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[[File:alexander_ver5.jpeg|thumbnail|left|275px|<i>Alexander</i> movie poster.]]<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 founder that ruled in Egypt until the Roman conquest. The story depicts Alexander's complex personality, his ideals ideas of uniting the eastern and western worlds, his unprecedented in succes success in conquering not only the largest empire at the time, the Achaemenid Persians, but also and 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. However, 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>

After Alexander is declared king and unites the Greeks after his father's (Philip II) death, his campaign against the Persians commences. After his victory in Gaugamela, one key focus was on Alexander entering Babylon, one of the great cities of the Achaemenid (Persian) Empire. Alexander is depicted as being in awe of the great city and showed more interest in uniting the Persian world with the Greek world, making these worlds better than they would be being alone, where he is the great king of this new united world. While his soldiers delight in his great victory, Alexander is shown as thinking more about the future and freeing those who were enslaved at the Persian court. He gives permission for 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 Central Asia and IndiaHe permitted royal individuals, including Darius' daughter, where Alexander finally marries to remain and Darius III was eventually killed by his troopsbe treated with respect. He chooses to marry RoxanaMeanwhile, a marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess that was intended to help unify the worlds that while Alexander wanted to conquer. The Greek generals and soldiers are not completely convinced is staying in this marriageBabylon, his mother makes him aware of conspiracies against him but berates him for being too generous with his enemies. Alexander is shown as the Greeks saw the newly conquered as barbarians and Alexander should marry a Greek or Macedonianconflicted about his destiny. Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's possible jealousy. Later, one of Alexander's close strategists, Parmeniongenerals, is assassinated shown as he was accused of treason against Alexander. Then, Cleitus, an officer serving Alexander, who was to be governor of Bactriahis close companion, got involved in a drunken dispute with Alexanderconfidant, 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 loyalty as he continues eastlover.<ref>For more on Alexander's last years of campaigning battles against the Persians and problems with his followers, time in Babylon see: GabrielCheshire, RK. A. (20152009). <i>The Madness of Alexander the Great: and the Myth of Military Genius.</i> BarnsleyCambridge ; New York: Pen & Sword MilitaryCambridge University Press.</ref>

Alexander then pushes his men where they fight the Battle of Hydaspes in Punjabpushed on into Iran, 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, exhausted eventually killed central Asia and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. Back in BabylonIndia, where Alexander was shown as trying to forge a united Greek finally marries and eastern state that combined Persian and other eastern populationsDarius III. HoweverHe chooses to marry Roxana, 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 marriage with a Persian-Bactrian princess intended to fight each other and divide his empire help unify the worlds that stretched from Greece to Egypt and Alexander wanted to western Indiaconquer. Forty years later, Ptolemy, who now ruled Egypt, is shown as creating a biography about Alexander, where the movie suggests the The Greek generals poisoned Alexander and sickness did soldiers are not kill himwholly convinced in this marriage, as the generals feared Greeks saw the newly conquered barbarians and Alexander may have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of his soldiersshould marry a Greek or Macedonian.<ref>For more on Alexander, though, seems to be happy with her, despite Hephaistion's last months at Babylon, see: Romm, J. S. (2011). <i>Ghost on the throne: the death of Alexander the Great and the war for crown and empire.</i> New York: Alfred A. Knopfpossible jealousy.</ref>

<u>Alexander</u>: then pushes his men where they fight the Battle of Hydaspes in Punjab, India. Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as a complex character who being gravely injured and the battle being particularly bloody, although Alexander and his troops won the battle. At this point, his army was exhausted, and many men perished as they marched back to Babylon. In Babylon, Alexander was driven by vision of shown as trying to forge a different future than what his followers saw. While the Greeks united Greek and Macedonians focused on revenge eastern state that combined Persian and plunderother eastern populations. However, within months after he wanted a world under one great kingarrives, his plans fall apart. His relationship with First, his father and mother shaped him but also distanced him companion Hephaistion dies from themTyphus, where he took solace in wrestling and a few months later his war campaigns, Alexander joins him in death. Historically, With Alexander's great vision of uniting the Greek death, his generals began to fight each other and divide his empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt and Persian worlds was likely true, although the concept of a great, unifying king had already existed in Persian beliefs in governingwestern India.

<u>Hephaistion</u>: Was one of Alexander's generals Forty years later, Ptolemy, who grew up with him and became his closest companion. Historicallynow ruled Egypt, he was known is shown as creating a distinct general with great skills. Although ALexander and Hephaistion were closebiography about Alexander, no clear evidence indicates they were lovers. He was, however, considered as where the movie suggests the generals poisoned Alexander's alter ego and Alexander portrayed sickness did not kill him , as a reflection the generals feared Alexander might have wanted to launch new campaigns to the dismay of himself. When he died, Alexander did go into a rage and showed great sadness for his dead friendsoldiers.<ref>For more on HephaistionAlexander's last months at Babylon, see: HeckelRomm, WJ. S. (20162011). <i>Alexander’s marshalsGhost on the throne: a study the death of Alexander the Macedonian aristocracy Great and the politics of military leadership (Second edition)war for crown and empire.</i> New York, NY: Routledge, pgAlfred A. 93Knopf.</ref>

====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>OlympiasAlexander</u>: The mother of Alexander was (Figure 1) is shown as a controlling personality complex character who had a very difficult relationship with her husband. She was driven by a worshiper vision of Dionysus a different future than what his followers saw. While the Greeks and was rumored to have slept with snakes as part of that cultMacedonians focused on revenge and plunder, he wanted a world under one great king. Her infatuation His relationship with snakes was displayed his father and mother shaped him and distanced him from them, where he took solace in wrestling and later his war campaigns. Historically, Alexander's great vision of uniting the movie. She did conspire to kill EurydiceGreek and Persian worlds was likely true, although the seventh wife concept of Phillip IIa 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 her son so that her son Alexander would rulebecame his closest companion. She did regularly correspond Historically, he was known as a distinct general with great skills. Although Alexanderand Hephaistion were close, as depicted in the filmno clear evidence indicates they were lovers. After However, he was considered Alexander's deathalter ego, she tried to establish and Alexander's son on the throne but eventually was killed in 317 BCEportrayed him as a reflection of himself. When he died, along with Alexander's son, during the struggles did go into a rage and showed great sadness for Alexander's kingdom after his deathdead friend.<ref>For more on Alexander's motherHephaistion, see: Messmore Heckel, PW. (20012016). <i>Philip and OlympiasAlexander’s marshals: a novel study of ancient Macedonthe Macedonian aristocracy and military leadership politics (Second edition).</i> BloomingtonNew York, INNY: 1st Books LibraryRoutledge, pg. 93.</ref>

<u>Ptolemy I SoterOlympias</u>: Ptolemy was a noted general in Alexander's army mother was shown as a controlling personality who had a complicated relationship with her husband. She was a worshiper of Dionysus and played important roles was rumored to have slept with snakes as part of that cult. Her infatuation with snakes was displayed in the campaigns in Central Asia and Indiamovie. He later founded She did conspire to kill Eurydice, the Ptolemaic dynasty seventh wife of Phillip II, and was one of her son so that her son Alexander would rule. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted in the generals that divided film. After Alexander's empire after his death, she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of AlexanderEventually, where this account she was ultimately lost killed in the fire that destroyed Alexandria317 BCE, along with Alexander's son, during Alexander's kingdom's Great Library centuries laterstruggles after his death.<ref>For more on PtolemyAlexander's mother, see: BuraselisMessmore, K., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. JP. (Eds.). (20132001). <i>The Ptolemies, the sea Philip and the NileOlympias: studies in waterborne powera novel of ancient Macedon.</i> CambridgeBloomington, IN: Cambridge University Press1st Books Library.</ref>

[[File<u>Ptolemy I Soter</u>:AlexanderTheGreatPtolemy was a general in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and India.jpeg|thumbnail|Figure 1He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was one of the generals that divided Alexander's empire after his death. Portrait The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander likely from Alexandria, where the bust this account was depicted ultimately lost in the film as fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.<ref>For more on Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting , see: Buraselis, K., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (, 2013). <i>The Ptolemies, the sea and the story of AlexanderNile: Studies in waterborne power.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.]]</ref>

====Historical Accuracy====Many historians have criticized the film for lack of clarity on many key issues in Alexander's life. For instance, key battles and sieges were ignored, and too much focus was given to 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 of the characters, including Cleitus and Darius III, the Persian king, were shown as young, but in reality, were older men in their 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 reality were a formidable, organized force that required Alexander's great skill to defeat them. Many of the characters, including Cleitus and Darius III, 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 was wounded 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, Babylon's imagery of Babylon remind reminds 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 Alexander's respect of Alexander and was given status as a king even after his defeat to Alexander. This is mostly ignored in the film. The Lighthouse of Alexandria is briefly shown in one season as Ptolemy is describing the story of Alexandria. In reality, although he did commission its construction, it was not finished in his lifetime. 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.<ref>For more on the period of Alexander and his successor generals, see: Waterfield, R. (2013). <i>Dividing the spoils: the war for Alexander the Great’s empire.</i> Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press.</ref>

In reality, although he did commission its construction, it was not finished in his lifetime. At the time of the film's release, much was made about Alexander's sexual 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 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. Bagoas was described as having exceptional beauty from known accounts.  Despite some reasonably glaring inaccuracies, some often less known facts 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 gave the film some historical leeway and did suggest there probably is a lot about Alexander we have never learned.<ref>For more on the period of Alexander and his successor generals, see: Waterfield, R. (2013). <i>Dividing the spoils: the war for Alexander the Great’s empire.</i> Oxford; New York, N.Y.: 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 Alexander's time of Alexander, but also 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.

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