Title: From Tyrant to Philosopher-King
Description: Since his death in Babylon in 323 BC, Alexander the Great has inspired an unparalleled legacy founded on both histories and legends. From ancient Alexandria to twentieth-century America, and from politics to popular entertainment, he has remained a source of fascination and debate. Today our conception of Alexander rests upon two Roman inventions of history. The first, that of a bloodthirsty tyrant corrupted by Persian decadence, was recovered in medieval monasteries and thrived for centuries, until the second, which viewed Alexander as an enlightened ruler and the head of a harmonious global empire, flourished in the age of humanism. From this clash of intellectual movements arose our modern debates over Alexander as either a madman or a philosopher-king, the epitome of corruption or of ideal government.
Subjects: Alexander, the great, 356 b.c.-323 b.c., Manuscripts, Great britain, history, In literature, Sources, Psychology, Public opinion, Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern), Manuscripts, Greek (Medieval and modern)