Download now
Alexander the fantastic
Who is Alexander and how come he so excellent? Born in Pella in 356 BC (Central Macedonia, Greece) Alexander was one of the successful armed forces commanders of all time, winning his first challenge at the age of 18. By the age of 20 having been the full of his homeland Macedonia succeeding his father Philip II after he was assassinated. By 25 Alexander got conquered the known universe (from Portugal, Egypt to Pakistan). United kingdom Historian Ben Holland referred to him because ‘the ultimate conqueror’
The Film
The film is dependent on Alexander the truly amazing, the army commander and King of Macedonia, great life encounters, hardships and triumphs. Aimed by Oliver Stone, the cast included Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer and Jared Leto and was shot in locations just like England, Morocco and Thailand. Overall the historical actions film received poor evaluations. 16% from Rotten Tomato plants, 2/4 via Roger Ebert, 5. 5/10 from IMDb and 39% from Metacritic.
Bucephalus
Alexander commemorated his conquests by simply naming over 70 military forts Alexandria, after him self and one particular Bucephala intended for his horses Bucephalus. Bucephalus originally was strong and untameable simply by even Full Phillips ideal riders however a 13 year old Alexander tames the stallion, understanding the equine is afraid of its own darkness he converts it for the sun. Bucephalus served Alexander in numerous battles but passed away due to perilous injuries at the Battle of the Hydaspes (June 326 BC). The film captures the taming and death of Bucephalus properly according to historical accounts in 344 BC.
Ptolemy
The film begins with Ptolemy as he narrates Alexanders story, reciting his recollections to a scribe in Alexandria, Egypt. Ptolemy (367 BC ” c. 283 BC) actually fought alongside Alexander in his conquests as a Macedonian general and became ruler of Egypt in 323 BC. In the film Ptolemy refers to the main character as “Alexander the Great, however history shows that the “Great was not added right up until much later, in Roman occasions.
Alexanders Father and mother
Stone recreated the scarred right eye of Alexanders father, Philip II as he lost his eye to a Greek arrow during the siege of Methone in 354B. C. Alexanders mother Olympias convinced Alexander that Phillip was not his father and was the son of Zeus himself, once one evening in the form of a snake this individual impregnated her. Angelina Jolie’s portrayal is incredibly historically a lot like Olympias, who had been the fourth of Philips eight wives and was thought to kill Philip or work with someone to kill him in 336 BC.
Battle Scene
Alexander had to fight the battle of Granicus, Duress of Tyre, Issus and Gaugamela to eventually defeat King Darius however the film only has 1 struggle which is actually an combination of two battles battled between the these people (Gaugamela and Issus). The Macedonian army equipment seen in the challenge was effectively reproduced because of the director’s traditional consultant Fiona Greenland, an oxford graduate. However in the film, Alexander wore a lions-head head protection. According to Plutarch, Alexander wore a burnished flat iron helmet molded for him by the Greek craftsman Theophilus. Stone seemingly decided to fashion a struggle helmet based on later portrayal of Alexander as Heracles. Additionally there may be an outstanding representation of the Macedonian infantry phalanx wielding their 17ft long spears.
Prior to Battle
Ahead of the battle, Alexander says towards the Macedonians “for the wonder of Portugal. Old sources however write that Alexander didn’t fight for Greece but for Miscuglio. Three historical historians detailed Alexander’s presentation to the army before the fight and each one of these made an obvious distinction among Greeks, Macedonians, Thracians and Illyrians while four distinctive civilizations that made Alexanders army. This kind of created misunderstandings throughout Oliver Stone’s film whether the people from Macedon differed from all other Greeks. As luck would have it the film synopsis signifies a differentiation between Macedonians and Greeks. It scans: “Alexander led his almost invincible Ancient greek language and Macedonian troops.
The Alexander Mosaic
Towards the end King Darius is proven fleeing the battle and deserting his troops the moment approached by simply Alexander, even though historians include pointed out coming from contemporary Babylonian records that Darius was trying to move his army but was abandoned in real world. In the midst of battle, Alexander courageously charges the Persian full, whos resting on his safe on his horses. Stone records Alexanders fighting spirit but that is about all. The famous “Alexander Mosaic (100BC) which can be now in the National Archaeological Museum, Southwest florida, depicts Alexander on horseback, charging since an environs of soldiers surrounds the Persian ruler in the same battle of exactly where Alexanders 40, 000 man army defeated Darius’s 250, 000 soldiers.
Cleitus the Black
In the battle of Granicus 334BC Cleitus the Black, an old friend and soldier preserved Alexander if he was in person under strike by severing Spithridates’s (Persian commander) provide before this individual could bring his tool down on Alexander. In the film, this event mistakenly happened with the Battle of Gaugamela. Stone acknowledges this kind of, and remarks that it was purposely placed generally there since only the Battle of Gaugamela was shown in the film. On top of that this plays a role later inside the film where Alexander kills Cleitus. In 328BC a dispute came about at a banquet between and Cleitus and a drunken Alexander when Cleitus began to glorify Phillip II’s (Alexander’s father) achievements and supress Alexanders. As a result Alexander gets hold of a javelin and punches it by Cleitus, eradicating him. Packed will embarrassment, Alexander denies all foodstuff and wines for three or more days.
Oracle of Delphi
Pythia, the oracle of Delphi apparently delivered suggestions from the Ancient greek language god Apollo and her predications had been considered infallible, however your woman only provided prophecies within the 7th day time of each month. Alexander consulted Pythia in 336BC over a day which will she rejected to prophesize, a mad Alexander drawn the oracle out of her holding chamber. Impressed by his persistence, Pythia finally responded “let get of me, you will be invincible.
Oracle of Ammon
Located in Libya, the oracle of Ammon was certainly one of most prominent and reputed historic oracles. In 331BC, 5 years after visiting Delphi, Alexander apparently proposed a couple of questions to the priests of Ammon. This individual asked if any of his father’s assassins still live unpunished of course, if he will conquer the entire world. The oracle allegedly answered yes, definitely to equally questions in accordance to Plutarch. Other sources admit he asked if he was really the kid of Zeus. However Professor Ulrich Wilcken (German historian) concludes the statement that Zeus was Alexander’s dad was given in a greeting from the priests of the temple, not just a response to his questions. O pai Dios (oh, child of Zeus! ). The film fails to portray Alexander visiting possibly of these oracles that in the end built his military confidence.
Hephaestion
During the summer of 324BC Hephaestion, Alexander’s best friend since childhood and rumored mate fell unwell for seven days and passed away before Alexander had come to him. He can said to include hugged his corpse for a day . 5 weeping constantly and imitating Achilles (at the fatality of his comrade Patroclus) by reducing of his hair within the corpse as a symbol of mourning. Accusing Hephaestions doctor for rendering inadequate medical treatment Alexander told he be ‘impaled on a stake’ in respect to Plutarch. In the film however Alexander is by Hephaestion when he drops dead but the doctor is still put to death. Natural stone implies that Alexander’s relationship with Hephaestion was much more compared to a friendship sparking controversy about the movies portrayal of ancient Greek libido. Greek legal professionals originally insecure to file suit Oliver Rock for what they said was the wrong representation of the past.
The attorney leading the campaign, Yannis Varnakos stated that We are not saying that our company is against bisexuals or homosexuals, but we could saying that the production company should certainly make it clear for the audience this film can be pure fictional and not a genuine depiction from the life of Alexander. However the film reveals a please note at the end with the credits (when most of the market would have left) suggesting which the film can be “inspired by certain traditional events, implying that some of the occasions have been altered. Keep in mind there is also a difference among historical defects based reckless research and the ones which are the result of the director’s conscious decision to alter earlier times in order to support his imaginative vision. The lawyers announced that they may not take legal action after a screening in which Stone removed 8 a few minutes from the film, softening his representation of homosexuality. However Alexander’s intimate history still remains not known.
The Battle of Hydaspes
At the lake Hyphasis, ahead of Alexander come to India, Alexanders troops declined to go further. A Greek nobleman named Koinos talked to Alexander in hopes to come back home. Rock says that in the film the troops were intentionally defended with a war seasoned named Krateros, as he was one of Alexanders trusted friends. The final struggle showed inside the film, the Battle of Hydaspes was heavily dramatized by Stone and improved from background. However Alexander’s clothes and armor had been very high in quality, since the research was done by a team of historians in Oxford University or college. In the film Alexander was brutally wounded by a great arrow through the battle, even so this don’t happen right up until during a duress later that same season. Furthermore, the battle of Hydaspes has not been fought within a sunlight forest like the film shows, although on muddy plains during the night.
Alexanders Death
May 29th 323BC Alexander hosted a banquet pertaining to his admiral, Nearchus, with whom having been planning a journey to Persia. After consuming a large beaker of wine beverage Alexander needed to be carried to bed and awoke the following day with a fever. His state grew even worse and his close friends pressed the question “to whom do you leave your disposition? Alexander barely having the capacity to speak mutters “To the strongest. However surely a male strong enough being Alexander’s inheritor did not are present, as in Alexander’s short profession he had overcome some two million sq miles of land. Alexander died in Babylon in June tenth, 323 BC from a mysterious cause of loss of life. Artwork by German painter Karl Theodor von Piloty (1 August 1826 ” 21 This summer 1886)
Alexanders Legacy
Alexander significantly improved the world in numerous ways. This individual showed the Greeks a fresh ways of struggling with using strategies that assisted his undefeated streak in battle (especially when he was outnumbered). He adopted Persian and American indian cultures and taught his empire to change their perspective of the world. This individual united the West plus the East jointly so that people of many descents were speaking a common vocabulary, using prevalent currency to trade goods and talking such as medication, math and science.
Bibliography:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html
http://www.biography.com/people/alexander-the-great-9180468
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-the-Great
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alexander_the_great.shtml
http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/alexander-the-great
http://www.ancient.eu/Alexander_the_Great/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/alexanderdeath.htm
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/472665667520/secret-life-of-alexander-the-great
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_I_Soter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Alexander_the_Great
https://www.archaeological.org/pdfs/papers/AIA_Alexander_Review.pdf
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/features/?id=1601
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AlexanderOliverStone.html
http://www.moviemistakes.com/film4636/corrections
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_(2004_film)
https://prezi.com/i_s3bsfd388w/was-the-movie-alexander-the-great-historically-accurate-and/
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070520132655AAvGt9v
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346491/
Literature:
Jennifer Lawlwss Unlocking days gone by: Preliminary Studies in the Ancient World (1996)
Jennifer Lawlwss Unlocking yesteryear: 2nd Edition
Toni Hurley Antiquity book
Louise Chipley Slavicek Characters and Villains: Alexander the truly great (2005)
Michael jordan Wood In the footsteps of Alexander the Great (2001)
Laura Foreman ” The epic story of the soldier king Alexander the Conqueror
Steven Pressfield The Virtues of Warfare: A New of Alexander the Great (2004)
Paul Anthony Cartledge Alexander the Great (2004)
Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond The Guru of Alexander the Great (1997)
Michael Alvear Alexander the truly great: The Man Who also Brought the World to Their Knees (2004)
