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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,480 [dramatic music playing] 2 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,760 [Oracle] Into each life comes adversity. 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,080 [Alexander] What is there to understand? 4 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,440 Why you would march us through a burning desert for weeks, 5 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,360 just to see us climb into a lion's mouth? 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,560 What if it's something I have to do before I face Darius? 7 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,840 [Oracle] But for those who seek greatness, 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,040 they must take the hardest path, 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:38,720 the road less traveled. 10 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,720 They must pass through the tempest, 11 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,640 the eye of the storm. 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,600 [strong wind blowing] 13 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,880 [Oracle] But this is how the gods test us. 14 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,120 -[Hephaestion yells] -[yells] 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,080 [Oracle] For it is only in the eye of that storm 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,400 where we find if we are truly worthy, 17 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,720 how they challenge us to recognize what is truly important… 18 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:06,240 Alex? 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,320 [Oracle] …what is worth fighting for… 20 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,840 and what is worth moving heaven and earth… 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,400 [both laugh] 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:18,560 [Oracle] …to protect. 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,280 [dramatic music intensifies] 24 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,040 [dramatic music fades, echoes] 25 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,320 [suspenseful music playing] 26 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,360 We have been waiting for you, Alexander. 27 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,080 You know who I am? 28 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,080 The world knows who you are. 29 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:13,920 The question is, 30 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:15,680 do you? 31 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:20,160 Hmm. 32 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,320 Two bitter enemies 33 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,800 worlds apart. 34 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,760 But two sides of the same coin. 35 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,680 A young Macedonian prince fighting for his country 36 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,240 and for his own name. 37 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:40,880 And a Persian king 38 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,560 determined to defend the greatest empire on earth. 39 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,800 But who shall be victorious? 40 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:58,640 The gods will decide. 41 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:04,000 So… 42 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,000 this war, 43 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,080 the worlds I fight for, 44 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,440 everything I do in pursuit of some 45 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,520 higher meaning is pointless? 46 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,880 That is not what I said. 47 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,680 And it is not what you feel within. 48 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:25,840 But what if I fail? 49 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,600 The child of a god cannot fail. 50 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:39,240 My mother… 51 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:41,360 She told me that. 52 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,640 She told you only what you needed to hear to set you on the path. 53 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:46,960 The path to where? 54 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:49,200 Let me show you. 55 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,200 [voice whispers] 56 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,960 [ethereal music playing] 57 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,160 [chants in Coptic] 58 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,400 [thunder claps] 59 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,840 [chants in Coptic] 60 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,960 [chanting continues, echoes] 61 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,160 -[horses galloping] -[Darius screams] 62 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,520 [Oracle continues chanting] 63 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,120 [music ends, echoes] 64 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:20,960 -[wind blows] -[voice whispers] 65 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,320 [Lloyd] We simply do not know 66 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,200 what happens in that inner sanctuary 67 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:32,360 in the Temple of Amun at Siwa. 68 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,840 Our sources are at loggerheads with each other here. 69 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,520 But one thing is certain, 70 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,760 is that Alexander comes out of the experience a changed man. 71 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:56,960 He claims that the Oracle pronounced that he was 72 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,040 the son of the god Amun. 73 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:08,560 And whether it is a fervent spiritual belief of his 74 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:13,000 or whether it is an incredible piece of politics, 75 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,760 he projects himself from here on in 76 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,320 as a living, breathing god. 77 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:23,840 [dramatic music playing] 78 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:35,840 [crowd cheering] 79 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,080 [cheering continues] 80 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:41,240 [Ptolemy] Stand back! 81 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:43,960 Everybody back! 82 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,240 Guards! Control this crowd! 83 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:48,520 [loudly] Ptol, it's okay. 84 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,600 [cheering continues] 85 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:51,640 Really. 86 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,400 [Salima] Alexander spends the night 87 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,840 at the temple in Siwa, 88 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:01,920 and there, the Oracle speaks to him. 89 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,080 -[crowd cheers] -[Ptolemy] Alexander, keep moving. 90 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:11,120 [Salima] When he comes out, he says that the god Amun-Ra claimed him as his son. 91 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,400 And so, Alexander is also divine 92 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:19,040 and, therefore, obviously the legitimate ruler of Egypt, 93 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,240 and certainly for the Egyptians, 94 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,320 he is a god from that point on. 95 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:25,520 -[crowd cheers] -[man] Alexander! 96 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:26,520 General. 97 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:27,520 Alexander. 98 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,600 [cheering continues] 99 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,120 It's good to see you. 100 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,960 [inhales, exhales] 101 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:48,920 -A living god? -[exhales] 102 00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:51,920 The High Priest confirmed it. 103 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,400 Apparently, he's the son of Zeus. 104 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,360 [inhales deeply, exhales] 105 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,720 Well, then, if he is not Philip's son, is he really our king? 106 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,800 -It's not a joke, General. -And I'm not laughing. 107 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,200 The troops are getting fractious. They've done nothing but train for months. 108 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,240 Then they'll be ready to fight for Macedon. 109 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:12,440 But will Alexander? 110 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,280 Doesn't it bother you? 111 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,520 Him here, in his Egyptian clothes, 112 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,920 learning Persian from the enemy's wife. 113 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,920 He's going native. 114 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,360 A pharaoh. 115 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,440 Now a god. 116 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:29,760 Where does it all end? 117 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:33,800 With a glorious victory over Persia. 118 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:35,360 Does it? 119 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:36,480 [exhales] 120 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,040 I need to know that he is still with us. 121 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:48,320 And you too. 122 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,000 [Carolyn] Why go to the oracle of an Egyptian deity, Amun? 123 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:58,440 Well, the Greeks were quite flexible in their understanding of their gods. 124 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,800 They accepted that perhaps their gods 125 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,000 could go by different names in different places 126 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:07,360 and so, although it was the oracle of Amun in Egypt, 127 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,520 the Greeks associated Amun with Zeus. 128 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,520 So, in going to that oracle, 129 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,680 it's also like Alexander was getting recognition from Zeus as well. 130 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,000 They would've been one and the same to the Greeks. 131 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:21,560 [dramatic music intensifies] 132 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,160 -[swords clatter] -[man grunts] 133 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,080 [Darius] Again. 134 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:25,760 [swords clatter] 135 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:27,160 [man grunts] 136 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:29,920 [both grunt] 137 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:31,000 Again. 138 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:32,760 I've never seen him like this. 139 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:34,240 [straining] 140 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:36,160 -[strains] -[man grunts] 141 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,800 Right now, he would take on all of Macedon 142 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:40,880 if it would save Stateira from that savage. 143 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:42,160 [both straining] 144 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,400 [Lloyd] Let's not over-egg the idea 145 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,680 that it's all over for Darius. 146 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:51,600 He's still got substantial territories 147 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:55,520 from Babylon all the way through to Northern India and Pakistan. 148 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:00,040 But we can't deny that the loss of Asia Minor, the Levant, 149 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,640 Egypt, to Alexander 150 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:03,000 is an enormous blow. 151 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,920 That was a substantial part of his kingdom gone. 152 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,680 Plus the fact now, he's lost his wife, 153 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,640 he's losing confidence with his chief advisors, 154 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,120 ministers, and council of war. 155 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:18,400 It is looking dodgy for him. 156 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,360 -But the game isn't over yet. -[grunts] 157 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,000 My king, I bring news. 158 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,920 Of Alexander's death, I hope. 159 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,440 [both straining] 160 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:26,600 No, sir. 161 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:32,160 My hope he would have been swallowed by the Great Sand Sea proved optimistic. 162 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,760 He returned from the Temple of Siwa a few days ago 163 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,360 to some excitement, it would seem. 164 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:39,320 Excitement? [pants] 165 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:40,720 [strains] 166 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:42,480 -[swords clatter] -[Darius grunts] 167 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:44,200 Rumor amongst the locals is that 168 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:48,080 the high priestess at Siwa has declared him the rightful pharaoh. 169 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,440 -[straining] -[man grunts] 170 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:52,880 [Bessus] More than that… 171 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:54,360 -[swords clink] -[Darius grunts] 172 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,480 …son of Zeus-Amun, sir. 173 00:09:56,560 --> 00:09:58,080 -[man moans] -[strains] 174 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:59,080 A living god. 175 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,280 [both grunting] 176 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,880 -[dramatic music stops] -[pants] 177 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:08,160 Then it seems I am to be a god killer. [panting] 178 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,760 I have a little something to tell you. 179 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:26,840 I have a little news myself. 180 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,000 I'm afraid your news has already spread like wildfire. 181 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,360 Is he going to be known as the son 182 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,400 of the son of God? 183 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,040 Alexander. 184 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:51,880 You need to come with me. 185 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:53,480 It's urgent. 186 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,160 [Lloyd] By this stage in Alexander's life, 187 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:05,840 I think his heart is no longer Macedonian per se, 188 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,520 but here's a young man experiencing a much wider world 189 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,960 with a great cultural depth to it. 190 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,920 And I just think he happily buys in 191 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,400 to whatever he encounters next. 192 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:24,000 I think that's the thing with Alexander. He's incredibly receptive 193 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,040 to the next thing that opens up to him. 194 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,200 [Alexander] Hm. 195 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:38,920 Well, this doesn't feel welcoming. 196 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:40,760 We are concerned, 197 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,040 the leaders of your army. 198 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:46,480 May I speak my mind, sir? 199 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:48,960 You've earned that right, General. 200 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:51,520 Then hear me when I say 201 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,760 we have lost all focus on our mission. 202 00:11:55,680 --> 00:11:58,400 You might be worshiped here by the Egyptians, 203 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,800 but our men will never bow down to one of their own. 204 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,160 Now, wait a minute, General. 205 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:05,280 I know my men. 206 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,480 Theirs is a faith that needs to be earned 207 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,280 in great deeds. 208 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,000 Then I will earn that faith. 209 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:15,680 I promise you. 210 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,320 We'll make preparations to leave Egypt immediately 211 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:20,960 and face Darius on the field. 212 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,000 But 213 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:28,800 I must have loyalty. 214 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,440 Especially among those that I depend on most. 215 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,680 Did I not lead you to victory at Granicus? 216 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,080 Halicarnassus? 217 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,000 Issus and Tyre? 218 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:00,760 So I ask all of you right now 219 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:02,720 to make your choice. 220 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:09,320 Go 221 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,160 with my blessing. 222 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,320 Or pledge your life to me all the way to the gates of Babylon and Persia beyond. 223 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,840 [dramatic music intensifies] 224 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:28,920 What do you say? 225 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,600 [music wanes] 226 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,040 I agree with you, General. 227 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:41,560 Out here, 228 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,440 how they worship my oldest friend, it's… 229 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:47,440 [scoffs] 230 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,280 It feels like hysteria. 231 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:51,560 It does. 232 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,640 But they are willing to follow him to the ends of the world. 233 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:01,480 And that belief, 234 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:04,680 that faith in him… 235 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,080 it can level armies, 236 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,680 entire cities. 237 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,520 They're ready to fight to the death to win a war in his name. 238 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:20,160 The least we can do… 239 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:23,160 is show them how. 240 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,280 So am I with you, my king? 241 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,840 -Nai! -[heroic music intensifies] 242 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:35,040 Nai! 243 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:36,280 [soldiers] 244 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:37,560 Nai! 245 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,600 [heroic music playing] 246 00:14:46,680 --> 00:14:47,520 [softly] 247 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,600 [music wanes] 248 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,320 [Lloyd] Ptolemy's dilemma is palpable. 249 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,240 He was probably the person who knew Alexander best of all of his generals. 250 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:06,880 They'd grown up together since boyhood. He knew him intimately. 251 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,360 And so, for Alexander to now present himself to Ptolemy 252 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:15,040 as this god-king, and an Egyptian-style god-king at that, 253 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,400 is so unpalatable to Ptolemy 254 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:21,240 and to the rest of the… the Macedonians, of course. 255 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,040 But there is an irony to all of this, and that is, 256 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,600 in years to come, 257 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,160 Ptolemy himself, of course, 258 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:30,960 was going to be crowned as the pharaoh of Egypt, 259 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,640 the Lord of the Two Lands, 260 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,760 and he himself was made into a living god. 261 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:40,600 Thank you, Ptol. 262 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:46,800 For your faith in me. 263 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:48,360 Faith? 264 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,080 It's not faith, Alexander. 265 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:54,880 It's friendship. 266 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:57,400 And it's blood. 267 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,080 Because I know that for all of this, 268 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:03,080 you are still Macedon 269 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:05,320 to the bone. 270 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,160 [dramatic music begins] 271 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,280 [music intensifies] 272 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,280 [door opens] 273 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,480 Sir, the magi, what did they say? 274 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:26,440 The usual. 275 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,760 Omens of victory, vague warnings of doom, empty words. 276 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,480 Are the generals all assembled? 277 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,360 They're ready for your orders, my king. 278 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,240 I can assure you, Bessus, they are not. 279 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,280 [Ali] I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever that after Issus, 280 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,960 Darius is hemorrhaging support from the political elite. 281 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,760 They're starting to have doubts. 282 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:46,720 They don't know whether this guy's gonna survive. 283 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:48,440 It… It's really quite chaotic. 284 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,000 If you can imagine that you've had this imperial system in place 285 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,600 for 200 years, it's very disruptive to everyone. 286 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,040 They don't know what comes in its place, what's happening. 287 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,040 So, really, for Darius, he's got one very last throw of the dice. 288 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,000 I think a big showdown somewhere was inevitable. 289 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,280 [Mazaeus] Alexander still has a huge numerical disadvantage, 290 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,400 even with his Egyptian reinforcement. 291 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,360 We estimate 30,000 heavy infantry, 7,000 cavalry. 292 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:19,480 Which means… 293 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,440 we can easily contain his forces here-- 294 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:24,480 [assertively] No. 295 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:26,880 My king? 296 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:30,120 [calmly] No, no, no. 297 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:32,040 No, Mazaeus. 298 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:34,160 I've read those reports too. 299 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,280 He's restored army morale 300 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,360 and won the hearts of the Egyptian people. 301 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:46,720 He even has a new nickname. 302 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,400 Alexander the Invincible. 303 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:53,160 So, no. 304 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:55,960 We will not contain him. 305 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,160 We need to destroy him. 306 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,800 So, I am hereby mobilizing the Immortal guards, 307 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:05,520 the hoplites, 308 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:06,960 the scythed chariots, 309 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,360 as well as the cavalries of the Eastern satrapies, 310 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:13,800 the Indian garrison, and the allied Scythian tribes. 311 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:15,800 In fact… 312 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:19,880 send everything. 313 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:24,600 Then let us see how this Alexander the Invincible 314 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:28,520 fares against the entire Persian Empire. 315 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:37,520 Indeed, sir. 316 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,200 A great army. 317 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:43,080 Truly inspired. 318 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:46,320 [Darius] Mazaeus? 319 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:53,200 [Mazaeus] Yes, my king? 320 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,240 I know you'll want to be at the vanguard, 321 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,440 so ride out and determine Alexander's route. 322 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,680 Then burn all the crops between us. 323 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:08,680 We need to starve them out. 324 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,400 [breathes heavily] 325 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,280 But be aware. 326 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,160 That will harm our people too. 327 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,280 It's two years since the Battle of Issus. 328 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,880 Things are looking grim for Darius. 329 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:37,080 The war is not over yet. 330 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,440 He has been in Babylon all this time, 331 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:42,520 putting troops together, 332 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,800 bringing in more mercenaries. 333 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,720 Darius is all set again for the fight. 334 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:51,760 [strains] 335 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:53,600 -[midwife] Yes. -[straining] 336 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,120 [straining] 337 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:03,120 [moans in effort] 338 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,840 [Lloyd] Stateira had been separated from Darius III 339 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,960 for two years at this point, 340 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,200 so it is out of the question 341 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,120 that Darius could have fathered this child, of course. 342 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,240 -So that leaves Alexander or his men. -[straining] 343 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:22,960 [Lloyd] Now, I do not think that Alexander would have conceivably allowed anyone 344 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:27,200 to have sexual relations with this queen of Persia, 345 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,200 which leads me to believe that 346 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:30,840 the father of that child 347 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,240 can only have been Alexander himself. 348 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,320 [dramatic music playing] 349 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:40,960 Maman? 350 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:43,560 Maman? 351 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:58,840 Stateira and the baby do not survive the traumas of childbirth. 352 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,240 [sobbing] 353 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:07,600 [Lloyd] Alexander's biographer, the historian Plutarch, 354 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,440 specifically names Stateira, 355 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:14,120 and he tells us the circumstances in which she died. 356 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,520 That's extremely unusual for Plutarch or any other historian of the time. 357 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,600 The second thing is we can trace 358 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,840 the events that lead up to Stateira's death 359 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,480 in the Babylonian evidence from the astronomical charts. 360 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,560 -[somber music playing] -[sighs] 361 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,000 [Barsine shudders] 362 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,160 [cries] 363 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,400 [Jennifer] Alexander seems to have at least made a show 364 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:58,560 of mourning Stateira's death. 365 00:21:58,640 --> 00:21:59,680 [Barsine inhales] 366 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:04,080 [Jennifer] We know from our sources that he provided her with a lavish funeral 367 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:08,920 that seems to have been in concert with her station in Persian society. 368 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:14,280 And so at least Alexander made a political performance out of her death. 369 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:16,800 [somber music continues] 370 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:25,560 [Bessus] My king. 371 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:29,000 A message has arrived from Alexander. 372 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,080 Darius should hear of her passing from me, 373 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:45,360 not his spies. 374 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:47,760 Yes, my king. 375 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:51,760 [Alexander] But, Ptol? 376 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:55,160 Make sure you tell him how she died. 377 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:16,440 Your wife… 378 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:19,720 She died giving birth… 379 00:23:22,120 --> 00:23:23,000 to a son. 380 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:27,240 [Darius shudders] 381 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:30,360 [shudders] 382 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:36,400 We really see Alexander there just twisting the knife deliberately. 383 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,280 [shuddering] 384 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:47,840 [tearfully] Bessus, she was lost. 385 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:51,240 And I failed her. 386 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:53,480 Sir. 387 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:56,200 We are soldiers. 388 00:23:58,280 --> 00:23:59,640 We are Persia. 389 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,320 [shuddering] 390 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,120 [breathes shakily] 391 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:07,040 [Bessus] Sir? 392 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,160 They're waiting for you. 393 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,240 [breathes shakily] 394 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,080 [dramatic music playing] 395 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:29,960 [man] Stand guard! 396 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,560 [Carolyn] Stateira being alive gives Darius more legitimacy. 397 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,000 He wasn't a direct heir to the throne. 398 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,800 She was a Persian royal woman. She was of high status. 399 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,760 And so, her connection to Darius 400 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:46,600 gave Darius more authority and more of a right to rule. 401 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,320 Her loss means that's been cut off from him. 402 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,400 [dramatic music continues] 403 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:00,560 [Lloyd] Interestingly, at this period, 404 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,640 one of our key players, Mazaeus, comes back into focus. 405 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,400 He's Darius's great confidant. 406 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,800 He's one of his chief advisors, 407 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:10,480 one of his go-to men, 408 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,040 and we find at this point, increasingly, 409 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:16,280 those who are loyal to Darius 410 00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:19,080 start to move away from him. 411 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,600 Some of them actually even start to go over to Alexander's camp. 412 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,440 And one later tradition, outside the Alexander historians, 413 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:30,680 suggests that Hephaestion actually met with Mazaeus 414 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,920 and persuaded him to go over to Alexander's side. 415 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,000 [Hephaestion] Governor Mazaeus. 416 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:40,240 You know I'm duty bound to gut you like a fish right here. 417 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:41,960 But before you do, 418 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,480 you should know that Barsine is alive and well. 419 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:47,360 Untouched? 420 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,080 Not a hair on her head. 421 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:51,200 And King Alexander promises 422 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,760 that she will remain this way under his personal protection. 423 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:56,760 -But… -[horse neighs] 424 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,600 …he cannot keep his promise if he loses. 425 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:00,760 [chuckles] 426 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,680 Why are you telling me this? 427 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,880 Perhaps you can help save Barsine 428 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:11,640 and remain governor of Babylon. 429 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,640 [Carolyn] Darius has been trying to avoid another pitched battle, 430 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,120 and you cannot blame him for that. 431 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,360 This was a disaster for the Persian side, 432 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,200 but Alexander is having none of it. 433 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,200 He is determined to show his military expertise 434 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,680 to capture Darius and to literally take 435 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,000 the Persian Empire for himself. 436 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:35,360 And so, it's inevitable that the two have to meet on the battlefield again. 437 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,000 They can only dance around each other 438 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,560 like two territorial dogs for so long 439 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,120 before they have to come to blows. 440 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,640 [Lloyd] Darius leads his army to an area 441 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,320 that the locals called the Place of the Camel, 442 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,960 Gaugamela, in Babylonian. 443 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:57,160 Gaugamela is situated in modern-day Iraq, 444 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:58,880 north of Babylon. 445 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:01,920 Alexander and his men 446 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,240 were pushing through the desert of Iraq 447 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:07,840 to get to this place, 448 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,160 and when they arrived at their eventual campsite, 449 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:13,440 they were thirsty, hungry, 450 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,360 and exhausted already. 451 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,600 Meanwhile, Darius and his men had set up camp. 452 00:27:18,680 --> 00:27:21,920 They were well-fed, well-watered, rested. 453 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,600 -[horse neighs] -[men chattering] 454 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,440 If Alexander has already crossed the Tigris… 455 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,280 he will be just days away. 456 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:38,880 You saw his cavalry, yes? 457 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:41,400 Mazaeus. 458 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:44,120 Yes, sir. 459 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:45,400 From a distance. 460 00:27:50,080 --> 00:27:53,320 Then he will take the direct southeastern route to Babylon. 461 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:55,480 [dog barks] 462 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:00,920 Mazaeus, ride out with your cavalry 463 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,440 and prepare the plains for battle. Do it. 464 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:07,440 [exhales] 465 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:10,400 [shouts] Do it now! 466 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:14,400 Yes, my king. 467 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:18,200 [Lloyd] For Mazaeus, this is a moment where 468 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:21,640 he begins to question what Darius is all about. 469 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,520 Uh, and so, you really begin to see this certain anxiety emerge in him 470 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:29,640 about Darius's qualities as a king. 471 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,360 [man] My king! Bessus! 472 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,000 You must see this. 473 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,920 [wind blowing] 474 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,520 [men whispering] 475 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,400 [wind continues to blow] 476 00:28:54,800 --> 00:29:00,160 [Lloyd] Darius seems to be trapped in this whirlwind of bad news all the time, 477 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:02,760 and suddenly, out of the night sky, 478 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,360 comes the worst omen he could possibly have, 479 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:07,080 and that's a lunar eclipse. 480 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:12,240 The skies darken, and the moon turns bloodred. 481 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,560 -[men whispering] -[wind blowing] 482 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:18,960 Mazaeus. 483 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,400 Quickly, spread the word. 484 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,520 The magi have decreed this foretells of a great victory. 485 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:30,320 That is all. 486 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:31,240 My king-- 487 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:32,400 Do you understand? 488 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:37,040 Yes, my king. 489 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:39,320 Immediately. 490 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:49,360 Sir, 491 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:53,280 I suspect the magi would see this omen differently. 492 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,480 [low chattering continues] 493 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:57,400 Yes. 494 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:02,000 They would. 495 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:06,160 Find me a runner. 496 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,400 I need to send Alexander a message. 497 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,680 -Let me call back Governor Mazaeus. -No. 498 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:15,440 He can be your envoy. 499 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:16,400 No, Bessus. 500 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:23,520 He must never know. 501 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,240 [Ali] As with these things in these times, these are omens, 502 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:35,000 and they're taken as omens by either side about what it means 503 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:36,800 and interpreted in different ways. 504 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,320 And it's more than likely that, from the Persian point of view, 505 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,080 it would've been seen as the great king, in this case, Darius, 506 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,880 being eclipsed by the new challenger, and that would have been Alexander. 507 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,760 [Lloyd] Conversely, in Alexander's camp, 508 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:52,560 who witnessed the same eclipse, of course, 509 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:57,440 there, Alexander's priests say, "Nothing to worry about here." 510 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:01,320 "This bodes badly for Darius, but for you, this is a good sign." 511 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:02,320 [horse neighs] 512 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:03,400 You've seen it. 513 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:05,840 [Ptolemy] Well… 514 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,160 -You can't exactly miss it. -Hm. 515 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:09,080 [horse neighs] 516 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:11,680 You're right. 517 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,840 -[tools clattering] -[men chatter] 518 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:16,400 What's worrying you, old friend? 519 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:17,360 [chuckles] 520 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:20,560 What worries me 521 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,240 is the thousands of men over that hill that want to kill us. 522 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:28,240 That we might be outnumbered five to one. 523 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:32,560 That we're walking into this behind a man who thinks he's invincible. 524 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,040 -[horse neighs] -[chatter continues] 525 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,680 And that might be the sign he's very much not. 526 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,160 [clears throat] Alexander has requested our presence. 527 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:49,280 A message has arrived from Darius himself. 528 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:04,920 What is it? A demand for surrender? 529 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,200 [Alexander] Nope. 530 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:08,000 It's another desperate offer. 531 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,160 In return for peace, Darius will give me all the territory west of the Euphrates 532 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,080 and 30,000 silver talents. 533 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:18,520 I take it it's not enough? 534 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:20,240 No. 535 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,280 He did leave a little extra bonus to sweeten the deal though. 536 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:26,840 What? 537 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,200 The hand in marriage of his daughter Barsine. 538 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:33,400 [Hephaestion] Seriously? 539 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,400 She's already betrothed to Governor Mazaeus, his most loyal general. 540 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:39,520 What's he thinking? 541 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:40,720 Exactly. 542 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,840 If he's making an offer like that, what's going through his head? 543 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:48,000 Let Darius know I will not accept. 544 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:48,960 [Hephaestion] Wait. 545 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:51,440 Alex. 546 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:53,280 We can use this. 547 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,440 [dramatic music playing] 548 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:58,280 We return Darius's offer 549 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:01,360 along with a message from you declining it. 550 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:05,640 But we send it care of Governor Mazaeus himself, 551 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,200 with instructions to deliver it to his beloved king. 552 00:33:11,160 --> 00:33:12,760 [dramatic music intensifies] 553 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:16,840 [music ends] 554 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:18,880 [Carolyn] As Darius is trying to negotiate, 555 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:20,600 Alexander's also planning ahead, 556 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,720 and so, Alexander sends Mazaeus a little note being, 557 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:27,280 "Hey, you thought you were gonna get to marry the great king's daughter." 558 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,720 "Well, he's changing his mind about that." 559 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,720 "So maybe don't believe everything he tells you." 560 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:37,240 And this is an important part of Alexander's strategy as well, 561 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,320 not just winning victories on the battlefield 562 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,680 but also manipulating personalities 563 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:45,240 and relationships behind the scenes as well. 564 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:50,880 This must have put Mazaeus in a difficult position, 565 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:52,560 because who do you believe? 566 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:54,160 Do you believe the Macedonian, 567 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:56,840 who could be telling the truth, or could be lying through his teeth? 568 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,440 [horses neighing, galloping] 569 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:01,240 [chariot rattles] 570 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:02,680 [dramatic music playing] 571 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:04,280 [horse nickers] 572 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:06,960 [music wanes] 573 00:34:10,680 --> 00:34:12,080 [Darius] While you're here, 574 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,120 place a garrison on guard throughout the night. 575 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:17,720 I don't want a surprise attack. 576 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:21,560 [Carolyn] So, Mazaeus has to decide 577 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:24,600 who does he sort of throw his weight behind? 578 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:28,120 Does he continue to support his great king 579 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:32,480 and do what he can to defend Persia from the Macedonians? 580 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,640 Or does he start to question where he belongs 581 00:34:35,720 --> 00:34:38,280 and who will be more beneficial to him? 582 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:45,920 This war will soon be over, my friend. 583 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,560 [suspenseful music begins] 584 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:54,920 [Oracle] It is human nature to try to bend the fates in their favor… 585 00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:02,160 because they refuse to see 586 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:04,240 what destiny is. 587 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,200 That for all their plans… 588 00:35:10,280 --> 00:35:11,800 [breathes heavily] 589 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,160 [Oracle] …for all their paranoia, 590 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,080 they ignore the only truth that matters. 591 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,160 [dramatic music intensifies] 592 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,400 [Oracle] That their lives 593 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:28,080 are in the lap of the gods. 594 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:29,680 [soldiers shouting] 595 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:30,640 [man] Charge! 596 00:35:30,720 --> 00:35:32,600 [men shouting over dramatic music] 597 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:37,160 [neighs] 598 00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:39,240 [dramatic music playing] 599 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,520 [music ends] 45552