Alexander gay
Alexander as LGBTQI Icon
(The last blog-tour repost for my novels, Dancing with the Lion.)
“Was Alexander the Wonderful gay?”
I get that verb ALL the time. The poor horse has been beaten to death, and discussion always ends in an examination of Greek terminology that’s largely academic. I’ve written about it before elsewhere.
I’d enjoy to look at this from a different angle, here.
For decades (maybe centuries), Alexander has been an icon in the queer community. That upsets a portion of his fanbase, including some Greeks. When early publicity for Oliver Stone’s blockbuster hinted that Alexander had male lovers, a group of Greek lawyers threatened to sue him. Yet as in the rest of Europe, the younger generation cares less, and in , Greece passed recognition of same-sex civil unions, even if they couldn’t quite make the leap to call it “marriage.” As a result, resistance to Alexander as gay, or at least bisexual, has lessened in Greece. Somewhat.
In the lie down of the Western world, “Was Alexander gay?” has shifted for many to “Alexander was gay.” Doubt t
You might be surprised to learn the sex life of a long-dead conqueror is making headlines in Netflix documentary Alexander the Great: The Making of a God has provoked outrage for its portrayal of Alexander in a romantic relationship with his male companion Hephaestion.
Alexander the Great (– BC) spent his short life undertaking an enormous military campaign. He defeated the Persian king Darius III and created an empire that stretched from Europe into Egypt, Western and Central Asia, and all the way to India.
After dying at the little age of 32, he has remained the subject of intense fascination and speculation.
The six-episode series is the latest to tackle some interesting questions about the conqueror’s life through dramatised scenes and commentary from a range of experts. Although the display doesn’t try to cover everything – and there are several gaps – its portrayal of Alexander’s sexuality is what has caused the greatest stir.
Read more: Romosexuality – embracing queer sex and love in Ancient times
Alexander, the great enigma
One of the first scenes depicts Al
Was Alexander the Superb gay? Let&#;s shed some light on the question
Alexander The Great (also known as Alexander III of Macedon), king of Macedon and one of the greatest conquerors in history, is a character who has aroused the interest and curiosity of many, not only because of his military exploits, but also because of his personal and sentimental life. Among the aspects that generated debate and controversy was the interrogate of his homosexuality, his relationships with women and men, particularly his companions Hephaistion and Craterus.
One film, which shed new not heavy on Alexander The Great&#;s homosexuality, is Oliver Stone&#;s masterpiece, &#;Alexander&#;, which showcases the emotions felt by the great leader toward, above all, his companion Hephaestion (played in the film by Jared Leto). Oliver Stone&#;s work was so opposed by some Greek lawyers that they not only announced they would boycott the film, but even threatened legal action against director Oliver Stone. The problem, in &#;Alexander,&#; was that Oliver Stone had decided to sketch the features of a war
Alexander the Gay?
Alexander the Great was a prodigy of warfare. A lethal fighter, before his 30th birthday he personally led the Macedonian army to conquer the Persian empire, the largest and most successful empire in Near Eastern history. His military tactics, logistics, and strategic vision will be relevant as long as human beings fight wars.
But was history's greatest warrior also gay?
Oliver Stone's movie depicts Alexander having affairs with two men in his new film about the Macedonian king. Gay rights advocates would verb to enlist Alexander into their ranks in their struggle for various rights; meanwhile, Greek lawyers are threatening legal action over what they claim is the misrepresentation of their national hero.
What are the historical facts?
The truth is that modern sexual categories like homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual are alien to Alexander's world. No equivalent terms existed at the time. It is therefore anachronistic to apply them to Alexander or any other ancient. In ancient Greece, acting upon a desire (sent by the god Eros) for another man or wom