It is inevitable since Alexander became a legend during his lifetime. The legend took a life of its own, and still does today.
I have just read an article on the Greek Reporter, “Beyond the Busts: Unveiling Alexander the Great’s True Face” by Paula Tsoni. A very promising title that misleads the reader in many ways. The most absurd theory is the one quoted towards the end, reading:
"A fresco depicting a hunt scene at the tomb of Philip II, Alexander’s father, at the archaeological site of Aegae is the only known surviving depiction of Alexander produced during his lifetime in the 330s BC." …
"A most disruptive theory is proposed by Greek-French
academic Byzantinologist Helene Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, who has herself been
identified by the 2008 show Great Greeks as one of the 100 greatest
Greeks of all time. In her 2018 book published by Gutenberg, the famous
scholar suggests that the tomb in Aegae is, in fact, Alexander’s, and not his
father’s. This would explain why the young king was depicted in the famous
fresco inside that tomb."
First of all, it
has been clearly demonstrated that the tomb in Vergina, ancient Aegae,
belongs to Philip II and not to Alexander, who was entombed in ancient
Secondly, stating that the hunting scene in Philip’s tomb (which is unclear) is “the only known surviving depiction of Alexander” is not correct. It has been established that the ivory heads recovered from a Macedonian funerary couch in Vergina belong to Philip and Alexander. Greek archaeologists agree that the Alexander head is the only one made during Alexander’s lifetime.
There have been repeated tentative efforts to recreate the Macedonian King’s face, even showing occasional look-alikes. A lot of wishful thinking, no doubt, but not very realistic.
Osmund Bopearachchi was the first to recognize the medallion, and together with Frank Holt, he wrote a book on the subject, “The Alexander Medallion, Exploring the Origins of a Unique Artefact.” This information is ignored by or unknown to the eminent Greek-French academic Byzantinologist Helene Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, used by the Greek Reporter!