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<i>Alexander</i> is a 2004 historical drama about Alexander the Great, from his early childhood to his death at Babylon in 323 BCE. The film is narrated by Ptolemy I Soter, who was one of Alexander's generals and became the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled in Egypt until the Roman conquest. The story depicts Alexander's complex personality, his ideals ideas of uniting the eastern and western worlds, his unprecedented in succes success in conquering not only the largest empire at the time, the Achaemenid Persians, but also his expansion into India and Central Asia.

====Basic Plot====

After Alexander is declared king and unites the Greeks after his father's (Philip II) death, his campaign against the Persians commences. After his victory in Gaugamela, one key focus was on Alexander entering Babylon, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire. Alexander is depicted as being in awe of the great city and showed more interest in uniting the Persian world with the Greek world, making these worlds better than they would be alone, where he is the great king of this new united world. While his soldiers delight in his great victory, Alexander is shown as thinking more about the future and freeing those who were enslaved at the Persian court. He gives permission for royal individuals, including Darius' daughter, to remain and be treated with respect. Meanwhile, while Alexander is staying in Babylon, his mother makes him aware of conspiracies against him but berates him for being too generous with his enemies. Alexander is shown as conflicted about his destiny. Hephaistion, one of Alexander's generals, is shown as his close companion, confidant, and lover.<ref>For more on Alexander's battles against the Persians and time in Babylon see: Cheshire, K. A. (2009). <i>Alexander the Great.</i> Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

Alexander then pushed on into Iran and Central Asia and IndiaHe permitted royal individuals, including Darius' daughter, where Alexander finally marries to remain and Darius III was eventually killed by his troopsbe treated with respect. He chooses to marry RoxanaMeanwhile, a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was intended to help unify the worlds that while Alexander wanted to conquer. The Greek generals and soldiers are not completely convinced is staying in this marriageBabylon, his mother makes him aware of conspiracies against him but berates him for being too generous with his enemies. Alexander is shown as the Greeks saw the newly conquered as barbarians and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonianconflicted about his destiny. Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's possible jealousy. Later, one of Alexander's close strategists, Parmeniongenerals, is assassinated shown as he was accused of treason against Alexander. Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander, who was to be governor of Bactriahis close companion, got involved in a drunken dispute with Alexanderconfidant, where Cleitus insulted Alexander, leading to Alexander killing Cleitus. This event and the assassination of Parmenion showed the increased strain Alexander and his men were coming under as they had campaigned for so long away from Macedonia. Alexander offers generous rewards and pensions to his soldiers to keep their loyalty as he continues eastlover.<ref>For more on Alexander's last years of campaigning battles against the Persians and problems with his followers, time in Babylon see: GabrielCheshire, RK. A. (20152009). <i>The Madness of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Genius.</i> BarnsleyCambridge ; New York: Pen & Sword MilitaryCambridge University Press.</ref>

Alexander then pushes pushed on into Iran and his men where they fight the Battle of Hydaspes in Punjab, troops eventually killed central Asia and India. Alexander is shown as being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although the battle was won by where Alexander finally marries and his troopsDarius III. His army was, at this point, exhausted and many men perished as they marched back He chooses to Babylon. Back in Babylonmarry Roxana, Alexander a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was shown as trying intended to forge a united Greek and eastern state help unify the worlds that combined Persian and other eastern populations. However, within months after he arrives his plans fall apart. First, his companion Hephaistion dies from Typhus and a few months later Alexander joins him in deathwanted to conquer. With Alexander's death, his The Greek generals begin to fight each other and divide his empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and to western India. Forty years later, Ptolemy, who now ruled Egyptsoldiers are not wholly convinced in this marriage, is shown as creating a biography about Alexander, where the movie suggests Greeks saw the generals poisoned Alexander newly conquered as barbarians and sickness did not kill him, as the generals feared Alexander may have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of his soldiersshould marry a Greek or Macedonian.<ref>For more on Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's last months at Babylon, see: Romm, J. S. (2011). <i>Ghost on the throne: the death of Alexander the Great and the war for crown and empire.</i> New York: Alfred A. Knopfpossible jealousy.</ref>

==Key Characters==[[File:AlexanderTheGreatLater, one of Alexander's close strategists, Parmenion, is assassinated as he was accused of treason against Alexander.jpeg|thumbnail|Figure 1Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander, who was to be governor of Bactria, got involved in a drunken dispute with Alexander, where Cleitus insulted Alexander, leading to Alexander killing Cleitus. Portrait This event and the assassination of Parmenion showed the increased strain Alexander likely and his men were coming under as they had campaigned for so long away from AlexandriaMacedonia. Alexander offers generous rewards and pensions to his soldiers to keep their loyalty as he continues east.<ref>For more on Alexander's last years of campaigning and problems with his followers, see: Gabriel, R. A. (2015). <i>The Madness of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Genius.</i> Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military.</ref>  Alexander then pushes his men where they fight the bust Battle of Hydaspes in Punjab, India. Alexander is shown as being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although the battle was depicted won by Alexander and his troops. His army was, at this point, exhausted and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. Back in the film Babylon, Alexander was shown as Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting the story of trying to forge a united Greek and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populations. However, within months after he arrives his plans fall apart. First, his companion Hephaistion dies from Typhus and a few months later Alexander joins him in death. With Alexander's death, his generals begin to fight each other and divide his empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and to western India.]]

<u>Alexander</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) Forty years later, Ptolemy, who now ruled Egypt, is shown as creating a complex character who was driven by vision of a different future than what his followers saw. While biography about Alexander, where the movie suggests the Greeks generals poisoned Alexander and Macedonians focused on revenge and plundersickness did not kill him, he as the generals feared Alexander may have wanted a world under one great king. His relationship with his father and mother shaped him but also distanced him from them, where he took solace in wrestling and later to launch new campaigns to the dismay of his war campaignssoldiers. Historically, <ref>For more on Alexander's great vision last months at Babylon, see: Romm, J. S. (2011). <i>Ghost on the throne: the death of uniting Alexander the Greek Great and Persian worlds was likely true, although the concept of a great, unifying king had already existed in Persian beliefs in governingwar for crown and empire.</i> New York: Alfred A. Knopf. </ref>

<u>HephaistionPtolemy I Soter</u>: Was one of Ptolemy was a noted general in Alexander's generals who grew up with him army and became his closest companion. Historically, he was known as a distinct general with great skills. Although ALexander played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and Hephaistion were close, no clear evidence indicates they were loversIndia. He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was, however, considered as one of the generals that divided Alexander's alter ego and empire after his death. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander portrayed him as a reflection of himself. When he died, Alexander did go into a rage and showed great sadness for his dead friendwhere this account was ultimately lost in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.<ref>For more on HephaistionPtolemy, see: HeckelBuraselis, WK., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (20162013). <i>Alexander’s marshals: a study of The Ptolemies, the Macedonian aristocracy sea and the politics of military leadership (Second edition)Nile: studies in waterborne power.</i> New York, NYCambridge: Routledge, pg. 93Cambridge University Press.</ref>

<u>Olympias</u>: The mother ====Historical Accuracy====Many historians have criticized the film for lack of clarity on many key issues in Alexander was shown as a controlling personality who had a very difficult relationship with her husband's life. She was a worshiper of Dionysus For instance, key battles and sieges were ignored and too much focus was rumored to have slept with snakes given on Gaugamela. The Persians were depicted as part of that cult. Her infatuation with snakes was displayed mostly disorganized, but in the movie. She did conspire to kill Eurydice, the seventh wife of Phillip IIreality were a formidable, and her son so organized force that her son Alexander would rule. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted in the film. After required Alexander's death, she tried great skill to establish Alexander's son on defeat them. Many of the throne but eventually was killed in 317 BCEcharacters, along with Alexander's sonincluding Cleitus and Darius III, during the struggles for Alexander's kingdom after his death.<ref>For more on Alexander's motherPersian king, see: Messmorewere shown as young, P. (2001). <i>Philip but in reality were older men in their 40s and Olympias: a novel of ancient Macedon.</i> Bloomington, IN: 1st Books Library50s.</ref>

<u>Ptolemy I Soter</u>: Ptolemy was a noted general in Alexander's army and played important roles is shown as wounded in the campaigns battle at Hydaspes, but in reality, he was wounded in another engagement in Central Asia and India. He later founded Many generalities are also given regarding Babylon, where imagery showed a combination of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian themes in the Ptolemaic dynasty and mostly Babylonian city that was one of the generals that divided Alexander's empire after his deathcapitals of the Achaemenid Empire. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life In fact, imagery of Babylon remind one of Alexander, where this account was ultimately lost in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.film <i>Intolerance<ref/i>For more on Ptolemy, see: Buraselis, Kby D., Stefanou, MW.Griffith, & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (2013)which was full of a variety of mixed legends. <i>The Ptolemies, Indian ruler Porus historically earned the sea respect of Alexander and was given status as a king even after his defeat to Alexander. This is mostly ignored in the Nile: studies film. The Lighthouse of Alexandria is briefly shown in waterborne power.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Pressone season as Ptolemy is describing the story of Alexandria.</ref>

The film has been criticized by many historians for a lack clarity on many key issues in Alexander's life. For instance, key battles and sieges were ignored and too much focus was given on Gaugamela. The Persians were depicted as mostly disorganized, but in reality were a formidable, organized force that required Alexander's great skill to defeat them. Many of the characters, including Cleitus and Darius III, the Persian king, were shown as young, but in reality were older men in their 40s and 50s. Alexander is shown as wounded in the battle at Hydaspes, but in reality he was wounded in another engagement in India. Many generalities are also given regarding Babylon, where imagery showed a combination of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian themes in the mostly Babylonian city that was one of the capitals of the Achaemenid Empire. In fact, imagery of Babylon remind one of the film <i>Intolerance</i> by D.W.Griffith, which was full of a variety of mixed legends. The Indian ruler Porus historically earned the respect of Alexander and was given status as a king even after his defeat to Alexander. This is mostly ignored in the film. The Lighthouse of Alexandria is briefly shown in one season as Ptolemy is describing the story of Alexandria. In reality, although he did commission its construction, it was not finished in his lifetime. At the time of the film's release, much was made about Alexander's homosexual behavior. Although Alexander was rumored to have slept with men, with his companion Hephaestion as one possibility, there is no clear evidence if he slept with women and men. It is known Alexander did have several wives, but it may have not been uncommon, at least for royalty, to also have male lovers as well as wives. The strongest evidence he had a male lover is with Bagoas, a Persian eunuch in Darius' court who may have also been Darius' lover. Bagoas was described as having exceptional beauty from known accounts. Despite some fairly reasonably glaring inaccuracies, some often less known facts do come through, including the diary that Ptolemy wrote that did likely exist and probably did burn in Alexandria centuries later when the famous Great Library burned. This, in fact, probably gave the film some historical leeway and does did suggest there probably is a lot about Alexander we have never learned.<ref>For more on the period of Alexander and his successor generals, see: Waterfield, R. (2013). <i>Dividing the spoils: the war for Alexander the Great’s empire.</i> Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press.</ref>

====Summary====The film <i>Alexander</i> never gained great popularity in the United States at the time of its release, relative to the major cast of well -known actors, but since has gained greater popularity. The film focuses on what it considers key events in the time of Alexander, but also contributes many 20th and 21st centuries themes of individual freedom in depicting Alexander's ventures into Asia. Such coupling of these modern ideals is probably fanciful. Although to historians the film has a lot of key inaccuracies, the film does inform as well as entertain regarding some of the key events in Alexander's life, including his rise to power, his attempt to unify the Greek and Persian worlds, key battles, and his marriages to foreign wives.

[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Alexander the Great]]

====References====