did everything he could to make himself look more Greek, whereas the Greeks proper saw him as a barbarian Macedonian and wanted nothing to do with him...)

[sebkomianos]

I am greek. :D

[christudor]

Yes, as I said, it's only /some/ Greeks that feel this way. I hope I haven't misrepresented the situation too much? (Please correct me if I'm wrong!)

[sebkomianos]

No, you are pretty much right. Our national identity is our ancient (not just the cultural - more recent poets for example are not that prominent in our daily pride-talk, and more recent events like the civil war are comfortably omitted when we talk about "Greece") history. So there is a lot in stake for us with those matters.

However I would disagree with the "Macedonian barbarian" note you made: Alexander was educated by Aristoteles and he was elected as the main greek general in the war against the barbarians (Persians) by the rest of the greeks.