Alexander the Great merged Hellenistic culture with Persian culture in his powerful Asian campaign. His militarily and geographically eminent intervention also left enormous traces in art: sculpture found its way to depth as a new means of expressing the spatial expansion and kinetic energy of man.

Alexander the Great, a name synonymous with conquest and cultural amalgamation, has left an indelible mark on the canvas of history, particularly in the realm of art. His campaigns to the East not only expanded the boundaries of the Hellenistic world but also infused Greco-Macedonian art with the subtleties and grandeur of Eastern aesthetics, notably transforming sculpture into a medium of unparalleled dynamism and depth.

In the wake of Alexander's conquests, the fusion of cultures was not merely a political or economic phenomenon but a profound artistic synthesis. The sculptures that emerged from this period, often referred to as Hellenistic art, began to exhibit a new vibrancy and realism. The statue with outstretched arms, emblematic of this era, symbolizes the expansive reach of Alexander's empire and the broadening of artistic expression.

This new style was characterized by a move away from the rigid, formal poses of Classical Greek sculpture towards more dynamic, three-dimensional representations. The outstretched arms of these statues are not just a physical extension but a metaphorical gesture towards the vastness of the world Alexander had opened up to the Greek mind. They signify a break from the introspective, contained forms of earlier art, embodying instead a sense of exploration, movement, and the human condition in its most expansive form.

One can see this influence in the works scattered across the lands Alexander touched, from the Greco-Bactrian kingdoms to the far reaches of India. The famous "Laocoön Group," though a Roman copy, echoes the Hellenistic penchant for depicting the human form in the midst of action and emotion, a direct descendant of the changes initiated by Alexander's cultural melding. Similarly, the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" with its flowing drapery and poised stance, captures the sense of motion and the dramatic flair that became hallmarks of this period.

The integration of Eastern elements also brought about a shift in the portrayal of deities and heroes. The influence of Eastern art, with its penchant for detail and ornate decoration, led to sculptures that were not only more lifelike but also more expressive. The gods and heroes of Greek mythology began to wear the garments of the East, adorned with intricate patterns and jewels, thereby enriching the visual language of sculpture.

Moreover, the Hellenistic period saw an increase in the scale and ambition of sculptural projects. The colossal statues, such as those at Pergamon, were not just larger in size but also in their thematic scope, often depicting epic battles or divine interventions. These works were not merely decorations but narratives carved in stone, telling tales of conquest, cultural exchange, and the human spirit's quest for understanding and exploration.

In conclusion, Alexander's push eastward did more than expand an empire; it expanded the very concept of art. The sculptures of this period, with their outstretched arms reaching into the vastness of human experience and artistic innovation, are a testament to the cultural fusion that only a figure like Alexander could foster. They stand as monuments, not only to his conquests but to the enduring legacy of Hellenistic art, where the East met the West, and from their union, a new, vibrant artistic tradition was born.

The final phase of Hellenistic sculpture, on the other hand, shows a different image, namely a collapse of the dynamic depiction of Homo sapiens' expansive energy. Boxers are shown after the fight or ailing old people or dying wars. These forms herald the end of Hellenism, which had exhausted its energies and spent them completely in the Diadochi wars that followed the death of Alexander. It was soon to become the task of a new Mediterranean power to continue the Hellenistic legacy and transform it into powerful politics: Rome!