is alexander rumored to be gay?

Question

is alexander the great rumored to be gay? i heard during our history class that alexander the great is gay. how it is true?

Answer 1

He was a Greek of his own times. In his case there was no "gay"/"straight" division.
Bear in mind that having a boy lover was considered normal in his culture (but for example was NOT "normal" in the Roman culture) so long as the man had a wife and children and led a normal life
BUT
being "exclusively" homosexual, or effeminate, or pedophile was definetly considered abnormal and was punishable by stoning to death in public
for example one of the enemies of Macedon - Thebes - had a special unit of 300 men who consisted of 150 pairs of male lovers- because it was considered that they would never abandon a lover in battle. A battlefield is no place for pink boas and lipstick. BTW they all fell in battle against Philip of Macedon, and not one of them moved from the designated battle line.
to sum up- who the man had in his bed was nobody's business, so long as he fulfilled his social duties (army service, family). But if all his life centered about his sexual orientation then that was considered abnormal and punishable

Answer 2

Alexander technically is gay if we based it on history where his lifelong companion is Hephaestion. When Hephaestion dies, he was devastated.

But he also had some female wives so really, we don't know. He could be bi as far as we know.

I wouldn't be surprised if he is gay though... most straight leaders in the past whose major downfall is attributed to their wives who were sent or influenced by the enemy. So being gay does have it's advantage.

Answer 3

Check out "The Nature of Alexander" by Marie Renault. She addresses that question in full. Short version: Equal Opportunity. He enjoyed both.

Answer 4

yup...Alexander's lifelong companion was Hephaestion, the son of a Macedonian noble. Hephaestion also held the position of second-in-command of Alexander's forces until his death, which devastated Alexander. The full extent of his relationship with Hephaestion is the subject of much historical speculation...check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_great#Personal_life

Answer 5

The Greek world had different ideas about sexual love. Homosexuality was not uncommon. It's thought that Plato, among others, had teenage boys in his circle (If you'll pardon the pun).

[edit] The post below excellently sums up the situation

Answer 6

He was not gay, he was homosexual, gay is a modern word that hides the truth, nearly all homosexual people abhor this word and prefer the title gay, it is less of a stigma. His paramour was Hephaestion who was also a homosexual.

Answer 7

It's pretty much accepted he was bisexual, the Greeks were fine with people being gay as long as they married as well and had a family.

Answer 8

yes he had an affair with one of his generals as depicted in the film

the classical greeks believed it acceptable to have 'man servants' as they called them. nearly every important or rich greek indulged in this and didnt see it as homo. homo is a greek word also hence homo sexual

Answer 9

No hes not gay.