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Question from ATG's Amazon Queen to his companions: what was Alexander's *true* passion? Literature, Heroes, Art, Music, Drama, Philosophy, Sciences, Politics, Martial, etc.? What do you perceive of his passion, the force within him that drove him? Honorably,Thalestris, Amazon Queen

The Iliad (his bible) and the gods. (oh, and Hephaestion)

Alexander must have had an incredible feeling of personal destiny - an inner purpose. So much conspired to make him believe it was HIS time - a shooting star destined to make history.Chris

Surely his driving force was to surpass everyone else in everything he turned his hand to, especially his father.

Accurately answered and precise! I agree with you, and will add Music, the vibrations of energy reverberating through him as he read, prayed, and shared with Hephaistion .

I think it was a place in mythology, alongside Heracles and Achilles.Best regardsSusan

Hi Celeste,Alexander's overriding passion? War and conquest, pure and simple.:-)All the bestMarcus

Hi Amazon Queen et al:I think Alexander's greatest passion can be expressed simply as: transcendence.Arrian states it accurately if mundanely, saying that if Alexander had found no one else to compete with he would have competed with himself. (If it was just about outdoing his father, he'd have limited himself to outdoing his father, and lost his motivation after conquering more territory than his father ever had.) He wanted to push every limit, within or without, to be larger than life and more than human, like the ancient heroes. He wanted to transcend the possible, as witness the many times he was told he couldn't do something, and figured out a way to do it. He wanted to transcend his nationality, to expand himself to incorporate the cultures of his subjects, which got him into trouble with the old-guard Makedonians. He wanted to transcend the very concept of nations and states by conquering the world.Small of stature, he wanted to transcend his size, and be seen as a colossus. He wanted to transcend any previous mental limits of scale -- to come up with the greatest strategy, tactics and logistics, to hold the richest banquet, have the largest wedding, enable the most active trade and prosperity, lead the bravest and most skilled army, build the greatest empire, enable the best scientific knowledge, give the most expensive gifts, and so on -- that the world had ever seen. He wanted to transcend the usual relationship between king and soldiers, and bond with his army as no one had before; I think he even wanted to build an unprecedented relationship with the Gods -- though he never lost his awe of them. He wanted to transcend the limits of incarnate human life by making his name immortal, or by becoming divine. He was in love with challenges, because to meet a challenge is to transcend our internal limits, of thinking, of fear, of strength. I think he lived on these thoughts: "Is this possible? Only one way to find out... let's go!" ...and the inward freedom and joy they carry.Even in his relationship with Hephaistion he was transcending the usual social mores, since they were about the same age. I think *that* passion arose out of Hephaistion's willingness and ability -- i.e. enough intelligence, wisdom and self-confidence -- to be Alexander's other half. I think he also had a passion for unifying people in a common goal, i.e. inspiring *them* to transcend self-interest.I think if he had not been raised a warrior, he

...as I was saying, if he had not been raised a warrior, I think he would have expressed that urge in whatever he had been taught, arts, philosophy, or what-have-you...Love & peace,
Karen

Oh I think it was many of it... One of most important had to be military successes, other competition with the gods. Also building new social centers and organizing the empire - but I think he was better commander then administrator.Maciek M

Hi everyone,I think that Alexander's true passion was simply to be the best at whatever he did and that he was driven on by a huge competive spirit to achieve whatever goal he set himself. He certainly didn't like being told he couldn't do something and took incredible risks to make his ambitions come true. Like Karen, I also think he would have been a success at whatever he decided to turn his hand to because his intelligence, upbringing and personality would have given him the tools.Cheers,Kate

I think Alexander had many passions, but his truest passion was himself.*That* was a life-long romance.susa

Hi Kate!!Well don't You think that Alexander maybe was so intelligent that he chose tasks he assumed he will manage to fulfill, otherwise he just ignored them? Of course from the sources we know only about those which he started.Maciek M

I BELEIVE HIS PASSION WAS TO CONQUER THE KNOWN WORLD AND FIND THE ENDS OF THE EARTH. REGARDS

Your information is valuable and stirred me.Thank You