Alexander the Great’s sexuality has long fascinated historians, with evidence that he engaged in same-sex relationships, common in ancient Greece. While his marriage to Roxane and other royal alliances served political purposes to consolidate power and ensure succession, his deepest emotional (and possibly physical) bond was widely believed to be with his childhood friend and general, Hephaestion.
Sources frequently highlight their profound connection, often portrayed as a powerful ideal of Greek male companionship. Beyond Hephaestion, Alexander’s relationship with Bagoas, a Persian eunuch, is also documented. Plutarch, for instance, recounts incidents that clearly indicate a romantic or sexual involvement, such as Alexander publicly kissing Bagoas. These relationships, particularly with Hephaestion, were not seen as scandalous within the societal norms of the time.
While modern terms like “homosexuality” are anachronistic for the ancient world, the historical accounts strongly indicate Alexander’s affections extended to men (or it might be as accurate to say that his primary affections were for men, but he also, for practical reasons, had a wife and family).
