Alexander and the Iliad in the new movie
Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 6:43 pm
check out the virtual tours of the movie sets of the palace in Babylon and the Library of Alexandria at http://alexanderthemovie.warnerbros.com ... Rindex.htm Notice the black box with the gold paneling and gold lions on the lid that appears in Alexander's bedroom and the library of Alexandria? Plutarch tells us that Alex's prized possession was his copy of the Iliad and "he constantly laid Homer's Iliad...with his dagger under his pillow, declaring that he esteemed it a perfect portable treasure of all military virtue and knowledge." Later, after the defeat of Darius, Plutarch says that "Among the treasures and other booty that was taken from Darius, there was a very precious casket, which being brought to Alexander for a great rarity, he asked those about him what they thought fittest to be laid up in it; and when they had delivered their various opinions, he told them he should keep Homer's Iliad in it." This must be the box shown in the vr tours, and the fact that it is included on both sets makes me think that it will definitely be talked about in the movie. That's pretty cool and it makes me more optimistic about the work as a whole. I think Alexander's love of the Iliad was very important to his character, especially since he considered himself a descendent of Achilles and his destiny so closely mirrored Achilles' (i.e. he left home to go east, giving up a long and happy life for a short life and undying glory). The quest for undying glory was certainly one of the main driving forces in the lives of Alexander and practically every person in the ancient world (without Christianity, immortality had to be achieved through remembrance). I'm glad Stone has decided to talk about this important aspect of the ancient mindset after the makers of the Troy movie so successfully botched it.