LONDON, UK, 20TH October, 2022 — Today, Ubisoft reveals more information about their partnership with the British Library on Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth, the first exhibition to explore the rich history of storytelling of one of the most famous figures of the ancient world, which will run from this Friday, 21st October through to 19th February 2023. From astrological clay tablets, ancient papyri and medieval manuscripts to comics, TV series and cutting-edge videogames, this major new exhibition reveals how Alexander’s character has been adapted and appropriated by different cultures and religions over 2,000 years.
Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth, supported by The Kusuma Trust and Ubisoft, will feature around 140 exhibits from 25 countries in over 20 languages and will explore how Alexander’s legacy has turned into legend, a transformation that started when he was alive and continues today.
The exhibition culminates with a replica of Alexander’s supposed sarcophagus from Egypt, 345 BC set within a digital reconstruction created by Ubisoft as part of the Assassin’s Creed Origins video game and projected on three walls.
Thierry Noel, PhD in History and Lead Inspirational Content Advisor at Ubisoft, said: “Little is known about Alexander’s final resting place, so our teams drew on a number of sources of inspiration for the design for his tomb in the opus Assassin’s Creed Origins. We’re so proud to be able to work with a respected institution such as the British Library to bring Alexander the Great’s tomb chamber to three-dimensional life in this way.”
“We’re thrilled that Ubisoft has provided a large-scale digital reconstruction of Alexander’s tomb chamber, which visitors can explore at the end of the exhibition,” says Peter Toth, Curator of Ancient and Medieval Manuscripts at the British Library. “This content is a vital addition to the exhibition, not only because of the remarkable atmosphere created by its designer Jean-Claude Golvin, which comes to life in the exhibition space, but also because it is a perfect fit for the exhibition’s main message that – despite the thousands of years that have passed – Alexander the Great is still alive, relevant, and inspirational today.”
The British Library is indebted to the Patricia G. and Jonathan S. England – British Library Innovation Fund, as well as the American Trust for the British Library, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, The Hellenic Foundation, London, and Professor James H. Marrow and Dr Emily Rose for their support towards the development of this exhibition.
Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact Alice Carter at the British Library (alice.carter@bl.uk) or Calum Ridgewell at Ubisoft (calum.ridgewell@ubisoft.com).
About the British Library
We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 million items – a living collection that gets bigger every day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things.
We have millions of books, and much more besides. Our London and Yorkshire sites hold collections ranging from newspapers and maps to sound recordings, patents, academic journals, as well as a copy of every UK domain website and blog. Our public spaces provide a place to research, to meet friends, to start up a new business or simply to get inspired by visiting our galleries and events. We work with partners and libraries across the UK and the world to make sure that as many people as possible have the chance to use and explore our collections, events and expertise. And we’re always open online, along with more and more of our digitised collection.
About The Kusuma Trust
The Kusuma Trust UK is a family led philanthropic trust established in 2010. The Trust gives grants to organisations based on shared values and mutual interests in the UK, Gibraltar and India. Its current areas of interest are creating access to opportunities, improving health and well-being, and investing in our communities and environment.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a creator of worlds, committed to enriching players’ lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences. Ubisoft’s global teams create and develop a deep and diverse portfolio of games, featuring brands such as Assassin’s Creed ®, Brawlhalla®, For Honor®, Far Cry®, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon®, Just Dance®, Rabbids, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, The Crew®, Tom Clancy’s The Division®, and Watch Dogs®. Through Ubisoft Connect, players can enjoy an ecosystem of services to enhance their gaming experience, get rewards and connect with friends across platforms. With Ubisoft+, the subscription service, they can access a growing catalog of more than 100 Ubisoft games and DLC. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €2,241 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.
© 2022 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks in the US and/or other countries.
About Assassin’s Creed
Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold more than 200 million games worldwide. The franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series in video game history. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into numerous other entertainment media.