The Ultimate Distortion: Replacing History with a Fictional Dynasty The most significant consequence of Mary Renault's literary success is not simply the flawed depiction of Philip or Olympias, but her replacement of the historical Macedonian Dynasty—a system built on collective genius and ruthless strategic foresight—with a fictional family unit driven by trauma and personal hatred. This success stems directly from her decision to omit the kingdom's crucial, formative era. 1. The Omission of the Formative Years (360–340 BC) Renault's focus on Alexander's childhood means she largely ignores the two decades (360–340 BC) during which Philip and Olympias laid the foundation for the Greek dominion. The Missing Narrative: The period when Philip was soberly creating the professional army, innovating the phalanx, forging the League of Corinth, and when Olympias was his indispensable political anchor and the mother of his heir, is absent from her core drama. The Misleading Fo...
