Alexander the Great: A Life in Legend

The video script begins with an introduction to the exhibition 'Alexander the Great - The Making of a Myth,' curated by Seb Williams. The exhibition is the first to focus on the storytelling of Alexander the Great, one of the most colorful figures of the ancient world. It explores how his character has been adapted and appropriated across different cultures and religions over 2000 years, featuring over 130 exhibits from 25 countries in 21 different languages. The event is presented in memory of author and scholar Nasib Shaheen and hosted by author and broadcaster Tom Holland, with guests Lindsay Allen and Richard Stoneman, both experts in their respective fields related to Alexander the Great.

The second paragraph delves into a brief sketch of Alexander the Great's life, his birth in 356 BC, his upbringing, and his conquests. It discusses his education by Aristotle, his training in war, and his early military successes. The narrative continues with his battles in Asia Minor, his encounter with the Great King Darius, and his eventual conquest of the Persian Empire. It also touches on the legend of Alexander, his death at the age of 32, and how his legacy turned into a myth that has continued to evolve over time.

This section discusses the global impact of Alexander the Great and the evolution of his legend through time. It highlights the difficulty of separating the historical Alexander from the myths and stories that have accumulated around him. The speakers, Lindsay Allen and Richard Stoneman, explore how Alexander's story has been told and retold across different cultures, including the Roman Empire's influence on our perception of him. They also discuss the challenge of understanding how Alexander was viewed by his contemporaries in both the Greek and Persian worlds.

Lindsay Allen provides a detailed analysis of Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire, emphasizing the political and cultural context of the time. She discusses the influence of the Persian Empire's political shape on historical sources and how Alexander's actions were framed within the narratives of his predecessors. Allen also explores how Alexander's relationship with Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, was portrayed in Roman sources and how this influenced the perception of his conquests.

Richard Stoneman discusses the Alexander Romance, a collection of stories about Alexander that has been translated into numerous languages and has influenced various traditions. He talks about his own research into the Alexander Romance and its different versions, as well as its impact on medieval Europe and the Middle and Far East. Stoneman also explores the philosophical and ethnographic aspects of the text, highlighting its role as a bridge between the Old Testament and the Hellenistic period in illustrated history Bibles.

The discussion continues with an exploration of Alexander's pothos, or yearning for the unknown and unreachable, which is a central theme in the Alexander Romance. The conversation touches on how Alexander's search for immortality and the Water of Life reflects older epic traditions, such as the story of Gilgamesh. The panelists also consider the influence of Babylonian and Mesopotamian culture on the myths and legends surrounding Alexander, and how these stories may bear the trace elements of Mesopotamian legend.

The conversation turns to the concept of Alexander's Fortuna, or luck, as depicted in the works of Quintus Curtius. The panelists discuss how Alexander's fortuna is portrayed as always being on his side, a departure from the typical Greek and Roman depiction of Fortuna as fickle. They also explore the influence of Persian ideas about the fate of the king on the portrayal of fortuna in the narratives. The discussion includes the imagery of Alexander ascending to the sky, which is linked to Persian and Mesopotamian iconography.

The panelists consider the role Alexander may have played in shaping his own legend, including his travels with historians and his alleged connection to the Iliad. They discuss the possibility that Alexander's own attempts to shape his legend may have influenced both historical and legendary understandings of his figure. The conversation also touches on the role of Ptolemy in shaping Alexander's legacy and the impact of the Hellenistic period's intellectual activity on the stories told about Alexander.

The panelists discuss various modern retellings of Alexander's story, including his portrayal as a gay icon and his appearance in popular culture, such as the film 'The Black Stallion.' They consider the importance of these retellings in shaping the enduring legacy of Alexander the Great. The conversation also includes a discussion on the impact of Alexander's early death on his legend and the potential consequences if he had lived longer.

The final paragraph discusses the myth of Alexander's connection to the end of days, specifically the story of the enclosure of the unclean nations of Gog and Magog. This myth originated in 6th-century Syriac literature and was later translated into Greek, Latin, and other Western European languages. The panelists explore how this story has been adapted over time to suit various contexts and the significance of Alexander's role in these apocalyptic narratives.