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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>

==Basic Plot==[[File:alexander_ver5.jpeg|thumbnail|<i>After Alexander</i> movie poster.]]The movie begins with Ptolemy I Soter narrating is declared king and unites the key events of AlexanderGreeks after his father's life and events revolving around (Philip II) death, his campaign against the Persians commences. After his invasion victory in Gaugamela, one key focus was on Alexander entering Babylon, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid Empire (Persian ) Empire). Alexander was declared a god is depicted as being in Egypt awe of the great city and then fought 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 pivotal Battle great king of Gaugamelathis new united world. While his soldiers delight in his great victory, where Alexander is shown as thinking more about the future and freeing those who were enslaved at the Persian army was defeated court.  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 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 his troops eventually killed central Asia and later fellIndia, although where Alexander failed finally marries and Darius III. He chooses to marry Roxana, a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was intended to kill or capture help unify the Persian king, forcing him worlds that Alexander wanted to march further eastconquer. The story then goes back Greek generals and soldiers are not wholly convinced in time this marriage, as the Greeks saw the newly conquered as barbarians and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonian. Alexander, though, seems to show the strained relationship between be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's possible jealousy.  Later, one of Alexander's mother (Olympias)and Philip IIclose strategists, Parmenion, is assassinated as he was accused of treason against Alexander. Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander takes solace , who was to be governor of Bactria, got involved in wrestlinga drunken dispute with Alexander, horse ridingwhere Cleitus insulted Alexander, leading to Alexander killing Cleitus. This event and becomes tutored by Aristotlethe 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 east.<ref>For more on Alexander's early lifelast years of campaigning and problems with his followers, see: FreemanGabriel, PR. A. (20112015). <i>The Madness of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Genius.</i> New YorkBarnsley: Simon Pen & SchusterSword Military.</ref>

After Alexander is declared king and unites the Greeks after then pushes his father's (Philip II) death, his campaign against men where they fight the Persians commences. After his victory Battle of Hydaspes in GaugamelaPunjab, one key focus was on Alexander entering Babylon, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid (Persian) EmpireIndia. Alexander is depicted shown as being in awe of the great city gravely injured and showed more interest in uniting the Persian world with the Greek world, making these worlds better than they would be alonebattle being particularly bloody, where he is although the great king of this new united world. While his soldiers delight in his great victory, battle was won by Alexander is shown as thinking more about the future and freeing those who were enslaved at the Persian courthis troops. He gives permission for royal individualsHis army was, including Darius' daughterat this point, exhausted and many men perished as they marched back to remain and be treated with respectBabylon. Meanwhile, while Alexander is staying Back in Babylon, his mother makes him aware of conspiracies against him but berates him for being too generous with his enemies. Alexander is was shown as conflicted about trying to forge a united Greek and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populations. However, within months after he arrives his destinyplans fall apart. HephaistionFirst, one of Alexander's generals, is shown as his close companion, confidant, Hephaistion dies from Typhus and lovera few months later Alexander joins him in death.<ref>For more on With Alexander's battles against the Persians death, his generals begin to fight each other and divide his empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and time in Babylon see: Cheshire, K. A. (2009). <i>Alexander the Great.</i> Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Pressto western India.</ref>

Alexander then pushed on into Iran and Central Asia and IndiaForty years later, where Alexander finally marries and Darius III was eventually killed by his troops. He chooses to marry RoxanaPtolemy, a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was 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 and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonian. Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's possible jealousy. Later, one of Alexander's close strategists, Parmenionwho now ruled Egypt, is assassinated shown as he was accused of treason against Alexander. Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander, who was to be governor of Bactria, got involved in creating a drunken dispute with biography about Alexander, where Cleitus insulted Alexander, leading to Alexander killing Cleitus. This event and the assassination of Parmenion showed movie suggests the increased strain generals poisoned Alexander and his men were coming under sickness did not kill him, as they had campaigned for so long away from Macedonia. the generals feared Alexander offers generous rewards and pensions may have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of his soldiers to keep their loyalty as he continues east.<ref>For more on Alexander's last years of campaigning and problems with his followersmonths at Babylon, see: GabrielRomm, RJ. AS. (20152011). <i>The Madness Ghost on the throne: the death of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Geniuswar for crown and empire.</i> BarnsleyNew York: Pen & Sword MilitaryAlfred A. Knopf.</ref>

====Key Characters====[[File:AlexanderTheGreat.jpeg|thumbnail|left|Figure 1. Portrait of Alexander then pushes his men likely from Alexandria, where they fight the Battle bust was depicted in the film as Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting the story of Hydaspes in Punjab, IndiaAlexander. ]]<u>Alexander</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although the battle a complex character who was won driven by Alexander a vision of a different future than what his followers saw. While the Greeks and Macedonians focused on revenge and his troopsplunder, he wanted a world under one great king. His army wasrelationship with his father and mother shaped him but also distanced him from them, at this point, exhausted where he took solace in wrestling and many men perished as they marched back to Babylonlater his war campaigns. Back in BabylonHistorically, Alexander was shown as trying to forge a united 's great vision of uniting the Greek and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populations. Howeverworlds was likely true, within months after he arrives his plans fall apart. Firstalthough the concept of a great, his companion Hephaistion dies from Typhus and a few months later Alexander joins him unifying king had already existed in Persian beliefs in deathgoverning. With <dh-ad/><u>Hephaistion</u>: Was one of Alexander's death, his generals begin to fight each other who grew up with him and divide became his empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and to western Indiaclosest companion. Forty years laterHistorically, Ptolemy, who now ruled Egypt, is shown he was known as creating a biography about distinct general with great skills. Although Alexanderand Hephaistion were close, where the movie suggests the generals poisoned no clear evidence indicates they were lovers. He was, however, considered as Alexander 's alter ego and sickness did not kill Alexander portrayed himas a reflection of himself. When he died, as the generals feared Alexander may have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of did go into a rage and showed great sadness for his soldiersdead friend.<ref>For more on Alexander's last months at BabylonHephaistion, see: Romm Heckel, J. SW. (20112016). <i>Ghost on the throneAlexander’s marshals: the death a study of Alexander the Great Macedonian aristocracy and the war for crown and empirepolitics of military leadership (Second edition).</i> New York, NY: Alfred ARoutledge, pg. Knopf93.</ref>

<u>AlexanderPtolemy I Soter</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as a complex character who Ptolemy was driven by vision of a different future than what his followers sawnoted general in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and India. While He later founded the Greeks Ptolemaic dynasty and Macedonians focused on revenge and plunder, he wanted a world under was one great kingof the generals that divided Alexander's empire after his death. His relationship with his father and mother shaped him but also distanced him from themThe film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander, where he took solace this account was ultimately lost in wrestling and the fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later his war campaigns. Historically<ref>For more on Ptolemy, see: Buraselis, K., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (2013). <i>The Ptolemies, Alexander's great vision of uniting the Greek sea and Persian worlds was likely true, although the concept of a great, unifying king had already existed Nile: studies in Persian beliefs in governingwaterborne power.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. </ref>

<u>Hephaistion</u>: Was one ====Historical Accuracy====Many historians have criticized the film for lack of clarity on many key issues in Alexander's generals who grew up with him and became his closest companionlife. HistoricallyFor instance, he key battles and sieges were ignored and too much focus was known as a distinct general with great skillsgiven on Gaugamela. Although ALexander and Hephaistion The Persians were closedepicted as mostly disorganized, no clear evidence indicates they but in reality were lovers. He was, howevera formidable, considered as organized force that required Alexander's alter ego great skill to defeat them. Many of the characters, including Cleitus and Alexander portrayed him Darius III, the Persian king, were shown as a reflection of himself. When he diedyoung, Alexander did go into a rage but in reality were older men in their 40s and showed great sadness for his dead friend50s.

<u>Olympias</u>: The mother of Alexander was is shown as a controlling personality who had a very difficult relationship with her husbandwounded in the battle at Hydaspes, but in reality, he was wounded in another engagement in India. She was Many generalities are also given regarding Babylon, where imagery showed a worshiper combination of Dionysus Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian themes in the mostly Babylonian city that was rumored to have slept with snakes as part one of the capitals of that cultthe Achaemenid Empire. Her infatuation with snakes was displayed in In fact, imagery of Babylon remind one of the moviefilm <i>Intolerance</i> by D. She did conspire to kill EurydiceW.Griffith, which was full of a variety of mixed legends. The Indian ruler Porus historically earned the seventh wife respect of Phillip II, Alexander and her son so that her son was given status as a king even after his defeat to Alexander would rule. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted This is mostly ignored in the film. After Alexander's death, she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne but eventually was killed The Lighthouse of Alexandria is briefly shown in 317 BCE, along with Alexander's son, during one season as Ptolemy is describing the struggles for Alexander's kingdom after his deathstory of Alexandria.

<u>Ptolemy I Soter</u>: Ptolemy In reality, although he did commission its construction, it was a noted general not finished in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and Indiahis lifetime. He later founded At the Ptolemaic dynasty and was one time of the generals that divided film's release, much was made about Alexander's empire after homosexual behavior. Although Alexander was rumored to have slept with men, with his deathcompanion 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 not have been uncommon, at least for royalty, also to have male lovers as well as wives. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexandermost persuasive evidence he had a male lover is with Bagoas, where this account was ultimately lost a Persian eunuch in the fire that destroyed AlexandriaDarius' court who may have also been Darius's Great Library centuries laterlover. Bagoas was described as having exceptional beauty from known accounts.

[[File:AlexanderTheGreatDespite some 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.jpeg|thumbnail|Figure 1This gave the film some historical leeway and did suggest there probably is a lot about Alexander we have never learned. Portrait <ref>For more on the period of Alexander likely from Alexandriaand his successor generals, see: Waterfield, where R. (2013). <i>Dividing the bust was depicted in spoils: the film as Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting war for Alexander the story of AlexanderGreat’s empire.</i> Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press.]]</ref>

==Historical Accuracy==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.

The film has been criticized by many historians for a lack clarity on many key issues in Alexander's life<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory. For instance, key battles org Articles==*[[British Criminal 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 Legal History Top Ten Booklist]]*[[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the characters, including Philotas and Darius III, the Persian king, were shown as young, but United Kingdom in reality were older men World War Two?]]*[[Was Elizabeth I Justified in their 40s and 50s. Alexander is shown as wounded in the battle at Hydaspeshaving her Cousin Mary Stuart, but in reality he was wounded in another engagement in India. Many generalities are also given regarding Babylon, where imagery showed a combination Queen of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian themes in Scotland Executed?]]*[[How does The Magna Carta influence the mostly Babylonian city that was one Modern Perceptions of Civil Rights?]]*[[Privateering during the capitals War of 1812: Interview with Faye M. Kert]]*[[Did the Achaemenid Empire. In fact, imagery Congress of Babylon remind one of the film <i>IntoleranceBerlin create a more unstable Europe?]]</idiv> 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. 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 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 suggest there probably is a lot about Alexander we have never learned.

==Summary==The film <i>[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category: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 Great]][[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Greek and Persian worlds, key battles, and his marriages to foreign wives.History]]

====References====<references/>{{Contributors}}