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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. ====Basic Plot====The film is narrated by movie begins with Ptolemy I Soter, who was one narrating the key events of Alexander's generals life and became the founder events revolving around his invasion of the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire). Alexander was declared a god in Egypt until and then fought the Roman conquestpivotal Battle of Gaugamela, where the Persian army was defeated and later fell. However, Alexander failed to kill or capture the Persian king, forcing him to march further east. The story depicts then goes back to show the strained relationship between Alexander's complex personalitymother (Olympias)and Philip II. Alexander takes solace in wrestling, horse riding, his ideals of uniting the eastern and western worldsbecomes tutored by Aristotle.<ref>For more on Alexander's early life, his unprecedented in succes in conquering not only the largest empire at the timesee: Freeman, P. (2011). <i>Alexander the Achaemenid Persians, but also his expansion into India and Central AsiaGreat.</i> New York: Simon & Schuster. </ref>

The movie begins He permitted 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 Ptolemy I Soter narrating the key events his enemies. Alexander is shown as conflicted about his destiny. Hephaistion, one of Alexander's life and events revolving around generals, is shown as his invasion of the Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire). He was declared a god in Egypt and then found the pivotal Battle of Gaugamelaclose companion, confidant, where the Persian army was defeated and later felllover. The story then goes back to show the strained relationship between <ref>For more on Alexander's mother battles against the Persians and time in Babylon see: Cheshire, K. A. (Olympias2009) and Philip II. <i>Alexander takes solace in wrestling, horse riding, and becomes tutored by Aristotlethe Great.</i> Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

After Alexander is declared king then pushed on into Iran, and unites the Greeks, his campaign against the Persians commences. One key focus was on Alexander entering Babylontroops eventually killed central Asia and India, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire. where Alexander is depicted as being in awe of the great city finally marries and showed more interest in uniting the Darius III. He chooses to marry Roxana, a marriage with a Persian world with -Bactrian princess intended to help unify the worlds that Alexander wanted to conquer. The Greek world, where he is the great king of this united world. While his generals and soldiers delight are not wholly convinced in his great victorythis marriage, Alexander is shown as thinking more about the futureGreeks saw the newly conquered barbarians and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonian. He gives royal individuals Alexander, though, seems to remain and be treated happy with respect. Meanwhile, while Alexander is staying in Babylonher, 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. despite Hephaistion, one of Alexander's generals, is shown as his close companion, confidant, and loverpossible jealousy.

Alexander then pushed on into Central Asia and India, where Alexander finally marries Roxana, a Persian-Bactrian princess that was also intended to help unify the worlds that Alexander wanted to conquer. The Greek generals and soldiers are not completely convinced in this marriage, as the Greeks saw the newly conquered as barbarians. Later, one of Alexander's close strategistsstrategist, Parmenion, is assassinated as he was accused of treason against Alexander. LaterThen, Cleitus, an officer of 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. 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 loyaltyas 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 Battle of Hydaspesin Punjab, India. Alexander is shown as being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although the battle was won by Alexander and his troopswon the battle. His army was, at At this point, his army was exhausted , and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. Back in In Babylon, Alexander was shown as trying to forge a united Greek and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populations. His lover 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 began to fight each other and divide his kingdom. Ptolemy is shown as creating a biography about Alexander, where the movie suggests the generals poisoned Alexander empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and sickness did not kill himwestern India.

====Key Characters====[[File:AlexanderTheGreat.jpeg|thumbnail|left|Figure 1. Portrait of Alexander likely from Alexandria, where the bust was depicted in the film as Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting the story of Alexander.]]<u>Alexander</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as a complex character who was driven by a vision of a different future than what his followers saw. While the Greeks and Macedonians focused on revenge and plunder, he wanted a world under one great king. His relationship with his father and mother shaped him but also and distanced him from them, where he took solace in wrestling and later his war campaigns. Historically, Alexander's great vision of uniting the Greek and Persian worlds was likely true, although the concept of a great, unifying king had already existed in Persian beliefs in governing. <dh-ad/><u>Hephaistion</u>: Was one of Alexander's generals who grew up with him and became his closest companion. Historically, he was known as a distinct general with great skills. Although Alexander and Hephaistion were close, no clear evidence indicates they were lovers. However, he was considered Alexander's alter ego, and Alexander portrayed him as a reflection of himself. When he died, Alexander did go into a rage and showed great sadness for his dead friend.<ref>For more on Hephaistion, see: Heckel, W. (2016). <i>Alexander’s marshals: a study of the Macedonian aristocracy and military leadership politics (Second edition).</i> New York, NY: Routledge, pg. 93.</ref>

<u>HephaistionOlympias</u>: Was one of Alexander's generals mother was shown as a controlling personality who grew up had a complicated relationship with him her husband. She was a worshiper of Dionysus and became his closest companion was rumored to have slept with snakes as part of that cult. Her infatuation with snakes was displayed in the movie. She did conspire to kill Eurydice, the seventh wife of Phillip II, and loverher son so that her son Alexander would rule. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted in the film. After Alexander's death, she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne. HistoricallyEventually, he she was known as killed in 317 BCE, along with Alexander's son, during Alexander's kingdom's struggles after his death.<ref>For more on Alexander's mother, see: Messmore, P. (2001). <i>Philip and Olympias: a distinct general with great skillsnovel of ancient Macedon.</i> Bloomington, IN: 1st Books Library.</ref>

<u>OlympiasPtolemy I Soter</u>: The mother of Alexander Ptolemy was shown as a controlling personality who had a very difficult relationship with her husbandgeneral in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and India. She was a worshiper of Dionysus He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was rumored to have slept with snakes as part one of the generals that cultdivided Alexander's empire after his death. Her infatuation with snakes The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander, where this account was displayed ultimately lost in the moviefire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.<ref>For more on Ptolemy, see: Buraselis, K. She did conspire to kill Eurydice, the seventh wife of Phillip IIStefanou, M., & Thompson, and her son so that her son Alexander would ruleD. J. (Eds.). She did regularly correspond with Alexander(, as depicted in the film2013). After Alexander's death<i>The Ptolemies, she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne but eventually was killed sea and the Nile: Studies in 317 BCEwaterborne power. </i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.</ref>

<u>Ptolemy I Soter</u>: Ptolemy was a noted general ====Historical Accuracy====Many historians have criticized the film for lack of clarity on many key issues in Alexander's army life. For instance, key battles and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia sieges were ignored, and Indiatoo much focus was given to Gaugamela. He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was one of the generals The Persians were depicted as mostly disorganized, but in reality, were a formidable, organized force that divided required Alexander's empire after his deathgreat skill to defeat them. The film displays Ptolemy recounting Many of the characters, including Cleitus and Darius III, the life of AlexanderPersian king, were shown as young, but in reality, where this account was ultimately lost were older men in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's library centuries latertheir 40s and 50s.

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 In reality were a formidable, organized that required Alexander's great skill to defeat them. Many of the characters, including Philotas and Darius IIIalthough he did commission its construction, 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 it was wounded not finished 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 filmlifetime. At the time of the film's release, much was made about Alexander's homosexual sexual behavior. Although Alexander was rumored and may to have had male loversslept with men, with his companion Hephaestion as one possibility, there is no clear evidence if he possibly slept with women and men. It is known Alexander did have relations several wives, but it may not have been uncommon, at least for royalty, also to have male lovers as well as wives. The most persuasive evidence he had a male lover is with Bagoas, a Persian eunuch in Darius' court who may have also been Darius' lover. In fact, this was shown in the film, although definitive proof is missing. Bagoas was described as having exceptional beauty from known accounts. Nevertheless, some often less known facts do come through, including the diary that Ptolemy wrote 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.

==Summary==The film <i>Alexander</i> never gained great popularity in the United States at the time of its releaseDespite some reasonably glaring inaccuracies, relative to the major cast of well some often less known actorsfacts come through, but since has gained greater popularity. The film focuses on what it considers key events in including the time of Alexander, but also contributes many 20th diary that Ptolemy wrote that did likely exist and 21st probably did burn in Alexandria centuries themes of individual freedom in depicting Alexander's ventures into Asialater when the famous Great Library burned. Although to historians This gave the film has some historical leeway and did suggest there probably is a lot about Alexander we have never learned.<ref>For more on the period of key inaccuraciesAlexander and his successor generals, see: Waterfield, R. (2013). <i>Dividing the spoils: the film does inform as well as entertain and many key events, such as war for Alexander's attempt unify the Greek and Persian worldsGreat’s empire.</i> Oxford; New York, did happenN.Y. This was borne by the wives he marries as well his actions: 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 Alexander's time and 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. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==*[[British Criminal and Legal History Top Ten Booklist]]*[[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in World War Two?]]*[[Was Elizabeth I Justified in having her Cousin Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland Executed?]]*[[How does The Magna Carta influence the Modern Perceptions of Civil Rights?]]*[[Privateering during the War of 1812: Interview with Faye M. Kert]]*[[Did the Congress of Berlin create a more unstable Europe?]]</div> <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzHQuAz0N60</youtube> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Alexander the Great]][[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Greek History]] ====References====<references/>{{Contributors}}