Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
When he was strong, the great horn was broken. The empire was in full strength at Alexander's death by fever at Babylon, and seemed then least likely to fall. Yet it was then "broken." His natural brother, Philip Aridoeus, and his two sons, Alexander AEgus and Hercules, in 15 months, were murdered.
For it came up four notable ones, toward the four winds of heaven - Seleucus, in the east, obtained Syria, Babylonia, Media, etc. Cassander, in the west, Macedon, Thessaly, Greece. Ptolemy, in the south, Egypt, Cyprus, etc. Lysimachus, in the north, Thrace, Cappadocia, and the north parts of Asia Minor.