The Republic of
Macedonia occupies the western half of the ancient Kingdom of
Macedonia.
The
part of the southern Balkan Peninsula traditionally known as
Macedonia is bounded to the south by the Aegean Sea and the Aliákmon
River; to the west by Lakes Prespa and Ohrid, the watershed west
of the Crni Drim River, and the Sar Mountains; and to the
north by the mountains of the Skopska Crna Gora and the
watershed between the Morava and Vardar basins. The Pirin
Mountains mark its eastern edge. Since 1913 this geographic and
historical region has been divided between Greece, Serbia and
Bulgaria, and only some 40 percent of its area is occupied by
the independent state,MACEDONIA.
Even
before
Alexander
the
Great,
Macedonia
evoked
power
from
which
to
steer
clear.
When
the
ancient
Greeks
held
the
Olympics
they
forbade
the
participation
of
the
mountainous
neighbor
to
the
north
because
the
hunter-warriors
there
were
too
strong,
too
fast,
too
good
—
favored
by
the
geographic
and
genetic
equivalent
of
steroids.
It
was
believed
the
Macedonians
were
descendants
of
Zeus,
after
all.
When
Alexander
decided
to
enter
the
Olympics,
he
proved
the
dread
justifiable:
he
won.
Then
again,
he
was
the
emperor.
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