Concerning the Influence of the Iliad on the Worldview of Alexander the Great

This article examines the widely accepted scholarly view that the Iliad played a crucial role in shaping Alexander the Great’s character and his deliberate emulation of Achilles. Early accounts of his deep reverence for Homeric heritage and the heroes of the Trojan War can be traced back to his contemporaries and those who participated in his Asian campaign. How-ever, much of the ancient literary tradition portraying Alexander as an imitator of Achilles or as someone who based significant decisions on Homer’s poetry primarily reflects the literary and ideological perspectives of individual authors rather than historical reality. The starting point for this trend was the work of Callisthenes of Olynthus, who placed great emphasis on sacred and Panhellenic themes. Nevertheless, the available evidence suggests that the legendary and literary image of Achilles did, in fact, play a key role in shaping the personal qualities and val-ues of the young Alexander. A crucial factor in this was his mother Olympias’ lineage—she be-longed to the Molossian dynasty of the Aeacidae, who were believed to be descendants of Achilles. Additionally, similarities between the Homeric world and the customs of the Macedoni-an elite during the Argead dynasty allowed Alexander to perceive the heroes of the Trojan War as figures akin to his own way of life. A third significant factor was the literary excellence of the Iliad, which Alexander came to appreciate under Aristotle’s influence. The impact of Achil-les’ image was particularly strong during Alexander’s formative years when his core personal traits and values were taking shape. Viewing Achilles as a model of behavior did not turn him into a mere imitator, but it contributed to key aspects of his worldview. These included a strong inclination to display personal martial valor, deep loyalty to childhood companions, heightened attention to religious matters, and a readiness to see himself as a hero closely associated with the gods. This influence was further reinforced by Alexander’s use of Achilles’ image to ideo-logically justify his Asian campaign and support his claims to divine status.