The Incredible Rise And Fall Of Alexander The Great | Alexander The Great The Macedonian | Odyssey

Summary

The documentary explores the legendary life of Alexander the Great, from his birth in Macedonia to his incredible conquests and eventual demise. It highlights his influence on various cultures and how his legacy endured through art and history. The film discusses archaeological findings, including the ruins of his birthplace, his father's tomb, and the ongoing mystery of his own tomb's location. It also touches on his efforts to create a multicultural empire, blending Greek culture with those he conquered.

Highlights

• Alexander inspired art and political propaganda centuries after his death. 🎨
• His empire stretched from Greece to Egypt, leaving a lasting cultural impact. 🌍
• Modern excavations reveal insights into his life and era, challenging past views. 🏺
• Alexander's quest for a multicultural empire paved the way for blending traditions. 🌐
• His tomb remains undiscovered, keeping historians intrigued for centuries. 🕵️

Key Takeaways

• Alexander's legend mixes history with myth, inspiring countless artists and conquerors. 🎨
• His life was immortalized not just by victories, but by his cultural influence across different empires. 🌍
• Excavations in Macedonia uncover his roots and legacy, challenging ancient perceptions. 🏺
• He attempted to create a multicultural empire, embracing diversity before it was trendy. 🌐
• The mystery of Alexander's tomb still invites fascination and speculation. 🕵️

Overview

Alexander the Great's story is as much about legend as it is about historical conquests. From being a symbol in Greek and Roman times to an icon in the Arab world, the documentary captures how his tale transcended history, echoing through art and culture. With an eye on archaeological discoveries, the film provides a fascinating glimpse into the world that shaped him and the myth he became.

The documentary takes viewers through Alexander’s expansive empire, which at its zenith stretched from Greece to Egypt. It showcases how his ambitions not only forged a massive territory but also a blend of cultures, laying the foundation for what many view as one of humanity's first attempts at a multicultural empire. The rich insights from ancient texts and modern archaeology reveal a leader who was not just about warfare but also about cultural synthesis.

Ending with the unsolved mystery of Alexander's tomb, the documentary stirs the imagination, questioning how such an influential figure could remain so elusive in death. The tale of his embalmed body, displayed for centuries and then lost to history, underscores the enduring allure of Alexander the Great—a figure whose life and conquests continue to inspire and mystify the world centuries later.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Alexander the Great The chapter provides an introduction to Alexander the Great, likely detailing his significance and historical context.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Alexander's Legendary Status In this chapter titled 'Alexander's Legendary Status,' the setting is the Babylonian summer. Although the face of the narrator cannot yet discern the details of another person's features, there is an expression of fearlessness and a willingness to embrace and expand within the personal space. The narrator reflects on inviting an undefined presence into their room, suggesting a metaphorical or literal expansion of their world. The chapter captures a mysterious and introspective moment amidst the historical backdrop of Babylon.
• 01:00 - 02:00: The Artistic Depictions of Alexander The chapter discusses Alexander the Great and his inevitable confrontation with mortality. It features a conversation where someone invites a listener to pay close attention to their narrative about Alexander, suggesting that their words are valuable like a drink. The chapter alludes to the idea that Alexander's actions could even impress or intimidate the god of the dead.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Historical Inspirations and Propaganda The chapter explores the role of historical events and figures in shaping modern narratives and propaganda. It discusses how astonishment can turn into rapture, influenced by external factors such as music and laughter, ultimately contributing to a deeper understanding of historical inspirations.
• 05:30 - 07:00: Alexander's Birth and Early Life Alexander is celebrated across different cultures: as a hero by the Greeks and Romans, a prophet by the Arabs, and a mythical figure by Westerners. His life blurs the line between legend and historical fact, with his victories and extraordinary fate enduring through time.
• 07:00 - 09:30: Alexander's Education and Upbringing The chapter discusses the extensive influence of Alexander the Great on artists throughout history, particularly highlighting his impact in 17th century France, where he was a significant figure as evidenced by numerous artistic portrayals.
• 09:30 - 11:30: Architectural Discoveries in Macedonia The chapter examines the political motivations behind the artistic depictions commissioned by Louis XIV, specifically focusing on how he utilized the imagery of Greek conquerors for his own propaganda. The paintings by the artist LeBron were used to convey images of the King through various scenes.
• 11:30 - 24:00: Alexander's Military Campaigns The chapter delves into the military campaigns of Alexander, whose ideal as a monarch exceeded simple governance, highlighting his ambitious and far-reaching expansions across foreign territories.
• 25:00 - 27:00: The Tomb of Philip II The chapter is titled 'The Tomb of Philip II' and it starts and ends with music, giving it an atmospheric and mysterious tone. However, no specific details about the content of the chapter are provided in the transcript.
• 29:30 - 31:00: Alexander's Cultural Influence The chapter titled 'Alexander's Cultural Influence' explores the enduring impact and legacy of Alexander the Great. It discusses how historical figures like Scipio Africanus and Napoleon have drawn inspiration from him. The chapter highlights the myth of Alexander, which has been preserved through art and literature for over two millennia. It questions what is truly known about the world Alexander came from and how he contributed to shaping history. The mention of the history-focused streaming platform, 'History Hit,' suggests a possible exploration of documentaries related to Alexander's era and influence.
• 37:30 - 43:30: The Conquests and Their Impact The chapter titled 'The Conquests and Their Impact' provides an overview of a vast array of historical documentaries and podcasts available through a specific service. These offerings cover key historical figures and events, such as Hannibal Barker and King Tut's treasures, allowing users to explore ancient world mysteries. The chapter highlights a promotional offer for new subscribers, specifically mentioning a 50% discount for Odyssey fans, encouraging them to sign up for a free trial.
• 46:00 - 51:30: The Mystery of Alexander's Tomb The chapter discusses the historical context and setting of Alexander the Great's birth and early life. Alexander was born in 356 BC in the Kingdom of Macedonia, with its dynastic capital at Aigai, located in what is now Northern Greece. The chapter mentions significant locations such as the ruins of the Palace of Philip II, Alexander's father, highlighting ongoing archaeological excavations as a means to deepen understanding of Alexander's life and influence.

The Incredible Rise And Fall Of Alexander The Great | Alexander The Great The Macedonian | Odyssey Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 this channel is part of the history hit Network stick around to find out more [Music] [Music] now we are alone to blame you and me I know the face of God from below is
• 00:30 - 01:00 there the face of the Dead In the Heat of the Babylonian summer but I cannot yet make out your features I'm not afraid you can expand at your ease I'll fill my entire room should I invite you
• 01:00 - 01:30 be my guest a call closer Alexander is he who will see death in his lifetime but I shall tell you what I was and you shall drink every one of my words even hoping I do not die too quickly yes Alexander will make the god of the Dead grow pale
• 01:30 - 02:00 with astonishment first and then with rapture foreign [Music] [Laughter]
• 02:00 - 02:30 has left an indelible mark on history he was a hero for the Greeks and the Romans a prophet for the Arabs and a myth for westerners his life is as much Legend as it is history but if evidence of his victories and his exceptional Destiny has been perpetuated to our present day
• 02:30 - 03:00 it is first and foremost because he has inspired a multitude of artists throughout the centuries and across many countries in 17th century France for example Alexander the Great was a well-known figure as numerous artistic depictions of him testify [Music] exceptional
• 03:00 - 03:30 there was a political reason behind these particular depictions the young Louis XIV used the image of the Greek conqueror to his own advantage the paintings commissioned to the painter LeBron became the vehicles of Louie's own propaganda in which via various scenes the King was portrayed as
• 03:30 - 04:00 the ideal monarch em is foreign
• 04:00 - 04:30 [Music] foreign [Music]
• 04:30 - 05:00 from Scipio the African to Napoleon many a conqueror has sought to identify with Alexander the Great in the same way but although his myth has been kept alive for over two thousand years through painting and literature what do we really know of the world he came from a world he himself shaped history hit is a streaming platform that is just for history fans with fantastic documentaries covering fascinating
• 05:00 - 05:30 figures and moments in history from all over the world our extensive catalog of documentaries covers everything from the rise of Hannibal Barker to the illustrious Treasures of King Tut so sign up today for broadcast quality documentaries uncovering the mysteries of the ancient world and it's not just documentaries either we have a network of incredible history podcasts bringing you new episodes every day sign up now for a free trial and odyssey fans get 50 off their first three months just be
• 05:30 - 06:00 sure to use the code Odyssey at checkout Alexander the Great was born in the Kingdom of Macedonia in 356 BC the dynastic capital of the kingdom of Macedonia igai was located in northern Greece in what is today the area around Regina ruins of the Palace of Philip II Alexander's father remain there today and excavations are ongoing [Music] to gain a better understanding of who Alexander the Great really was the best
• 06:00 - 06:30 location to start is here at his birthplace to say yes this is
• 06:30 - 07:00 on the exact location of the palace the current excavations have brought to light architectural Innovations revealing evidence of a link to power foreign
• 07:00 - 07:30 to Cosmo
• 07:30 - 08:00 lemon is [Music]
• 08:00 - 08:30 when I was born at the very moment my mother expelled me out into the world with a final flesh-filled grown The Temple at Ephesus caught fire the great Flames devoured it yet no one could explain the fire yes I had been born and was already hungry
• 08:30 - 09:00 yet I was but an infant amen not abide my time and wait wait for my body to fill out and take form for my muscles to grow and become well-tempered wait for the years to pass wait for the most knowledgeable of men to teach me what he knew I had to wait until I could recite our ancestral chance until I could fight and run recognize plants lead man into combat interpret they caught the expressions of courtiers
• 09:00 - 09:30 and admire a woman I had to wait yes and to me it seemed interminable because
• 09:30 - 10:00 about 60 kilometers from iGuy the dynastic capital of the kingdom of Macedonia is the ancient site of the city of Pella which was the administrative and economic capital archaeological excavations have provided us with a better understanding of what the young princes already highly developed daily environment was like is foreign
• 10:00 - 10:30 icon
• 10:30 - 11:00 [Music] foreign [Music]
• 11:00 - 11:30 foreign
• 11:30 - 12:00 [Music]
• 12:00 - 12:30 [Laughter] foreign [Music]
• 12:30 - 13:00 foreign
• 13:00 - 13:30 this Mosaic of Highly elaborate Pebbles once decorated the banquet halls they are so elaborate that their overall effect Rivals paintings one such Mosaic found in Pella features Alexander the Great chasing a lion in the company of criteris
• 13:30 - 14:00 [Laughter] foreign [Music]
• 14:00 - 14:30 [Music] although the young Prince's day-to-day environment strongly influenced the formation of his character his mother Queen olympias played a crucial role in it is
• 14:30 - 15:00 facilities
• 15:00 - 15:30 ah
• 15:30 - 16:00 [Music]
• 16:00 - 16:30 on the site of the Macedonian Court in haigai banquet halls have been uncovered over 1 300 square meters of Mosaic have survived the excavations have enriched our knowledge of the Society of Alexander the Great and called for the ancient text to be read in a new light
• 16:30 - 17:00 not far from the capital in the heart of the kingdom of Macedonia is the town of mieza it was here in the 4th Century BC that the philosopher Aristotle ran a school we know from ancient texts that Alexander the Great received an outstanding education for his era is
• 17:00 - 17:30 Alexandria
• 17:30 - 18:00 Alexandria is [Music] on foreign
• 18:00 - 18:30 extra more education macedonians
• 18:30 - 19:00 [Music] foreign [Music]
• 19:00 - 19:30 the teaching Alexander received was not
• 19:30 - 20:00 exclusively intellectual for macedonians training the mind went hand in hand with training the body with the aim of attaining hardiness and endurance many of Alexander the Great's generals from Ptolemy to nyarkas took part in this intensive physical training with him archaeological discoveries have enabled us to uncover material evidence of this precept in the east of the kingdom of Macedonia on the banks of riverstruma the vestiges of the city of amphipolis have been discovered
• 20:00 - 20:30 among the structures brought to light there are the ruins of the former gymnasium the site constitutes a major architectural complex where men trained in wrestling and running within the complex there was also an area for Corporal hygiene with marble baths equipped with a running water supply further proof of how highly developed the kingdom was but the site has also revealed further information
• 20:30 - 21:00 during Alexander the Great's era amphipolis was a fortified Port City located at the Confluence of the Aegean Sea and the Northern Territories and was a major Hub of the Macedonian economy
• 21:00 - 21:30 important Bluetooth is
• 21:30 - 22:00 foreign [Music]
• 22:00 - 22:30 [Music] foreign by the age of 18 Alexander had become an outstanding Horseman and a hardened
• 22:30 - 23:00 Warrior he led the Macedonian Cavalry in the Battle of kiranea during which his father Philip II succeeded in dominating the entire Greek world with the support of the Cities Philip then planned to declare war on his long-standing enemy Persia but in 336 BC Philip II was brutally assassinated and it was Alexander then age 20 who became king of Macedonia and commander-in-chief of the league of Corinth Alexander took over his father's
• 23:00 - 23:30 work and as he amassed Victory after Victory there was no stopping the young conqueror in 334 BC he crossed the helispawn with 35 000 men and started to conquer the Persian Empire his initial aim was to control the Mediterranean Coastline but after his victory at the granicus he freed the Greek towns along the coast of Anatolia and continued his course in 333 BC at the Battle of Isis Alexander defeated the army of the
• 23:30 - 24:00 Persian Emperor Darius III for the first time after lengthy Siege he took the major port city of tear which he raised to the ground before selling off its population as slaves I wanted the world to know I was not just a Scourge we moved down into Egypt until we reached the great Nile Delta it was here on this land that I chose to lay the foundations of my city Alexandria
• 24:00 - 24:30 Alexandria to offer the gods from whom I had snatched tear a princely city like a jewel of Blended cloth gold and spices Alexandria which would testify to the world I was not just a warlord but also the architect of a future continent I drew the plans for the city myself with a huge Lighthouse that could be seen as far away as Crete and with the largest of libraries
• 24:30 - 25:00 I wanted thousands of works I wanted everything man knew to be sheltered within its walls um foreign
• 25:00 - 25:30 [Music] the wild Landscapes of northern Greece which belong to the kingdom of Macedonia
• 25:30 - 26:00 in the 4th Century BC remained unknown to archaeologists for a long time [Music] foreign it was only in 1977 that the discovery of the tomb of Alexander's father Philip II under a vast tumulus revolutionized our present-day knowledge of ancient Macedonia the inside of the tomb which had remained intact contain highly sophisticated and outstanding works that contrasted with what certain ancient
• 26:00 - 26:30 authors had written like demosthenes who described Philip as a brute and the macedonians as barbaric Alexander the Great's Origins were gradually becoming clearer [Music] [Music] is
• 26:30 - 27:00 complexity [Music]
• 27:00 - 27:30 approach foreign [Music]
• 27:30 - 28:00 fairly anonymous politics [Music] [Music] foreign
• 28:00 - 28:30 polygomery
• 28:30 - 29:00 produces episodes
• 29:00 - 29:30 [Music] civilization
• 29:30 - 30:00 [Music] [Music] immersed as he was in Greek culture with Macedonia representing one of its most precious jewels Alexander spread Greek civilization throughout his conquests but he did not reduce the cultures of those countries he conquered on the
• 30:00 - 30:30 contrary he drew on them and took inspiration from them it was in this vein that he proclaimed himself pharaoh of Egypt according to ancestral rights as a mark of respect for Egyptian Traditions but Egypt was only one stage on his frenzied course and he continued his journey towards Persia in pursuit of his enemy Darius and in 331 BC the decisive battle between the two armies took place
• 30:30 - 31:00 like the hands of two colossal balls whose flailing and interlocking horns produced the dull sound of wooden weapons Darius knew whom he was dealing with since the defeated Isis he knew that the young man I was could bring him to the ground and he was afraid so he prepared for war himself and came in person to the battlefield
• 31:00 - 31:30 wait yes [Music] was where our Mighty confrontation took place that day the earth almost gave way unto the Titanic weight of the war elephants of the Persian army as they charged trumpeting with rage seeming Unstoppable I took a bow and arrow and in a single shot I pierced the throat of the kornac who was advancing upon us the man perched Atop The Very Summit of
• 31:30 - 32:00 the Beast fell to the ground and the Stray elephant no longer receiving orders from its human brain vaguely felt that the small shape it had just seen falling and which it had Trampled Under its powerful feet was his master in distress the elephant began to trump it and ran Wild and shook its trunk turned around and charged randomly no man could control it
• 32:00 - 32:30 he looked and in all its animal Fury and blocked the advance of darius's army to dice my men having witnessed the whole scene understood what had to be done each Archer now aimed at the men perched on their flesh Thrones they must disease with panic the Persian mastodons charged indiscriminately
• 32:30 - 33:00 getting caught up in the courts trailing behind them without even noticing the trampled bodies the overturned chariots and the horse Corpses nothing could stop their fearful charge and as a Tremor of panic took over the entire Persian army they knew that Darius had lost
• 33:00 - 33:30 again is foreign
• 33:30 - 34:00 [Music]
• 34:00 - 34:30 foreign [Music] [Music]
• 34:30 - 35:00 foreign I truly believe that it was part of his plan to uh to establish a Multicultural
• 35:00 - 35:30 Society Multicultural Empire where people despite the religion and their tradition could coexist Ence a
• 35:30 - 36:00 calendars
• 36:00 - 36:30 in the space of 11 years Alexander the Great had created a vast Empire his first goal to seize the Persian Empire had been achieved in 327 BC faithful to his plan to mix races he married Roxanne the daughter of a Persian Noble but he continued his course and pursued
• 36:30 - 37:00 his dream to reach the ends of the Earth we arrived at the banks of the faces a small Confluence on the river Indus the face he's presented no difficulty as we had already crossed the Euphrates and the axis for our elephants the river was a mere torrent they had to step over And yet when we arrived at the banks of the small confluence my whole Army stopped
• 37:00 - 37:30 somber and silent scour the faces of my brothers and immediately understood what was happening I recognized All Too Well the exhaustion and that obscure desire to set foot on the ground I saw the firm determination in their faces even the horses looked like stubborn and exhausted marble statues the situation was serious and
• 37:30 - 38:00 the Ganges was within Striking Distance I spoke for nearly one full hour without ceasing striding up and down on my horse in front of them so that each man could see me so that each man could hear me and to make the fire in my eyes ignite in every man's expression meal but after an hour so their only response was silence not one soldier had moved not one
• 38:00 - 38:30 had spoken I asked them what they expected of me no reply it was then that I noticed some soldiers moved aside to let a man forward I asked the man to introduce himself it was calling us and failed to recognize him
• 38:30 - 39:00 look at my face Alexander he said I saw your eyes glaze over when I moved forward earlier you did not recognize me even though my features were familiar to you and now you know that I am calling us you are wondering why it took you so long to recognize me I am one of your men since the first hour and you do not forget your soldiers
• 39:00 - 39:30 time Alexander has shrouded my face time has produced a mask of tiredness that is stuck to my skin and that I cannot remove we have followed you everywhere Alexander and you have led us where no other could have led us now
• 39:30 - 40:00 we are exhausted we have covered such a distance since our native Greece that none of us can know whether we will die from old age but from exhaustion before we see our land again I weep not for my wife and children but for my homeland for the sweetness of Greece
• 40:00 - 40:30 sort of the heat of my sun-plated mountains overlooking the sea I am old Alexander and I do not have much longer left to live and I would like to die in my homeland heed me Alexander I am calling us as I kneel down before you
• 40:30 - 41:00 should I ask you for a tomb on Hellenic land for my old tired body we yes this is what Karina said to me and I [Music] if I still remember every one of his words
• 41:00 - 41:30 [Music] some of the tombs of the veterans of Alexander's Army who had refused to continue the journey were found in northern Greece according to ancient Macedonian custom the remains of the deceased were laid in
• 41:30 - 42:00 richly decorated tombs which were closed by heavy doors [Music] the funerary Cask was then buried under vast quantities of Earth to keep it out of sight messages Opera
• 42:00 - 42:30 characteristics [Music] is
• 42:30 - 43:00 foreign
• 43:00 - 43:30 [Music] [Music]
• 43:30 - 44:00 foreign
• 44:00 - 44:30 [Music] foreign [Music]
• 44:30 - 45:00 [Music]
• 45:00 - 45:30 foreign
• 45:30 - 46:00 foreign if after his death in Babylon at the age of just 32 Alexander the Great's embalmed body had been placed in the Royal necropolis of iGuy we can imagine how rich and varied the objects of his tomb would have been but his sarcophagus never arrived at its
• 46:00 - 46:30 destination in Macedonia a ruthless war broke out between his generals over the succession of the Empire resulting in the assassination of Alexander the Great's only two direct descendants Alexander IV his posthumous son born out of his marriage to Roxanne and Heracles an illegitimate son born out of his Union with barcine a Persian princess but the excavations being carried out on the land of the ancient Macedonian Capital at vergina recently revealed an
• 46:30 - 47:00 unexpected development scientists discovered an object which at First Sight resembled a bucket but the presence of an object glinting inside it quickly LED them to believe this was no ordinary object it now poses a new set of questions for researchers why would a funerary urn containing the remnants of Bones be buried outside the necropolis
• 47:00 - 47:30 foreign and who could this outstanding wreath have belonged to [Music] the oak tree wreath is actually a symbol relating to the Royal Family all the fines which contain the bones of the Dead who was cremated also have their references their point references
• 47:30 - 48:00 to finds which were revealed in the great tumulus Royal tombs as well the anthropological investigation of the bomb suggests that the person who was cremated could not be more than 20 17 years of age so we have a royal burial of a young person not later than no no older than 70 years of age that means which who was buried there I mean hidden
• 48:00 - 48:30 there to be more precise uh in the end of the fourth Century BC during the reign of Cassandra [Music] researchers are comparing the archaeological and anthropological information from their discovery they are searching for Clues among written sources that could throw light on the mystery of the royal wreath
• 48:30 - 49:00 [Music] is
• 49:00 - 49:30 analysis foreign [Music] the discovery of Heracles wreath is a
• 49:30 - 50:00 valuable addition to the history of Alexander the Great and the archaeological Adventure is far from over in amphipolis for example the initial survey of a tumulus has revealed vast quantities of sand which could only have been transported there to hide a tomb of capital importance
• 50:00 - 50:30 Alexandra foreign as for Alexander the Great his epic tale
• 50:30 - 51:00 may have come down to us through the centuries but his tomb remains a mystery after his General Ptolemy took possession of his tomb in a bid to establish power in Egypt texts reveal that Alexander's embalmed body was put on public display for several centuries in a grandiose mausoleum in Alexandria several Roman emperors are said to have visited his tomb up until the 3rd Century A.D yet to this day despite widespread
• 51:00 - 51:30 research and multiple theories historians and archaeologists still do not know its exact location [Music]