Alexander the Great

At his death in 323 BC, Alexander the Great ruled an empire stretching from the Balkans to India, yet the best accounts we have of his life were written hundreds of years after his death. This book presents new translations of the most important ancient writings on Alexander’s life and legacy. Substantial extracts from Greek and Latin authors are arranged thematically and presented in such a way that the reader can compare different reports of the same events. They provide comprehensive coverage of Alexander, from his family background to his military conquests, death, and legacy. Accounts by historians are complemented by passages from geographers, biographers, and military writers. Waldemar Heckel, one of the foremost Alexander scholars in the world, provides an introduction and commentary outlining Alexander’s career, and discussing the sources, both extant and lost. He also supplies a bibliography of the most significant modern works on Alexander. Visual evidence is included, and a map of Alexander’s expedition guides readers through the military campaigns.

Author Biography

Waldemar Heckel is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Calgary. He was a founding editor of the Ancient History Bulletin and is the author of numerous books and articles, including The Last Days and Testament of Alexander the Great (1988), The Marshals of Alexander’s Empire (1992), and The Wars of Alexander the Great (2002). J. C. Yardley is Professor of Classics at the University of Ottawa and a past President of the Classical Association of Canada. His publications include translations of Quintus Curtius’ History of Alexander, Livy 31–40, and Justin’s Epitome of Trogus. His latest work is Justin and Pompeius Trogus (2003).