The Ancients

Alexander the Great: Man and Myth

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Episode notes

Alexander the Great is one of the most famous figures from history. Legends and fantastical versions of his life were told almost immediately upon his death, often merging fact with fiction. Through his interaction, both good and bad, with so many different empires and societies, Alexander the Great is viewed through many a lense; hero, villain, demi-god - the list goes on.


Despite dying at a young age, his achievements have been immortalised throughout history, with the help of some extraordinary tales, Alexander the Great is intertwined with more cultures and religions than you would expect.


In this episode, Tristan interviews Dr Peter Toth, the curator of the new British Library Exhibition on Alexander the Great. Together they discuss the idea of an Alexander Romance culture, and the layers of Alexander's mythical past that have helped keep this giant of history alive.


Edited by Thomas Ntinas


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