Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth

Portrat head of Alexander the Great, Hellenistic period (2ndC BC-1stC BC), British Museum, London.

He built an empire that stretched across the world. Rode across the sky on a flying chariot. And descended to the bottom of the sea in a glass bell. Or did he? Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth challenges us to piece together an epic tale 2,000 years in the telling. From astrological clay tablets, ancient sculptures, papyri, and medieval manuscripts, to Hollywood and Bollywood movies and cutting-edge videogames, our major exhibition crosses continents to explore the fantastical stories that turned legacy into legend.

Pharaoh, prophet, philosopher. European, Middle Eastern and Asian cultures have all moulded Alexander into the fictional hero they want him to be. And today artists and storytellers alike are still trying to reimagine the man and his myth. Who was he really? You’ll have to decide for yourself.