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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 pivotal Battle of Gaugamela, where the Roman conquestPersian army was defeated and later fell, although Alexander failed to kill or capture the Persian king, forcing him to march further east. The story depicts then goes back in time 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 that was 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 as barbarians and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonian. He gives royal individuals Alexander, though, seems to remain and be treated happy with respect. Meanwhileher, 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. 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 strategists, 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 troops. His army was, at this point, was exhausted and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. Back 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 begin 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 himto western 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 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. He was, however, considered as 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 the politics of military leadership (Second edition).</i> New York, NY: Routledge, pg. 93.</ref>

<u>HephaistionOlympias</u>: Was one The mother of Alexander's generals 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. HistoricallyAfter Alexander's death, he she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne but eventually was known as killed in 317 BCE, along with Alexander's son, during the struggles for Alexander's kingdom 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 husbandnoted general 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. She did conspire to kill Eurydice<ref>For more on Ptolemy, the seventh wife of Phillip IIsee: Buraselis, K., Stefanou, and her son so that her son Alexander would ruleM. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted in the film& Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (2013). 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 and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia life. For instance, key battles and India. He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty sieges were ignored and too much focus was one of the generals given on Gaugamela. 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, where this account was ultimately lost but in reality were older men in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's library centuries latertheir 40s and 50s.

The In reality, although he did commission its construction, it was not finished in his lifetime. At the time of the film has been criticized by many historians for a lack clarity on many key issues in Alexander's life. For instancerelease, 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 that required made about Alexander's great skill homosexual behavior. Although Alexander was rumored to defeat them. Many of the charactershave slept with men, including Philotas and Darius III, the Persian king, were shown with his companion Hephaestion as youngone possibility, but in reality were older there is no clear evidence if he slept with women and men in their 40s and 50s. It is known Alexander is shown as wounded in the battle did have several wives, but it may not have been uncommon, at Hydaspesleast for royalty, but in reality also to have male lovers as well as wives. The most persuasive evidence he was wounded in another engagement in India. Many generalities are also given regarding Babylonhad a male lover is with Bagoas, where imagery showed a combination of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian themes eunuch in the mostly Babylonian city that was one of the capitals of the Achaemenid EmpireDarius' court who may have also been Darius' lover. 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 Bagoas was given status described as a king even after his defeat to Alexander. This is mostly ignored in the film. Nevertheless, some often less having exceptional beauty from 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 leewayaccounts.

==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 do 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 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. <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> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Alexander the Great]][[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Greek History]] ====References====<references/>{{Contributors}}