The Alexander romance—a heroic narrative loosely based on the life of Alexander the Great—was one of the most widely copied texts throughout premodern Europe and the Islamic world. In premodern Persian histories and literature, Alexander was an archetypal Persian king, who conquered the world and united "East and West." Four Persian Alexander epics were composed between 1000 and 1500 CE by some of the most famous authors of the Persian literary tradition: Firdausi (d.1020), Nizami (d.1209), Amir Khusrau (d.1325) and Jami (d.1492). Despite the importance of these epics to premodern Persian literature, this dissertation is the first monograph in any European language to compare all four canonical versions of the Persian Alexander epic in depth. My analysis focuses on the ways in which Persian Alexander epic tradition provides insight into the development of the Persian cosmopolis, a trans-regional cultural phenomenon extending from the Balkans to the Bay of Bengal.

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Η παρούσα εργασία αφορά τη διαδικασία ανάπτυξης, σχεδίασης και αξιολόγησης του εκπαιδευτικού λογισμικού «Μέγας Αλέξανδρος: η εκστρατεία του». Η εφαρμογή αναπτύχθηκε πάνω στο «Google Earth» χρησιμοποιώντας τα εργαλεία του και κυρίως τα αρχεία kmz. Παρουσιάζει με αλληλεπιδραστικό και δυναμικό τρόπο ιστορικές και γεωγραφικές πληροφορίες, δραστηριότητες και βίντεο για τους μαθητές. Το λογισμικό κατά τη διαδικασία αξιολόγησής του παρουσιάστηκε σε μαθητές, γυμνασίου και αξιολογήθηκε από αυτούς. / This work involves the development process, design and evaluation of educational software «Alexander the Great: his campaign». The application was developed on the «Google Earth» using the tools and particular files kmz. Presents in a interactive and dynamic way historical and geographical information, activities and videos for students. The software during the evaluation process was presented to students high school and was evaluated by the above.

Considéré comme un historien qui sacrifie rigueur et exactitude à son souci de la rhétorique, Quinte-Curce jouit, et avec lui son histoire « romancée », d’une réputation en demi-teinte. Au-delà de faiblesses et d’un mélange des genres entre histoire, morale et rhétorique du reste caractéristiques de l’ensemble de l’historiographie romaine, les Historiae Alexandri Magni constituent un témoignage intéressant sur la représentation du pouvoir à Rome au Ier siècle de n.è. En s’appuyant sur un portrait rigoureusement construit, Quinte-Curce met en relief l’évolution du Conquérant, soumis à la tentation de l’Orient, de la fortune et de ses modèles héroïques. L’historien se livre alors à une véritable entreprise de démystification qui touche la nature même de cet Orient merveilleux, la fortune providentielle dont se réclame le Macédonien et même le langage. Sont ainsi condamnés la quête effrénée de gloire que poursuit le roi, et son rêve de divinisation : l’Orient est synonyme de renversement généralisé des normes et des valeurs, la fortune une illusion conduisant à un sentiment d’impunité. En déconstruisant la propagande d’Alexandre, Quinte-Curce révèle alors un autre imaginaire – le sien – en même temps qu’une idéologie. En filigrane, il propose aussi un idéal du pouvoir qui repose essentiellement sur l’équilibre et sur la responsabilité du prince. Par là, il interroge, au regard des réalités politiques de son temps, la pertinence d’un mythe central dans l’imaginaire politique romain et dont l’ombre plane sur tous les ambitieux, à commencer par les empereurs ou les candidats à l’Empire. Son récit bien mené incite donc à une réflexion réelle sur l’exercice du pouvoir, ses enjeux et ses limites. / Considered a historian who sacrifices his rigor and accuracy for the sake of rhetoric, Curtius Rufus enjoys, and with him his “fictionalized” history as well, a halftone reputation. Notwithstanding its shortcomings and a mixture of genres between history, moral and rhetoric, which are also typical of the entire Roman historiography, the Historiae Alexandri Magni are an interesting testimony of the representation of power in Rome in the first century A.D. Building on a rigorously constructed portrait, Quintus Curtius highlights the evolution of the Conqueror, subject to the temptations of the East, of fortune and its heroic models. The historian attempts to debunk the very nature of this wonderful East, the providential fortune claimed by Macedonian, and even language. The unbridled quest for glory pursued by the king and his dream of deification are here condemned: the East stands for a general inversion of norms and values, and fortune becomes an illusion leading to a feeling of impunity. By deconstructing Alexander's propaganda, Curtius then reveals another imaginary—his own—along with an ideology. Implicitly, it also proposes an ideal of power mainly based on balance and on the responsibility of the prince. The historian questions the relevance of a central myth of the Roman political imagination in the political context of the times, whose shadow looms over all ambitious men, starting with emperors or candidates for the Empire. His well crafted narrative is a call for a reflection on the actual exercise of power, its challenges and limitations.

Alexander the Great represents the pinnacle of mortal achievement. There are many histories, novels, and even self-help books written on Alexander, though very few discuss in detail exactly who this enigmatic youth was. Tragically, many historians deny the possibility of understanding the intricacies of Alexander's complex personality. This thesis espouses that Alexander can be studied as a human-being brimming over with wisdom and accomplishment. The research conducted for this thesis has involved combing the ancient authors whom Alexander read and was influenced by in order to fully represent Alexander as a deeply emulative hero. The portrait of Alexander that readers will find below is both deeply historical and fascinatingly mythical, for he lived in both worlds. Alexander believed in a prophecy uttered by Prometheus which foretold of a weapon that would "best the thunderbolt" of Zeus; the fulfillment of this prophecy would bring the glory of Alexander's heroic bloodline to a dramatic and powerful conclusion. To reach this goal, Alexander had to rival his ancestors Achilles and Hercules in accomplishment and then excel them in memory. It is the hope that this thesis will paint an original portrait of Alexander which is overflowing with the spirituality, passion, and adventure that characterized the young king.

Comme le titre le suggère, la thèse s’inspire du "Lucien écrivain. Imitation et création de Jacques Bompaire". Dans l’introduction nous reparcourons l’histoire de l’Hellenismus de Droysen et nous surlignons le poids du mélange culturel gréco-oriental dans la vie et dans l’œuvre de Lucien. Le premier chapitre consiste en un corpus commenté de passages lucianesques contenant des éléments hellénistiques évidents. Dans le deuxième chapitre nous analysons plusieurs aspects de la civilisation hellénistique présents dans l’œuvre de Lucien comme la politique, l’art, le mythe, les programmes littéraires. Dans le troisième chapitre nous étudions l’influence de la poésie alexandrine dans l’œuvre de l’A., alors que le quatrième chapitre analyse l’influence que des formes littéraires relevant d’un substrat culturel de sagesse populaire ont eue sur l’A. L’approche textuelle et philologique adoptée permet d’affirmer que Lucien connaissait la civilisation hellénistique et sa littérature. / As the title suggests, the thesis takes inspiration from Jacques Bompaire’s Lucien écrivain. Imitation et creation. In the introduction we retrace the history of Droysen’s Hellenismus and we detect the importance of the greco-oriental cultural fusion in Lucian’s life and works. The first chapter consists of a commented corpus of lucianic passages containing evident hellenistic elements. In the second chapter we analyse different aspects of the hellenistic civilisation which are detectable in Lucian’s works such as politics, arts, myth or literary programs. In the third chapter we compare Lucian’s literary production with Alexandrian poetry, while the forth chapter focuses on the literary influence that hellenistic philosophical and historiographical productions had on Lucian’s composition. This research makes it possible to state that the author of Samosata had a deep knowledge of hellenistic civilisation and that hellenistic literature influenced his way of writing.

This thesis examines Alexander�s conception of kingship, his relationship with royal traditions in the three great kingdoms of the Near East, and the concomitant transformation of the king�s court by which Alexander created a distinctive royal insignia and introduced new court personnel and protocol. Section I ("Alexander and Near Eastern Kingship") contains Chapters I, II, and III. Section II ("The Transformation") comprises Chapters IV to VI. In Chapter I, I examine the Macedonian background of Alexander�s court and his native conception of kingship. Chapter II is a study of the kingship of Egypt. Chapter III deals with the kingship of Babylon and Persia. I then turn to an analysis of Alexander�s policies towards the Persians and the concept of the "kingship of Asia," as this was understood by Alexander. This crucial concept is to be distinguished from the kingship of Persia, a position which Alexander supplanted and replaced with his personal kingship of Asia. In Section II, three chapters are devoted to an analysis of the transformation of Alexander�s court. Chapter IV covers the origin and significance of Alexander�s royal insignia. Chapter V examines the introduction of, and the role played by, Persians and easterners in the king�s court; and Chapter VI the significance of other Persian court offices.

This thesis examines Alexander�s conception of kingship, his relationship with royal traditions in the three great kingdoms of the Near East, and the concomitant transformation of the king�s court by which Alexander created a distinctive royal insignia and introduced new court personnel and protocol. Section I ("Alexander and Near Eastern Kingship") contains Chapters I, II, and III. Section II ("The Transformation") comprises Chapters IV to VI. In Chapter I, I examine the Macedonian background of Alexander�s court and his native conception of kingship. Chapter II is a study of the kingship of Egypt. Chapter III deals with the kingship of Babylon and Persia. I then turn to an analysis of Alexander�s policies towards the Persians and the concept of the "kingship of Asia," as this was understood by Alexander. This crucial concept is to be distinguished from the kingship of Persia, a position which Alexander supplanted and replaced with his personal kingship of Asia. In Section II, three chapters are devoted to an analysis of the transformation of Alexander�s court. Chapter IV covers the origin and significance of Alexander�s royal insignia. Chapter V examines the introduction of, and the role played by, Persians and easterners in the king�s court; and Chapter VI the significance of other Persian court offices.

Au cours de la « Renaissance du XIIe siècle », l'écriture de l'histoire s'épanouit dans l'Europe Latine. L'un des genres dans lequel ce phénomène est le plus visible est celui des chroniques universelles. Les chroniqueurs tentent d'y raconter l'histoire de l'humanité, depuis la Création jusqu'à leur propre époque. Certaines sont particulièrement riches en matière d'histoire ancienne, et fournissent même parfois d'amples informations sur l'Orient ancien. Pourquoi des moines reclus dans leurs monastères s'intéressaient-ils à une histoire aussi éloignée dans le temps et dans l'espace ? Le présent travail s'occupe de deux grandes sections de l'histoire orientale telle qu'elle était conçue au XIIe siècle : les empires qui tournaient autour de la ville de Babylone et les hauts faits militaires d'Alexandre dans les régions d'Asie. En analysant le traitement que leur réservent les chroniques universelles, on observe que les auteurs ont mis ces histoires au service de problématiques propres à leur temps, guidés par des intérêts chaque fois plus proches du monde séculier. En même temps, ils utilisèrent des méthodes propres à l'historiographie, ce qui aboutit à différencier significativement leurs travaux des commentaires bibliques et des romans d'antiquité. / During the "Renaissance of the 12th century" there was a flourishing of historical writing in Latin Europe. One the genres where this is most noticeable is in the universal chronicles. In them, the chroniclers outline the history of the world from Creation until their own period. Some of them are particularly rich in ancient history and they provide a lot of information of the ancient Orient. Why did monks secluded in their monasteries take interest on a history so far removed from them in time and space? This study considers two great sections of ancient oriental history as it was understood in the twelfth century: the empires surrounding the city of Babylon and the military deeds of Alexander the Great in Asia. Analyzing the treatment that the universal chronicles give them we can appreciate that the authors put these histories at the service of the problems of their own time, being guided increasingly by interests close to the secular world. At the same time they used methods of historiography, which significantly differentiated their works from biblical commentary and the "romances of antiquity".