1st MuseClassic history and fine arts

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great: From History to Eternity

From the original project page

Kognitec is developing interactive multimedia monograph on CD-ROM dedicated to the most fascinating and enigmatic historic personality. We are looking for multimedia co-publishers, distributors, mail orders... We are looking forward to receive any of your proposals, suggestions, questions or requests. Send mail to contact@1stmuse.com.

The exhibition was held in Rome at Fondazione Memmo.

Contents

The project

  1. Alexander the GreatTitle page of the Alexander the Great project by John J. Popovic: Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.), the most charismatic and heroic king.
  2. The Illustrated EditionContents of the illustrated edition, section by section, from Alexander's parents and youth to the Hellenistic era, with maps, coins and sculpture.

The life of Alexander, illustrated synopsis

  1. Alexander the Great, Part OneAlexander's life from his birth at Pella to Egypt: his parents, youth with Aristotle, Philip's reign, Granicus, Issus, Tyre and the oracle of Ammon.
  2. Alexander the Great, Part TwoFrom Gaugamela and Babylon to Central Asia and India, Alexander's death in Babylon, the Hellenistic era and an epilogue on his legacy.

Readings from the sources

  1. The Origins of MacedoniaThe ancient Macedonian kingdom: its geography between Thessaly and Thrace, its early people and kings, and how Macedon grew before Philip II.
  2. Alexander's Origins, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander's descent from Hercules and Aeacus, Philip's marriage to Olympias and the dreams and oracles that came before his birth.
  3. Alexander's Birth, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander's birth on the day the temple of Diana at Ephesus burnt, and the three messages of victory that reached Philip at once.
  4. The Macedonian Dynasty of the ArgeadiThe Argeads, ruling house of Macedonia from the 7th century BC to 309 BC: their Temenid legend, their kings and the growth of the kingdom.
  5. Alexander's Origin and Controversies According to Various TraditionsHuman or divine origins: son of Philip, of Zeus Ammon, of the pharaoh Nectanebos, or of Darab in the Persian Iskandarnamah.
  6. Bucephalus, PlutarchPlutarch's account of how the young Alexander tamed Bucephalus, the horse no one else could ride, and what Philip said to his son afterwards.
  7. Aristotle and Alexander, PlutarchPlutarch on Aristotle as Alexander's teacher at Mieza, the letters between them and the lasting love of learning the philosopher gave the prince.
  8. Apelles, the Greatest Painter of AntiquityApelles of Cos, court painter of Philip II and Alexander, from Pliny the Elder: Protogenes, the shoemaker, Campaspe and the Aphrodite Anadyomene.
  9. The Quarrel at Philip's Wedding, PlutarchPlutarch on the wedding feast where Attalus insulted Alexander, Philip drew his sword and father and son fell out over Cleopatra.
  10. Reconciliation, PlutarchPlutarch on how Demaratus the Corinthian persuaded Philip to call Alexander home, and on the Pixodarus affair that followed.
  11. Philip's Assassination, PlutarchPlutarch on the murder of Philip II by Pausanias, the suspicion cast on Olympias and Alexander, and the punishment of the conspirators.
  12. Invincible, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander's visit to Delphi on a forbidden day, when the priestess cried out that he was invincible, and on other omens of victory.
  13. The Destruction of Thebes, PlutarchPlutarch on the revolt and fall of Thebes in 335 BC, with a note on how Arrian and Diodorus disagree about the way the battle began.
  14. Timoclea, PlutarchPlutarch on Timoclea of Thebes, who killed the Thracian captain who had wronged her and spoke so boldly that Alexander set her and her children free.
  15. Diogenes, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander meeting Diogenes at Corinth: asked what he wanted, the philosopher only begged the king to stand out of his sunlight.
  16. Alexander Visits Troy, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander at Troy, honouring the tomb of Achilles after crossing the Hellespont, and the words Cicero says he spoke there.
  17. The Battle of the Granicus, PlutarchPlutarch's account of the battle at the river Granicus in 334 BC, where Clitus saved Alexander's life and the Persian satraps were routed.
  18. The Gordian Knot, PlutarchPlutarch on Gordium in Phrygia and the chariot tied with the famous knot, and how Alexander loosed it on his march into Asia.
  19. The Battle of Issus, PlutarchPlutarch on Darius and the Macedonian refugee Amyntas, the battle of Issus in 333 BC and the capture of the Persian king's family.
  20. Alexander's Generosity, PlutarchPlutarch on how Alexander treated the captured mother, wife and daughters of Darius after Issus, and on his gifts and self-control.
  21. Hephaistion (356 - 324 BC)Hephaistion, Alexander's dearest friend from boyhood: Philalexandros, chiliarch, mistaken for the king by Sisygambis, mourned with a royal funeral.
  22. The Siege of Tyre, PlutarchPlutarch on the seven-month siege of Tyre, Alexander's dream of Hercules, the raid against the Arabians and the final assault on the city.
  23. Alexander Visits the Oracle of AmmonCurtius Rufus, Plutarch and Arrian on Alexander's visit to the oracle of Ammon at Siwah, with the Latin text and a translation from the project.
  24. Alexander in Egypt, PlutarchPlutarch on Homer's verses about Pharos, the founding of Alexandria and the journey across the desert to the temple of Ammon.
  25. The Death of Darius, PlutarchPlutarch on Alexander's letters and temper, the long pursuit of Darius and the moment the king was found dying, betrayed by Bessus.
  26. King TaxilesPlutarch on Taxiles, the Indian king whose lands were as large as Egypt, and the contest of generosity between him and Alexander.
  27. Alexander's Death, PlutarchPlutarch on the omens at Babylon, the royal journals of Alexander's last fever, his death in June 323 BC and the rumors of poison.
  28. Alexander's Testament, Q. C. RufusQuintus Curtius Rufus on Alexander's ring given to Perdiccas and the division of the empire among the Diadochi, province by province.

Album

  1. Portraits of AlexanderThe 1st Muse album of Alexander portraits: busts and heads from Istanbul, the Louvre, the British Museum, Munich, Rome and other collections.

About the CD-ROM

  1. CD-ROM PlanningDevelopment and manufacturing scheduler of the Alexander the Great CD-ROM: copyright, design, digitalization, story board, quality control.
  2. Copyright and CreditsCopyright agreement with Digest International and the development team behind the Alexander the Great CD-ROM, from project direction to voice casting.
  3. BibliographyAncient sources on Alexander from Arrian to Curtius Rufus, the lost histories, translated documents and a modern bibliography from Droysen to Hammond.
  4. Your Favorite ConquerorThe old 1st Muse poll that asked visitors to choose their favorite military genius, from Caesar and Alexander to Napoleon and Hannibal.

Not preserved in the archive

These pages of the original project were never captured in a usable form. Their old addresses lead to the closest surviving page.

  • Miletus
  • Bucephalus, various traditions
  • Callisthenes
  • Siwah
  • Chronology of Greek History After the Peloponnesian War
  • Sasigupta and the Poisoning of Alexander, by Ranajit Pal
  • The Chaeronea monument (album)

Colophon

CD-ROM by
Warner Music Manufacturing Europe GmbH, a Time Warner company
Publisher
Kognitec, Giulio Borrelli Editore
1st Muse
Italian company coordinating the CD-ROM production
Text and project
© 1996 by John J. Popovic