Farewell, Great Macedon (audio story)
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Publisher's summary
The TARDIS materialises in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, in the year 323 BC. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan meet Alexander the Great – but their excitement is tempered by the realisation that these are the final days of Alexander's life. As the travellers become embroiled in the tragic events, the inevitability of history unfolds around them.
But can they – and should they – change it?
Plot
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (1)
to be added
O Son, My Son (2)
to be added
A Man Must Die (3)
to be added
The World Lies Dead at your Feet (4)
to be added
In the Arena (5)
to be added
Farewell, Great Macedon! (6)
to be added
Cast
Characters
References
- Calanus tells Barbara that it is the Year of the 114th Olympiad in the Greek calendar, which equates to 323 BC in the Gregorian calendar.
Notes
- Alexander, Seleucus and other Macedonian members of Alexander's entourage are referred to as Greeks. Although they would have considered themselves to be Greek, Greeks of mainland Greece would have been keen to reinforce that they were Macedonians.
- In the second episode, Alexander refers to Ptolemy as being a "Nubian." However, in reality he was a Macedonian, just like Alexander. This misconception is often due to the fact that after Alexander's death, Ptolemy took power in Egypt and began the Ptolemy dynasty there. Therefore, it is often erroneously assumed that he was Egyptian.
- At the banquet scene, Cleitus accuses Alexander of hubris and is upset with him for now incorporating worship of Ammon (an Egyptian god) and Ishtar (a Persian goddess) as if he has not done so before. In reality, Alexander had been associating himself with Ammon, even possibly claiming ancestry from him, since his visit to the temple at Siwa in 332 BC, nine years previously.
- Unusually for a Doctor Who story, Seleucus' status as one of the story's principal villains is never revealed to either the Doctor and his companions or Alexander.
- This is the first Lost Story not to feature the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown.
- This audio drama was recorded on 25, 26, 27 and 28 January 2010.
Continuity
- Ian would later tell Pendolin that it was Alexander who taught him how to ride a horse. (AUDIO: The Time Museum)
- Immediately after his third regeneration, the Fourth Doctor recalled his encounter with Alexander the Great. Temporary memory loss caused him to refer to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart as "Alexander." (TV: Robot)
- The Fifth Doctor would later describe Alexander as "a dreadful bore" to his companions Tegan Jovanka and Turlough. (PROSE: The Crystal Bucephalus)
- During his eleventh incarnation, the Doctor and his companion Amy Pond later visited Babylon in 905 BC. (COMIC: In the Stars)
- The Big Finish Productions audio adaptation of The Masters of Luxor establishes that The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance takes place before Farewell Great Macedon, as it mentions the events of both, but is explicitly set immediately after Farewell Great Macedon.
- Though in TV: The Aztecs the Doctor was against changing history he is willing to save Alexander in this story.
External links
- Official Farewell, Great Macedon page at bigfinish.com
- Farewell, Great Macedon at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- Transcript of Farewell, Great Macedon at Chrissie's Transcripts Site
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