Maps of Movies

Alexander (2004)

Where Alexander says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Greek legend filmed almost nowhere near Greece: Moroccan deserts and British studios stand in for Macedon, Gaugamela and Babylon.

Scenes and places

Ptolemy remembers in Alexandria

Ptolemy, now pharaoh of Egypt, dictates the story of Alexander to his scribe. His account frames everything we see, and he decides what is remembered.

Set in Alexandria — Around 285 BC, the old Ptolemy dictates his memoir of Alexander to a scribe. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Alexandria was founded by Alexander and became the capital of Ptolemy's Egypt.

Filmed at Shepperton Studios, Surrey — The Library of Alexandria interior was built on a studio stage here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The eve of Gaugamela

On the night before the battle, Alexander and Hephaestion talk about Achilles and Patroclus. At dawn Alexander rides out on his horse Bucephalus to face the Persian army.

Set in Gaugamela plain — Alexander's army faces the Persian Emperor Darius III in the decisive battle of the Persian campaign. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The real battle of 331 BC was fought on a plain in what is now northern Iraq.

Filmed at Desert near Marrakesh, Morocco — The battlefield was filmed in a desert near Marrakesh (city-centre coordinates; exact site not given). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Aristotle's lessons at Mieza

Alexander grows up under his tutor Aristotle, who fills his head with geography, honor and the gods. The lessons plant the dream of an eastern journey.

Set in Mieza — The boy Alexander is taught by Aristotle and meets his future companions.

Mieza was the school where, according to tradition, Aristotle taught the young prince.

Filmed at Essaouira, Morocco — The temple of Athena, Mieza and the Macedonian horse market were filmed in Essaouira (scene-to-place link given by one source). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The palace at Pella and the wild horse

At Pella, Alexander's father Philip watches a horse that nobody can ride. The boy takes it on, and the horse becomes Bucephalus, his companion for life.

Set in Pella palace — At his father's court Alexander faces a horse nobody can ride; his relationship with Philip is already strained. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Pella was the capital of the kingdom of Macedon and Alexander's birthplace.

Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — The palace sets at Pella were built at Pinewood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Alexander enters Babylon

Alexander is loved by all as he rides into Babylon. Ptolemy warns that the city was easier to enter than to leave.

Set in Babylon — After Gaugamela Alexander enters Babylon, the city he treats as his new home. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Babylon on the Euphrates was one of the great cities of the ancient world.

Filmed at Marrakesh, Morocco — The Gates of Babylon were filmed in Marrakesh (city-centre coordinates). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire — Babylon palace and gardens: one source says Pinewood, another says a studio near Munich. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The fortress of Bactria and Roxana

After years of guerrilla war, Alexander marries Roxana. Hephaestion shows jealousy and tries to keep her away from him.

Set in Bactria fortress — After hunting Darius's killers, Alexander meets Roxana and marries her; Hephaestion is jealous.

Bactria lay in what is now northern Afghanistan, at the edge of the Persian empire.

Crossing the Hindu Kush

Alexander leads an army across the Hindu Kush, convinced this is the route to the end of the world. The march drains his men.

Set in Hindu Kush — In spring Alexander marches an army of 150,000 across the passes toward India. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Hindu Kush range separates Central Asia from the Indian subcontinent.

Filmed at Ouarzazate, Morocco — The Hindu Kush passes were filmed near Ouarzazate, with the mountains added behind (one source for the scene link). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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The Battle of the Hydaspes

Alexander persuades his reluctant soldiers to fight one last, bloody battle in India. He is badly wounded by an arrow but survives.

Set in Hydaspes river — After his soldiers object, Alexander convinces them to follow him into his final and bloodiest battle against King Porus. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Hydaspes is the ancient name of the Jhelum River in present-day Pakistan.

Filmed at Central Botanical Garden, Saraburi, Thailand — The Hydaspes battle was filmed in a Saraburi garden per one source; press reports named Lopburi province instead (province-level coordinates). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Filmed at Mekong, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand — River scenes of the Indian campaign (the army's turn back at the Hyphasis) were filmed on the Mekong (province-level coordinates). Google Maps · Apple Maps

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Characters

• Alexander — The Macedonian king who conquers the Persian empire and pushes on toward India.
• Hephaestion — Alexander's childhood friend and closest companion.
• Ptolemy — Alexander's general, later pharaoh of Egypt, who narrates the story.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was Alexander's biggest battle really filmed?
• Where is the Gate of Babylon in Alexander?
• Which country stood in for India in Alexander?