Alexander the Great: A New History

Alexander the Great has been studied and reinterpreted in every culture, from the great thinkers of the Hellenistic age to twenty–first century Hollywood. Alexander the Great: A New History offers an innovative treatment of one of history s most famous figures.

Bringing together leading experts in the field, this book combines traditional scholarship with contemporary research to examine a number of intriguing subjects in Alexander studies. The volume explores such diverse topics as Alexander s religious views, his entourage during his campaign East, his sexuality, the influence of his legacy, and later representations in art and cinema. Reappraisals of the Macedonian army and Macedonian relations with the Greeks complement these new approaches to Alexander s reign.

Contributors.

List of figures.

Maps.

Preface & acknowledgements.

Abbreviations.

Chronological Table.

Introduction (The Editors).

1. The Macedonian Background (Michael Zahrnt).

2. Alexander′s Conquests (Waldemar Heckel).

3. After Alexander: the Diadochoi (Patrick Wheatley).

4. Alexander′s Image in the Age of the Successors (Alexander Meeus).

5. King and Army (Waldemar Heckel).

6. The Court of Alexander as Social System (Gregor Weber).

7. Alexander and the Greeks: the Corinthian League (Elisabetta Poddighe).

8. Alexander and the Greeks, II: Artists and Soldiers, Friends and Enemies (Lawrence A. Tritle).

9. The Empire of Darius III in Perspective (Pierre Briant).

10. Alexander and the Persian Empire, between "decline" and "renovation": History and Historiography (Pierre Briant).

11. Alexander and his "Terrible Mother" (Elizabeth D. Carney).

12. Alexander′s Sex Life (Daniel Ogden).

13. Heroes, Cults and Divinity (Boris Dreyer).

14. The Roman Alexander (Diana Spencer).

15. The Construction of a New Ideal: The Official Portraiture of Alexander the Great (Catie Mihalopoulos).

16. Power, Passion and Patrons: Alexander, Charles Le Brun and Oliver Stone (E.J. Baynham).

Bibliography.

Index.

Waldemar Heckel is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Calgary. His publications include Who′s Who in the Age of Alexander the Great (Blackwell, 2005), Alexander the Great: Historical Sources in Translation (with J.C. Yardley, Blackwell, 2003), Crossroads of History: The Age of Alexander (with L.A. Tritle, 2003), The Wars of Alexander the Great (2002), and The Marshals of Alexander s Empire (1992).

Lawrence A. Tritle is Professor of History at Loyola Marymount University. He is author and editor of The Peloponnesian War (2004), From Melos to My Lai. War and Survival (2000), The Greek World in the Fourth Century (1997) and Phocion the Good (1988), as well as numerous articles on Greek history.

"This book belongs in all university libraries." ( CHOICE, September 2009)

"This book is ... ′[A] highly informed and enjoyable resource for students and interested general readers.′ ... H. and T.′s collection of essays does offer is a synthesis of recent scholarship and current trends that will reward both the general and the specialized reader as well as stimulate further discussion." ( The Classical Journal, November 2009)

"All in all this volume is certainly to be welcomed. At an affordable price it offers coverage of a comprehensive range of topics, with the ′big names′ well represented among the contributors." (Scholia Reviews, 2009)