Sciences Participating with Arts & Culture in Education

Greek Psycho

Illustrated by ELYSE PARE

Introduction to Classics examines Alexander the Greek's actions to better understand what drives this famous general. Is he really a role model for leaders such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon, or any number of modern military leaders? Given the information provided in Ralph Mathisen’s book Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, it appears that he seems to have suffered from a number of Personality Disorders. This analysis is based on what Classics students understood from the Personality disorder diagnoses from American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic Manual.

Alexander of Macedonia

Case No.: XXVI

Dates of Evaluation: 331 - 323 B.C.E.

Location: Babylon Hanging Garden Psychological Centre

Admission Date: March 323 B.C.E.

Date of Report: June 323 B.C.E.

Purpose of Evaluation:

The first inpatient admission of this 32 year-old male Indo-European Caucassian. Current ruler of the largest empire ever known. Educated Under the philosopher Aristotle. Admitted for anxiety and mild paranoïa. 

Assessment Proceedure:

This patient participated in three 2 hour testing sessions along with a one and half day diagnostic interview. Tests were administered and interprested by Julia and Juliana, M.S.

Background:

Born July 356 B.C.E. to Philip II of Macedon. In 346 patient claimed to have tamed a wild horse, Bucephalus, which appears to have been an object of patient's affections. Later the patient would even name a colony after his horse. Alexander III followed in his father’s footsteps when he took over Macedonia in 336 BCE. His father, Philip II was a very ambitious king and therefore Alexander probably felt quite pressured into fulfilling his father’s grandiose plans of expanding their kingdom. Alexander was a very driven, determined and very controlling leader of Macedonia and the accumulation of much stress along with many other factors led to his downfall and his death. Alexander often did not trust his own infantry and never seemed to be able to control his ambitions. He let his greed and unrealistic ambitions dominate his rational thinking.

 The following differential diagnosis could be suggested:

1. Paranoid Personality Disorder

Alexander’s father was assassinated in 336 BCE and shows clear "trying to assassinate me" paranoia. On many occasions, such as when he attacked Anatolia in 334 BCE, Alexander was described as not trusting his own Greek fleet and even going to the extent of having four thousand of his mercenaries slaughtered and another two thousand enslaved. In 329 B.C.E., during his Sogdiana (Afghanistan) and India campaigns he ruthlessly killed Philotas for failing to warn patient of an unknown plot against him. Philotas killed, the patient felt this action necessitated the death of Philotas' father, Parmenion. Patient then sent excecutioners to assasinate Parmenion, who was once second in comand of the patient's army and was faithfully guarding the treasury at Ecbanta. Paranoia appears to culminate when he kills his best friend, Cleites the Black. Cleites, who had saved patient's life 5 years earlier.

2. Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Alexander’s actions often proved to be very selfish and, at times, even irrational. He was very preoccupied with his image and the image of Macedonia that he was trying to improve and embellish. Alexander never seemed to want to stop attacking and conquering foreign kingdoms because he was only concerned with his grandiose plans and his power over others. Finally, around 325 B.C.E., Alexander’s soldiers succeeded at convincing him that they had gone far enough and that it was time to go home. When Alexander finally agreed, he did not do so happily and even assured that he fight and conquer as much land as possible on his way back home. Furthermore, when Alexander discovered the nine thousand talents of gold and forty thousand silver ingots 330 B.C.E., he decided to use this wealth on himself and to fund his battles as opposed to using it towards the security and safety of his empire. Another egotistical and quite self-centered action of Alexander’s was that he named all 70 of his colonies after himself.  Alexander was immensely preoccupied with the success of his empire and conquered many cities in order to prove and assure his superiority. Worshiped as the god Amon in Egypt, the patient began to insist on the kissed of his hand and bowing according to the Persian custom of proskynesis.

3. Sadistic Personality Disorder

Although there were times when Alexander proved to be understanding and cooperative such as when attempted to unify the Persians with the Greeks after he returned to Babylon in 324 BCE. There were other instances where his cruelty dominated. This cruelty was depicted most obviously by the fact that he was on a killing rampage and was marching from city to city, attacking citizens for his own personal benefits. For example, in 327 BCE, Alexander was not content with the Persian Empire and therefore decided to invade India for no particular reason. Also, Alexander’s sadistic behavior is demonstrated through his use of crucifixion and forced slavery on those who resisted his reign in 332 BCE. Moreover, it is obvious that Alexander gained a feeling of self-satisfaction every time he conquered new land. The domination, intimidation and humiliation of others pleased Alexander and this was proved constantly throughout his reign. Alexander wanted to conquer more and more of the Persian Empire because the acquiring and domination of a new land made him feel more entitled and even more powerful. An example of Alexander using humiliation and intimidation is when he crucified the men who refused to surrender to him. Alexander hoped that by humiliating these men in such a way, he would deter others from trying to do the same in the future. Lastly, another example of intimidation used by Alexander is , in 335 BCE, after he and his army had “stormed, sacked and razed” Thebes, he stated that he hoped this attack on Thebes would terrify the rest of Greece into obedience.