According to Plutarch Alexander had a privilaged but also difficult upbringing. On the one hand he benefited from being taught by no less than Aristotle. On the other, he lived in a royal house riven by rivalry between the king’s various wives.

(image: Dingir__ | pinterest)

Only one of the major Alexander historians covers Alexander’s birth and early years: Plutarch. His account is a mixture of history, myth, and propaganda.

Alexander was born in Pella, the capital of Macedon. As befitting such a renowned figure his birth was accompanied by prophecies and divine help.

(image: realmacedonia | pinterest)

When Alexander became king his own name/reputation was not strong enough to secure the Macedonian army’s support, so, he used his father’s by telling his men that he would rule the kingdom in the same way Philip II had done

(image: haqu3 | youtube)

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He did this by promising his men that only the name of the king had changed: Alexander would rule just as Philip II had done.

(image: gettymuseum | pinterest)

Let's drop the third person shenanigans (Malcolm is writing this) and ask myself, is there anything about Alexander's life that scares me. The absolute determination, perhaps, his fearful reaction to the omens at the end of his life, his ruthlessness.

These are just three aspects of his character. We could talk more about his interest in philosophy, engineering, and history.

Pilgrim. From the very start of his great campaign, Alexander went on pilgrimage to places of special significance him: Troy, Siwah in the Libyan desert, the Tomb of his hero Cyrus the Great (which he also restored after it was desecrated), and Mt Meron in honour of Dionysus.

Bibliophile. Alexander, famously, loved Homer. During his campaign against Persia, Alexander went out of his way to acquire new books after finishing those already in his possession. Philistus, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were some of those sent to him.

Physician. According to his biographer Plutarch, Alexander wasn't just interested in the idea of medicine but treated his friends when they were sick. Imagine his consultancy fees!

image
artist: André Castaigne
Source: www.loc.gov/item/2010715...

⭐️ Episode 7 of the Spearpoint podcast is out now! We discuss 20th-21st century Images of Alexander ⭐️

The Macedonians did this and, we are told, there were no casualties.

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Alexander had already anticipated the danger and ordered his men to step aside and let the carts roll past them or, if that was not possible, to lie down, shields on their back, so that the carts rolled over them.

Did this Alexander ever exist?

Yes and No.

The idealised Alexander is obviously a propaganda tool but it is founded on his achievements as a person, which were recognised in antiquity.

Usually the idealised Alexander has a neck tilt, here, artist Nikos Hatzidakis has him looking to one side

(image: kopebalint666 | pinterest)

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(If you visit our blog you can see the images as we discuss them!)

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