Ephrem the Syrian : After the defeat of Darius, Alexander extended the empire of the Greeks in every direction and made it firm with strong garrisons. In the meantime "the great horn was broken," that is, Alexander died, "and in its place there came up four horns." Indeed, since Alexander had died without children, he left his divided monarchy to his friends Seleucus, Demetrius, Philip and Ptolemy. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 8:8 Hippolytus of Rome : Next after the male goat was exalted, "his great horn was shattered, and four horns arose under him to the four winds of heaven." [Daniel 8:8] For after Alexander ruled all the land of Persia and subjected them, later he died, dividing his kingdom to his four Chiefs as is shown above, that is to Seleucus, to Demetrius, to Ptolemy, and to Philip, from whom one horn was exalted and grew great unto the power of heaven. — Commentary on Daniel 4.26.5-6 Theodoret of Cyrus : Despite that great conquest, Alexander met the common fate of humankind. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 8:8 Theodoret of Cyrus : By "four horns" he hints at the four kings who succeeded Alexander at the one time: Ptolemy son of Lagus took control of Egypt; Seleucus Nicanor got possession of Babylon and the other parts bordering on Syria; Antigonus was in charge of Asia; Antipater, Macedonia—or, as some historians think, Philip, who is also called Arrhideus, brother of Alexander. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 8:8