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<u>Alexander</u>: Alexander (Figure 1) is shown as a complex character who was driven by vision of a different future than what his followers saw. While the Greeks and Macedonians focused on revenge and plunder, he wanted a world under one great king. His relationship with his father and mother shaped him but also distanced him from them, where he took solace in wrestling and later his war campaigns. Historically, Alexander's great vision of uniting the Greek and Persian worlds was likely true, although the concept of a great, unifying king had already existed in Persian beliefs in governing.
<u>Hephaistion</u>: Was one of Alexander's generals who grew up with him and became his closest companion. Historically, he was known as a distinct general with great skills. Although ALexander and Hephaistion were close, no clear evidence indicates they were lovers. He was, however, considered as Alexander's alter ego and Alexander portrayed him as a reflection of himself. When he died, Alexander did go into a rage and showed great sadness for his dead friend.<ref>For more on Hephaistion, see: Heckel, W. (2016). <i>Alexander’s marshals: a study of the Macedonian aristocracy and the politics of military leadership (Second edition).</i> New York, NY: Routledge, pg. 93.</ref>
<u>Olympias</u>: The mother of Alexander was shown as a controlling personality who had a very difficult relationship with her husband. She was a worshiper of Dionysus and was rumored to have slept with snakes as part of that cult. Her infatuation with snakes was displayed in the movie. She did conspire to kill Eurydice, the seventh wife of Phillip II, and her son so that her son Alexander would rule. She did regularly correspond with Alexander, as depicted in the film. After Alexander's death, she tried to establish Alexander's son on the throne but eventually was killed in 317 BCE, along with Alexander's son, during the struggles for Alexander's kingdom after his death. <ref>For more on Alexander's mother, see: Messmore, P. (2001). <i>Philip and Olympias: a novel of ancient Macedon.</i> Bloomington, IN: 1st Books Library.</ref>
<u>Ptolemy I Soter</u>: Ptolemy was a noted general in Alexander's army and played important roles in the campaigns in Central Asia and India. He later founded the Ptolemaic dynasty and was one of the generals that divided Alexander's empire after his death. The film displays Ptolemy recounting the life of Alexander, where this account was ultimately lost in the fire that destroyed Alexandria's Great Library centuries later.<ref>For more on Ptolemy, see: Buraselis, K., Stefanou, M., & Thompson, D. J. (Eds.). (2013). <i>The Ptolemies, the sea and the Nile: studies in waterborne power.</i> Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.</ref>
[[File:AlexanderTheGreat.jpeg|thumbnail|Figure 1. Portrait of Alexander likely from Alexandria, where the bust was depicted in the film as Ptolemy gazed at it while recounting the story of Alexander.]]