Curious about Alexanderphiles

[gahauser]

Why did any of you begin to read and become fascinated with this man? I know my own reasons, but I find it amazing that he is still, after centuries, the subject of so many people's interest. Let's go- why and when did some of you fall for him? (pardon the expression.)

[yiannis]

Well, he intrigued me since I was at school. Think about it, he's the ultimate hero!
A young boy-king starts all the way from Greece with a small army, never looses a battle, fights bravely and is injured more than once, conquers the mighty Persian empire, reaches the end of the world victorious, is gentle towards women and (not to forget) dies young!
If this isn't a hero's tale then I don't know what is!

[marcus]

Oh dear, I think you might be asking for too many secrets to be revealed :-)Actually, I can't remember exactly what got me on to Alexander. I read Renault's "Fire From Heaven" when I was about 14 or 15, and almost immediately bought "The Nature of Alexander" because I was interested in finding out more; but I don't know whether that was actually my first 'encounter' with Alexander.But I really got interested when I went to university, where I chose my course primarily because they offered a class on Philip and Alexander... and I haven't really looked back since! (and boy, it's been a long time).All the bestMarcus

[chris]

HiI knew little of Alexander until Michael Wood produced "In the Footsteps of......" - a BBC series of some four or five years ago. Half a dozen books later and I'm hooked. I spotted this site a year or two ago and love reading the comments, particularly those of the stalwarts (you know who you are)- it's brilliant - but back to Alexander.....he offers the lot, plus he came from a mystical, magical period in world history, and at the beginning of the 21st century, don't we need him!

[D.HATGISTAVROU]

IT ALL STARTED IN 1982 WITH THE "SEARCH FOR ALEXANDER" EXHIBITION IN NYC. FASINATING! THEN WATCHING THE MINI-SERIES MADE BY TIME LIFE VIDEO WHICH WAS MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXHIBIT,(WHICH I SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW FOR AND FINALLY ADDED TO MY LIBRARY IN 1994). AFTER THAT, MANY BOOKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AND VISITING HIS HOMELAND IN GREECE (WHERE MY FATHER IS ALSO FROM).REGARDS, DIMITRIOS

[gahauser]

I find it absolutely intriguing that a young man who lived so long ago can still bring so much excitement to so many. Obviously on a huge scale. There really will never be another like him. Certainly not from our age and time. I also found him through 'Fire from Heaven', so long ago. But, it was amazing how many others had read about him and were buying everything they could to read and learn about him. And here we are on a web-site dedicated to him. Imagine what he would think?

[dean]

Hello,
I must confess that really it was my great love of reading that I have to thank for my encounter with Alexander.
I read loads of historical novels that fired my imagination- I always liked the genre then I read Alexandros by Manfredi and in spite of his sometimes questionable prose, became fascinated!By the way- shortly,all being well I will be starting a degree here in Spain,I suppose thanks to that "fascination".Best regards
Dean

[Kate]

Hi everyone,I can't remember a time when I wasn't fascinated by Alexander. He was the hero of stories told to me by my grandfather when I was a little girl and by the time I was a teenager I used to read any book about him I could get my hands on. In fact, I was so besotted by Alexander and the ancient world that it influenced my education: from persuading my history teacher to let me base my History A-Level on an ancient history option instead of the usual eighteenth-century stuff and then going on to do Classical Studies at university.Over the years I've developed a keen interest in other periods of history, particularly the (English) Restoration and Regency periods, but I still find Alexander incredibly inspiring. It's like a "first love" thing, I suppose, and I can't imagine that there will come a time when I won't enjoy reading about him or visiting places which have an Alexander association. Even my son is named Alexander! (Luckily, my husband liked the name )Cheers, Kate

[anna]

Sigh... It's a lo-o-o-ong and a sad story. OK, not THAT sad
Since my school class in Ancient History, i think i was 11 or 12. My history teacher (a female as well) talked about him so passionately - i took a notice. Afterwards i discovered Plutarch's writings and was hooked since then. Always tried to keep this interest as a hobby - was too afraid to become bored with the subject. Apparently i was wrong, but well, one can never know. Read most of the available ancient writings about Alexander, (though alas, i don't know ancient Greek or Latin, unlike some of you, so i can only rely upon the translations):( , and many modern ones.
Pretty quickly became the subject of family jokes and was really glad to discover some other "crazy" Alexander admirers through the web.
Discovered the opportunities of internet only 3 years ago through some additional hobby - dedicated sites and forums. Only year or so afterwards decided to look for additional information on Alexander and discovered sites and this forum (it was a bit unorganised then). And just recently decided to join the board.
Well, if you speak about Renault... Read Fire From Heaven only 2 months ago!!!! So there... It's virtually unknown to Russian language speaking audiences. I think none of her books was ever translated into Russian. But everyone and their mother were praising her work on the net so i decided to give it a try. By no means perfect, but really a good job.

[nick]

When I was a child I remember possessing a colorful, illustrated 'history for children' book. I think I must have been 6 or 7, just learned to read. In the book was one huge page entirely dedicated to Alexander. It had a drawing of Alexander on his prancing horse - wearing a red cape flaring in the wind. (I think I would find the drawing rather bad taste if I ever saw it again, but as I child I was fascinated.) On the other side of the page was the map of Alexander's route - and even as young as I was I understood the enigma of the scale of his conquest. I especially understood the heroism and mystery of conquering those alien, unknown lands. Ever since that book Alexander felt like a sort of 'personal hero', a private discovery that other children new little about.In high school the novel of Dutch author Louis Couperus ("Iskander") sparked my interest again, as would Arrian do another ten years later. But - to be honest - that baroque image from the children's book has remained the most vivid, visual memory ever since.Regards -
Nick

[jan]

I love it that someone has asked this question. I could vaguely remember only my world history teacher's telling us about the Gordian knot, and that was as far as I got until recently when I discovered Arthur Weigall's book on the Mad Macedonian, in which I became absolutely enthralled. This is the only credible book that I really believe as he is the very best of the historians. His book was published in 1933, and is so full of great insights that I developed an interest to search the internet. I especially love to listen to the thoughts of all the "classical" friends of Alexander on this website. I am learning so much.

[maciek]

Hi!
First I watched in Discovery the program about the Granicos battle - it fascinated me. Then I red Hammond's - "The Genius of Alexander the Great" and just after few pages of that book it started. I red all ancient books and all I could get in libraries on his (and close) subjects. Some time ago I also bought the movie of Michael Wood's which is superb also.
I love especially to read ancient sources now.Maciek M (macm)

[davej]

I don't have a cool story like most of you. I was fascinated by Alexander when I was a teenager. I did not do any serious study until a couple of years into my Degree. I did some research on Alexander as a General, it was only when researching my essay on Sarissa that I got hooked. I am really not a Alexanderphile in the same sense as many of you, I am a Classicist really I like Brasidas and Hannibal, Caesar and Scipio as generals just as much. However there is "something about Alexander".

[ruthaki]

I was about 16 when I first 'discovered' Alexander. In High School history they barely touched on him, but enough to ignite an interest. From then on I was in the library researching and reading everything I could about him. I spent my final year of school writing an Alexander themed novel (starts with the destruction of Thebes). Entertained fellow class-mates in study hall with chapters. I never lost my interest in Alexander. My hero then and now. A fascinating creature. What a thrill when in 1978 I made my first trip to Greece, landing first in Thessaloniki. It happened that was the first year Andronikos' finds from the Tombs were on public display. I'd read about them in Nat. Geographic but never dreamed of seeing them for real. I stood in front of the display and cried. Some years later I got to visit the tombs and it was also a moving experience. Since my first trip to Greece I've covered most of all the sites in northern Greece connected with Alexander (except Mieza which I will visit this summer). I've also visit the Turkish coast tracing some of his route. And this summer will hopefully visit Bodrum (Halicarnasus) and perhaps the site of ancient Sardis. I'm currently finishing writing a novel about the fall of Alexander's dynasty.

[gahauser]

I am very excited to read about how all of you came to be here at this site. It is fascinating how most of you learned and became obsessed with him through novels. I wish I was taught his story in school. Unfortunately, they were hung up on the American Civil War. (yawn) Thanks, all of you, for your replies. Please continue to share your feelings about it. I can't help but be a bit awestruck at how popular this man still is.