The Greek Alexander Romance

Although it has questionable historical value, The Greek Alexander Romance, of which the earliest translation from the Greek dates to the fourth century, is an entertaining fictionalized version of Alexander the Great's conquests. Since it appears to have been written in Egypt and draws from a variety of sources across its many translations and adaptations, Alexander the Great's father is now Nectanebo and his conquests take him to the edge of the world. He encounters wild beasts and men, engages with exotic rulers in India, Asia, and Meroe, and appears to be Christian or a monotheist in some of the recensions of the text. The translator, Richard Stoneman, includes variants from different versions of the tale so one can get an idea of the full breadth and diversity of Alexander's adventures. Thus, like The Story of Apollonius, King of Tyre, some convergence of Christian and pagan themes appear in the text, although much of the Jewish and Christian themes were added by later translations of Christian authors. For instance, the Queen of Meroe's letter to Alexander mirrors Christian symbolism of dark skin and white (pure) souls, and in another episode from a later version, Alexander pledges submission to the one God of the Jews.

Overall, the story is very loosely based on the historical conquests of Alexander across Egypt, Persia, the Levant, and India, and it relies on some of the same conventions of the earlier Greek romances (ruses, deception, oracles, deux ex machina, fantastic creatures or wildlife, exotic lands beyond the eastern Mediterranean, Greek versus barbarian dichotomies). In some respects, this romance brings to mind Callirhoe and Heliodorus's famous work in that it revolves around fictionalized tales of historical figures fighting against the Persians. Unfortunately, without two protagonists who fall in love at first sight, there is not much drama or reason to invest in Alexander as a character. There is not much dramatic tension in the tale since the reader is to know immediately of Alexander's intelligence, noble character, and military prowess. Even when he defeats Darius of Persia, the battles described do not match those of the Greek romances. Nonetheless, as an account of unbelievable adventures of the known and unknown world, it suffices as entertainment. It also provides an interesting account of the origins of Alexandria and its future as a cosmopolitan metropolis.