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‘Pharaoh: Alexander and Egypt’ chronicles Alexander's journey into Egypt, which was the first of the major Near Eastern kingdoms to come under his control. Egypt had a system of government that had been in existence for over two-and-a-half millennia. Two events are important for Alexander's time in Egypt: the foundation of the city of Alexandria and the visit to the oracle of Amun at Siwa. Ancient writers disagree about the relative chronology of the two events. This adds mystery to the first of the two stories. Ancient Alexander Historians all emphasize the personal involvement of Alexander in the construction of Alexandria. They also provide versions of a prophetic story about the foundation. What did the Egyptians think of their new ruler? ...Less

‘Doomed to Die: Alexander in Babylon’ looks at the final chapter in Alexander's life, which was set in Babylon. When Alexander entered Babylon after his victory at Gaugamela, he was following a long line of previous victors. None of the surviving narratives mentions a coronation of Alexander in Babylon, but he was definitely recognized as king from the point of his arrival and described as such since. What do we know about the end of Alexander's life? Plutarch and Arrian both give detailed accounts of the last days of his life. They describe how he caught a fever, his health gradually declined, he lost the power of speech, and died. He was only 32. Shortly after, stories circulated claiming that he was poisoned. ...Less

The Introduction outlines the life of Alexander the Great, born in 356 bc, king of Macedon from 336 until his death in 323 through what we can glean from the pictorial and literary evidence we have to hand. A further vision of Alexander can be found on coins issued in the period after his death by those who took control of parts of his empires. There are also other images of Alexander that can help us build up a picture of how he was seen by his contemporaries or near-contemporaries. A great deal about the man can be understood by giving greater weight than is usually given to contemporary documents. ...Less

‘Traveller: Alexander in Afghanistan and Pakistan’ considers Alexander's five-year tour away from Persepolis from the Spring of 330 onwards. This journey to the East attracted more unusual stories, and more moralizing commentary, than any other aspect of his career. It is a time in his life that we are still fascinated with. For modern scholars, Alexander's difficulty in dealing with insurgency in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas is the earliest evidence of the impossibility of governing that country. For ancient writers, he was seduced by the idea of luxury in the East. Until recently, there existed little firm evidence to show what Alexander's eastern campaign involved. ...Less

‘After Alexander’ looks at Alexander's afterlife, and how many of the views of Alexander that are prominent in popular culture came into being. The Alexander that has come to us from ancient historical narratives developed under certain circumstances. He is the creation of Roman authors writing for a Roman audience. However, authors and scholars since Roman times have influenced how we see Alexander as well. The terms of the modern debate about Alexander were set in the Enlightenment. Historians are still trying to decide whether he was a romantic hero or a bloodthirsty tyrant. Did his campaigns bring good or harm? Whatever we think of Alexander the Great, the bigger question is, what did his contemporaries think of him? ...Less

‘King of the World: Alexander and Persia’ examines where the title ‘King of the World’ to describe Alexander came from and his image as a ‘King of the World’. It first appears in the narrative of Alexander's campaign in the story of the Gordian knot. Babylonians had no distinct concept of ‘Asia’, and ‘King of the World’ may have been a Babylonian way of rendering the term ‘King of Asia’. The issue that most concerned ancient writers, and many modern scholars, is the question of whether Alexander wanted his companions to prostrate themselves in his presence. Alexander historians seem to have believed that it was normal for Persians to do so, but in fact only defeated enemies were required to do this. ...Less