Exploring the Mind of Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is one of the most well known figures in history, but while many of his battles and actions are documented, little is known about his personality. This is because very few documents survive from his contemporaries, and we have no way of knowing his own private thoughts. However, extensive research has been done to try to establish and understanding of the character of the man, and so, in an effort to create the most well-rounded and complete portrayal of Alexander the Great possible, I seek to examine and synthesize many of these testimonials into a comprehensive analysis of his personality. In this process, we must rely on the secondary historians of Alexander, namely Quintus Curtius Rufus and Lucius Flavius Arrianus. Curtius is important because he based much of his work off of Cleitarchus who actually was a contemporary of Alexander. I will also look to the work of more recent hisotrins and popular literature in order to form the most comprehensive picture of Alexander's personality.