It's also the third or so novel I've read where someone has designs on the body of Alexander the Great; I tell you, that man's corpse must have been the most irresistable for bodysnatchers in the ancient world.

Ha! Years ago, we played a self-written one-shot roleplaying adventure set in Alexandria - and believe it or not, it was about Alexander's stolen corpse! I'm still somewhat proud of the solution my character - an earnest, if hapless young nobleman proposed with his clever and way more cynical Celtic slave: we just gave everyone involved an Alexander. I think the real one ended up below the doorstep of our Nubian warrior... what can I say, it was an odd, but hot group, played by three mostly straight women and one gay man. :D