Alexander Of Hollywood - Uml.edu

Alexander of Hollywood “Alexander” starring ColinFarrell, Angelina Jolie,Val Kilmer, AnthonyHopkins, et al. (2004).Dir. Oliver Stone. “Alexander” starringRichard Burton (1956) “Alexander the Great”starring Leonardo diCaprio and NicoleKidman (200?)1

Alexander the Great & theHellenistic WorldAlexander & Hellenistic WorldI. Alexander of MacedonII. Hellenistic World: political, social, culturalIII. Hellenic vs. HellenisticAlexander of Macedon Born 356 BC to KingPhilip of Macedon Tutored by Aristotle Cavalry chieftain at age18 King at age 20 Rules 336-323 BC Dies 323 BC, age 33 Myth vs. Reality?2

Alexander’s birthand boyhood(15th C. us- Gordian Knot15th c. illum.Mss. inBudapest;Legend ofAlexander byCurtius Ruffilus(1st c. ADRoman writer)More Legends of Alexander16th c. military treatiseshows Alexanderhanding a sword toGustavus Adolphus ofSweden3

Alexander’s routeBattle of Issus (vs. Persians)Why was Alexander so successful? Disciplined troops Well-paid, year-round Innovative strategy Sarissa & heavy infantry Companions (cavalry) &flanking maneuvers Light infantry w/ archers,slingers, pikemen; hinge Ballistae & catapaults Battlefield adaptation Fusion & alliancesinstead of dominationMore details at http://www.nrotc.net/310/3.ppt#302,1,Alexander and the Macedonian System4

Macedonian Phalanx w/ SarissasBattle of Issus, 334 BC Asynchronous Troop numbers: 250,000 Persians vs. 40,000 Macedonians Yet Alexander’s strategy forces Darius to flee, and causes 50,000Persian deaths vs. 500 Macedonians.Similar results at Gaugamela (332) and Arbela (331), thus crushing thePersian Empire forever.5

Alexander the Great “He had great personalbeauty, invincible powerof endurance, and a keenintellect; he was braveand adventurous, hungryfor fame Noble indeedwas his power of inspiringhis men .” Arrian, Campaigns ofAlexander, 2nd c. AD See Noble, p. 110 for fulltextSignificance of Alexander Hellenistic “fusion” b/w E.& W. E.g., Rosetta Stone,Plenis (p. 113, 118), Koine Lavish, centralizedmonarchies; courtlysocieties public Urbanization Military developmentsand strategy; extent ofconquest Legend of kingship inlater centuriesAlexander in the Modern World? Perhaps the greatest military strategist, tactician,and ruler in history, Alexander the Great has beenan enduring influence on world business andmilitary leaders for thousands of years. Ted Turnerkeeps a bust of him in his office. General NormanSchwarzkopf credits his brilliant tactical strategiesas the inspiration for his troops' approach to DesertStorm, including the "Hail Mary" flanking move thatinflicted the final defeat on Saddam Hussein's Iraqiarmy.His innovative strategies and winning philosophies(Aristotle was his mentor) are as relevant today asthey were in 330 B.C. Learn how he, and you, can: o Build a successful organizationo Establish visionary leadershipo Create a winning philosophyo Motivate otherso Overcome seemingly impossible oddso Become an expert in the element of surpriseo Prepare for the unexpected6

Hellenistic World Political Federalism, decline ofdemocracy Economic Expansion, trade,inflation, slavery Social Cultural medicineHellenistic “fusion” in artEvolution of t/greece.htmDoric columnIonic styleCorinthian style(Hellenistic)7

Evolution of sculptureArchaicClassical(Aphrodite)Late Classical(Amazon)HellenisticHellenistic sculpture Lack of idealism Restlessness &tension Innovative groupings More emotion (pain,anger, jealousy) More realism, andexaggerationLaocoonHellenic male statues, homoerotic sculpture farmer/citizen warrior (male) Greece center poleis w/ republics; national/regional Greeks and barbaros, ostracism public life (agora, acropolis); rhetoric balance, golden mean idealismQuestion: Which tradition will Rome adopt?Hellenistic females depicted, strong queens any subject loyal to monarch Anatolia / Egypt center kingdoms and empires w/ monarchs; int’l fusion of East and West, migration private life (palace); prayer/meditation tension, restlessnessQuestion: Which tradition dominates W. C.?8

Hellenistic World Alexander & Hellenistic World I. Alexander of Macedon II. Hellenistic World: political, social, cultural III. Hellenic vs. Hellenistic Alexander of Macedon Born 356 BC to King Philip of Macedon Tutored by Aristotle Cavalry chieftain at age 18 King at age 20 Rules 336-323 BC Dies 323 BC, age 33