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[[File:AlexanderTheGreat.jpeg|thumbnail|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.]]
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[[File:alexander_ver5.jpeg|thumbnail|left|275px|<i>Alexander</i> movie poster.]]<i>This article contains spoilers</i>
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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 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.
==Key Characters==
[[File:AlexanderTheGreat.jpeg|thumbnail|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 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.
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<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==
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[[Category:Wikis]]
[[Category:Ancient History]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Greek History]]
==References==
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