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<i>This article contains spoilers</i>

<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 of uniting the eastern and western worlds, his unprecedented in succes in conquering not only the largest empire at the time, the Achaemenid Persians, but also his expansion into India and Central Asia.

==Basic Plot==

The movie begins with Ptolemy I Soter narrating the key events of Alexander's life and events revolving around his invasion of the Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire). Alexander was declared a god in Egypt and then fought the pivotal Battle of Gaugamela, where the Persian army was defeated and later fell, although Alexander failed to kill or capture the Persian king, forcing him to march further east. The story then goes back in time to show the strained relationship between Alexander's mother (Olympias)and Philip II. Alexander takes solace in wrestling, horse riding, and becomes tutored by Aristotle.<ref>For more on Alexander's early life, see: Freeman, P. (2011). <i>Alexander the Great.</i> New York: Simon & Schuster.</ref>

==Key Characters==

<u>Alexander</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as a complex character who was driven by 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.

<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>Ptolemy I Soter</u>: Ptolemy was a noted general in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and India. He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was one of the generals that divided Alexander's empire after his death. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander, where this account was ultimately lost in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.<ref>For more on Ptolemy, see: Buraselis, K., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (2013). <i>The Ptolemies, the sea and the Nile: studies in waterborne power.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge 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.

==References==