Alexander's appearance
The descriptions of Alexander's appearance suggest that he was not tall but of a compact build with great reserves of stamina. He was an excellent runner, and trained by jumping on and off a moving chariot whilst the army was on the march. He also tended to walk and talk rapidly, something others imitated.
He appears to have been fair skinned with light brown to fair hair which he wore long and unruly to emphasis his leonine nature. Portraits are often attributed to him on the basis of his hairstyle as his hair grew upwards from his forehead (anastole). Other characteristics associated with him are the head tilted to the left, the furrowed brow, deep-set eyes and parted, bowed lips. It is not always easy to judge whether some of these characteristics are artistic convention or realistic portrayals.
The later Alexander Romance says that Alexander had different coloured eyes, but this may be a remembrance of a head injury that could have caused enlargement of one of Alexander's pupils (at least for a time), as Plutarch, who gives us the most comprehensive description of Alexander, makes no mention of it.
The description of Alexander's body having a pleasant odour has been incorrectly ascribed to diabetes. It was far more likely to be due to above average (for the time) attention to personal hygiene: he is described as bathing after returning from a party before bed and, when not on campaign, bathing daily.
Alexander is also depicted as clean-shaven in an era when most men were bearded. He is described as saying a beard gives an enemy soldier something to hold onto in combat, but this may be a later attribution. It is possible, being fair, that when younger at least, he could not grow a full beard and preferred shaving to ridicule. The emphasis on his leonine hair may have come about as a counterpoint to this: Alexander does give the impression of being rather vain of his appearance. However he seems to have capitalised on this youthful, unbearded appearance to emphasis his image as a youthful, conquering hero in the guise of Achilles, who often appears as unbearded. He may also have used it as a political tool to send the message that he was youthful and inexperienced and hence less of a threat.
Aelian Book XII
Chap. XIV.
Of persons excellent in Beauty.
They say that the most amiable and beautiful amongst the Greeks was Alcibiades ; amongst the Romans, Scipio. It is reported also that Demetrius Poliorcetes contended in Beauty. They affirm likewise that Alexander Son of Philip was of a neglectful handsomeness : For his Hair curled naturally, and was yellow ; yet they say there was something stern in his countenance. Homer speaking of handsome persons, compares them to Trees,9
——— he shoots up like a Plant.
Plutarch Life of Alexander
Book I
4 1 The outward appearance of Alexander is best represented by the statues of him which Lysippus made, and it was by this artist alone that Alexander himself thought it fit that he should be modelled. For those peculiarities which many of his successors and friends afterwards tried to imitate, namely, the poise of the neck, which was bent slightly to the left, and the melting glance of his eyes, this artist has accurately observed. 3 Apelles, however, in painting him as wielder of the thunder-bolt, did not reproduce his complexion, but made it too dark and swarthy. Whereas he was of a fair colour, as they say, and his fairness passed into ruddiness on his breast particularly, and in his face. Moreover, that a very pleasant odour exhaled from his skin and that there was a fragrance about his mouth and all his flesh, so that his garments were filled with it, this we have read in the Memoirs of Aristoxenus.
5 Now, the cause of this, perhaps, was the temperament of his body, which was a very warm and fiery one; ….And in Alexander's case, it was the heat of his body, as it would seem, which made him prone to drink, and choleric.
8 But while he was still a boy his self-restraint showed itself in the fact that, although he was impetuous and violent in other matters, the pleasures of the body had little hold upon him, and he indulged in them with great moderation, while his ambition kept his spirit serious and lofty in advance of his years. 9 For it was neither every kind of fame nor fame from every source that he courted, as Philip did, who plumed himself like a sophist on the power of his oratory, and took care to have the victories of his chariots at Olympia engraved upon his coins; nay, when those about him inquired whether he would be willing to contend in the foot-race at the Olympic games, since he was swift of foot, "Yes," said he, "if I could have kings as my contestants." 11 And in general, too, Alexander appears to have been averse to the whole race of athletes…
Quintus Curtius
Books I and II are lost but this is a somewhat romantic summary given by the translator J C Rolfe
…for his boyish frame invincible strength, and signs of an indomitable spirit were far in advance of his time of life. Excelling in native grace of person, he scorned adornment, saying that anxious care for beauty was suitable for women, who were commended by no other endowment ; that he would be sufficiently handsome if he should achieve virtue.
When he grew up, he was conspicuous for a well-proportioned body, strong and remarkably solid limbs, surpassing rather in strength than in beauty ; for he was not tall (Curt. iii. 12. 6 ; v. 2. 13). His skin was white and fair, except for a handsome flush on his cheeks and also on his breast ; his hair was golden and slightly curling ; his nose was aquiline ; his eyes did not match, for his left eye is said to have been grey and the other very black ; and they had a kind of hidden power, so that those who looked at him felt veneration and sometimes dread.
He was wonderfully swift of foot and his endurance of toil was beyond belief ; by this he found safety in times of difficulty for himself and his army. He kept himself in such condition by frequent exercise that his breath and limbs had a pleasant odour, which even pervaded the garments which he wore (Plut. Alex. iv. 2). He took pains that the attractiveness of his face should not be marred by the work of inferior artists; Apelles alone had permission to paint his portrait, Pyrgoteles to represent him in marble, Polyclitus and Lysippus in bronze (Hor. Epist. ii. 1. 237 ff.). They say that his preceptor Leonidas contracted the habit from him ; but I am inclined to attribute this characteristic rather to the nature of the man than to habit ; for in one of rapid thought it was inevitable that the motions of his body should follow those of his mind. This his successors were so far from regarding as a defect that they imitated it, as well as the inclining of his neck towards his left shoulder (Plut. Alex. 4. 1), his steady gaze, and his high-pitched voice, since they could not imitate his mental qualities.
Although he was eager for praise, he did not seek it from any and every source, but rejoiced to be compared with the best (Plut. Alex. iv. 5). Therefore to those who said that since he excelled in running he ought to enter his name among the contestants in the Olympic Games, after the example of a king of the same name as himself (Justin vii. 2. 14), he replied : “ I would do it, if I had kings as competitors ” (Plut. Alex. I.c.). Whenever Philip had been victorious in a famous battle or had reduced any powerful city and others rejoiced, he was heard to complain among his contemporaries that his father would leave nothing for him or for them to do when they had grown up (Plut. Alex. v. 2). Being most sparing of sleep, he had a device for aiding wakefulness. Holding in his grasp a silver ball, he stretched his arm over a bronze basin beside his couch, so that when the coming of sleep relaxed the tension of his muscles, the clang of the ball as it fell might awaken him (Amm. xvi. 5. 4). He worshipped the gods magnificently from his early youth and used incense so lavishly that Leonidas, who was austere and frugal, exclaimed : “ Make offerings like these when you have subdued the region where such things grow.” Mindful of these words, when he subdued a incense-bearing Arabia he
sent many talents' weight of perfumes to Leonidas (Plut.Alex. xxv. 4 f.) with instructions not to be too stingy repaid so generously gifts cheerfully offered.
The young prince early gave indications of a lofty spirit which would undertake great deeds. ..