Ephrem the Syrian : These words concern the kingdom of the Persians. Indeed, what in the statue of Nebuchadnezzar had been indicated under the aspect of bronze, a very hard metal, here is seen under the image of the leopard, an extremely agile and harmful beast. [The beast] is also provided with four wings and four heads. This is because it brought its dominion to the four winds of heaven. "And dominion was given to it": this is a reference to the multitude of peoples to be submitted. This passage must be compared with the prophecy of Isaiah: "He will strip kings of their robes, etc" In that same prophet we can read these words said about Cyrus to Cyrus by God. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 7:6 Hippolytus of Rome : Some of the historians recorded that these ruled two hundred forty-five years until Darius the chief, whom Alexander of Macedon deposed in the seventh year and transferred the kingdom of the Persians to the Greeks. Just as also Daniel says, "After this I was looking, and behold, another beast like a leopard and four wings of a bird were upon it and four heads were on the beast, and authority was given to it." [Daniel 7:6] And so having named a leopard, he signals the kingdom of the Greeks, which Alexander of Macedon began, and he compares them to a leopard on account of them being sharp in mind and resourceful in reasoning and relentless in heart, in which manner also the spotted creature is the model of the kingdom of the Greeks, quick to do evil and quick to drink the blood of men. He says, "Four wings of a bird were upon it and four heads were on the beast." [Daniel 7:6] For after the kingdom of Alexander was lifted up and grew in strength and was named in all the world, his kingdom was divided to his four chiefs. For while dying, Alexander distributed it to his companions who were of his race, four men, Seleucus, Demetrius, Ptolemy, and Philip, and these all put on crowns, just as Daniel predicts and was recorded in the first book of the Maccabees. [1 Maccabees 1:9] — Commentary on Daniel 4.3.5-8 Jerome : Verse 6. "After this I beheld, and lo, there was another beast like unto a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird all its own, and there were four heads to the beast, and power was given to it." The third kingdom was that of the Macedonians, of which we read in connection with the image, "The belly and thighs were of bronze." It is compared to a leopard because it is very swift and hormetikos, and it charges headlong to shed blood, and with a single bound rushes to its death. "And it had four wings..." There was never, after all, any victory won more quickly than Alexander's, for he traversed all the way from Illyricum and the Adriatic Sea to the Indian Ocean and the Ganges River, not merely fighting battles but winning decisive victories; and in six years he subjugated to his rule a portion of Europe and all of Asia. And by the four heads reference is made to his generals who subsequently rose up as successors to his royal power, namely Ptolemy, Seleucus, Philip, and Antigonus. "And power was given to it" shows that the empire did not result from Alexander's bravery but from the will of God. — St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SEVEN Theodoret of Cyrus : The "four heads" refer to the division of the empire that took place after Alexander. Four kings were established instead of one. The rulership of Egypt was entrusted to Ptolemy, son of Lagos; the realm of the Orient was granted to Seleucus; Antigonus acquired Asia; and Antipater Macedonia (although some historians say that Alexander's brother, Philip, also known as Aridaeus) acquired Macedonia. The "four heads" then allude to the four kingdoms that arose after Alexander, and the "four wings" allude to the principate of Alexander itself, who conquered the four parts of the world. Moreover, Daniel said that "power was given to the beast," because it had obtained those very things that earlier kings had not obtained. Nonetheless, also that kingdom, which was superior to all others, came to an end. — COMMENTARY ON Daniel 7:6