The Saint and the Conqueror: Is Alexander the Great Buried in Venice?
Step inside the glittering Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice, and you’ll be walking over one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the ancient world.
The stunning entrance to Saint Mark’s Basilica.
According to tradition, the remains of Mark the Evangelist—the author of the second Gospel and patron saint of Venice—lie beneath the main altar of the basilica that bears his name.
But a strange, unsettling theory has persisted for centuries: what if those bones don’t belong to Saint Mark at all?
What if they’re actually the long-lost remains of Alexander the Great?
The Theft That Built a Republic
The story, as told by Venetian chroniclers, begins in 828 AD. Two merchants from Venice—Buono da Malamocco and Rustico da Torcello—supposedly smuggled the body of Saint Mark out of Muslim-controlled Alexandria. To avoid detection, they are said to have hidden the corpse beneath layers of pork in their cargo to ward off Islamic inspectors.
When they arrived in Venice, the body was received with great ceremony. Possessing the relics of an evangelist was more than a pious act—it was a political coup. In a time when relics conferred divine legitimacy, Mark’s body gave Venice spiritual stature to rival Rome and Constantinople.
But how sure were the merchants that they had the right body?
“Smuggling Saint Mark: This mosaic on St. Mark’s Basilica depicts the daring 9th-century legend of Venetian merchants hiding the saint’s relics beneath layers of pork to escape Alexandria.”
The Missing Body of Alexander the Great
To understand the mystery, we need to turn the clock back even further—about 1,100 years before Venice’s “rescue” mission. In 323 BCE, Alexander the Great died in Babylon at the age of 32. His body was said to be mummified and placed in a golden sarcophagus, eventually brought to Alexandria.
For centuries, Alexander’s tomb was a place of pilgrimage. Julius Caesar visited it. So did Augustus. The early Roman emperors were obsessed with the conqueror’s legacy.
But then, sometime in the 3rd or 4th century CE, his tomb vanished. Earthquakes, looting, political upheaval, and the rise of Christianity may all have played a part. By the time Venice’s merchants arrived in the 9th century, the location of Alexander’s body was unknown—but there’s reason to believe it might still have been in Alexandria.
The Theory: A Case of Mistaken Identity?
Here’s where things get strange.
By the time Mark’s body was supposedly discovered in Alexandria, the tombs of saints and ancient kings had been looted, forgotten, or repurposed. Early Christian writers sometimes confused pagan tombs for those of martyrs. It's possible that what the Venetians took was not the relics of a saint, but the remains of a famous king, mistaken—intentionally or not—for something holy.
Some scholars argue that the merchants—or their Byzantine contacts—could have discovered a body already venerated in Alexandria and simply rebranded it as Saint Mark’s. After all, by the 9th century, Alexander’s tomb would have been a shadow of its former self, and the stories about its original occupant might have faded into legend.
Could the body taken from Alexandria have been the mummified remains of Alexander the Great, mistaken (or passed off) as Mark the Evangelist?
Why It Might Make Sense
The Body's Condition: Some early descriptions suggest the body was remarkably well preserved—more in line with an embalmed pharaoh than a 1st-century martyr.
The Tomb’s Prestige: Alexander’s body was one of the most coveted relics of antiquity. Possessing it would have given Venice enormous symbolic power—perhaps even more than a saint could.
The Disappearance Coincides: Alexander's tomb disappears from historical record just a few centuries before Mark’s body "appears" in Venice.
Why It Probably Isn’t
Let’s be clear: this is still a fringe theory.
Christian Belief: The Venetian church has always maintained that the body is truly Saint Mark’s. The symbolism of Mark as Venice’s protector is foundational to its civic identity.
No DNA Evidence: The tomb has never been opened for modern scientific analysis. We don’t know anything concrete about the physical remains beneath the altar.
The Byzantine Role: It's likely the Venetians had help from Byzantine authorities in Alexandria—who would presumably have known the difference between a Greek conqueror and a Christian saint.
But What If?
The idea that Alexander the Great—arguably the most powerful man in ancient history—lies in the high alter of a Christian basilica, mistaken for a saint, is both romantic and chilling.
If it were true, it would mean that for over 1,000 years, pilgrims have been praying not to an evangelist, but to a king who declared himself a god.
It would also mean that the tomb of one of the most sought-after men in history has been hiding in plain sight all along.
The high altar in St. Mark’s Basilica, which houses the relics of Saint Mark or does it?
Final Thoughts
Is the body in Saint Mark’s Basilica really that of the Gospel writer—or could it be the bones of Alexander the Great?
We may never know for sure. But Venice, as always, offers mystery beneath its beauty—and sometimes, truth and legend are more intertwined than we dare believe.
The Saint or the Conqueror? Step into Venice and explore the myth for yourself.
Step inside Saint Mark’s Basilica after nightfall, when its doors are closed to the world and its secrets stir in silence. This exclusive tour grants rare access to the crypt of Saint Mark, where history and legend converge beneath the golden mosaics. In the hushed glow of evening, you’ll explore the sacred spaces and walk in the shadows of mysteries that still endure.
Join Walks for this Exclusive Alone In St. Mark's Basilica After Hours Tour: https://fas.st/t/vVb2zTxp
Beneath the splendor of Venice lies a secret: a relic tied to Alexander the Great’s vanished tomb. From Saint Mark’s Basilica to the sands of Alexandria, this book follows a trail of lost treasures and bold discoveries, suggesting the conqueror’s legacy may rest not in Egypt, but in Venice itself
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