<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">History mystery</h2>

The trailer for Alexander: The Making of a God is packed with drama. "It is time you knew your true identity, Alexander," says the young man's mother. "You are the son of ZeusThe king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter.... conquer PersiaA historic region of southwestern Asia, linked to the area that is now Iran. and beyond. It is your destiny."

The series tells the story of Alexander as he built one of the world's greatest empires in the 4th Century BC. As king of MacedonAn ancient kingdom founded in 808BC on the edge of classical Greece. he won every battle he fought. He conquered all of Greece and much of Asia.

The Netflix docudrama is controversial because it shows him as gay. In the very first episode he kisses another man.

On Netflix's website, Amanda Richards writes that the series "speculates on intimate details of Alexander's private life, including his time with [his] purportedSaid to be true, although there is no proof. lover Hephaestion".

One expert says on the show that Hephaestion "was not just a cherishedLoved very much. companion, but perhaps [Alexander's] greatest love". Another adds that same-sex relationships were normal throughout the Greek world.

Alexander certainly had relationships with women, and married three times. Two of his marriages were political. But PlutarchA Greek philosopher and priest known for his biographies of Greek and Roman figures. insists that his first, to the princess Roxana, was "a love match which began when he saw her at the height of her youthful beauty taking part in a dance at a banquet".

But according to an expert on Alexander, Dr Jeanne Reames, he "seems to have comfortably pursued either sex".¹ Part of the evidence of this is the deep grief he showed on Hephaestion's death. According to the historian Arrian he ordered that the doctor who failed to save Hephaestion be hanged.

Yet another historian, Athenaeus, wrote that Alexander "was quite excessively keen on boys".²

In The Pink News, Josh Jackman lists nine other famous figures whom some historians believe were gay. They include Julius CaesarJulius Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of Roman senators at a senate meeting in 44BC., Leonardo da VinciAn Italian artist and inventor (1452 - 1519), considered to be one of the world's greatest geniuses. He painted the Mona Lisa and designed an early flying machine. and Richard IThe King of England from 1189 to 1199. He was also the Duke of Normandy. .

Was history gayer than we think?

Yes: According to the Yale School of Public Health, 83% of gay people keep their sexuality hidden for most of their lives.³ If that is true today, it must have been all the more so in less tolerantBeing open-minded and listening to beliefs that are different to your own. eras.

No: It is precisely because so few people were gay that past societies regarded them with suspicion and disapproval. If homosexuality had been widespread it would not have been considered a "problem".

Or... It depends on the perceptionThe way you look at something. you start with. If you believe that people have basically been the same throughout history, it follows that there were as many gay people in the past as there are now.   

Zeus - The king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter.

Persia - A historic region of southwestern Asia, linked to the area that is now Iran.

Macedon - An ancient kingdom founded in 808BC on the edge of classical Greece.

Purported - Said to be true, although there is no proof.

Cherished - Loved very much.

Plutarch - A Greek philosopher and priest known for his biographies of Greek and Roman figures.

Julius Caesar - Julius Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of Roman senators at a senate meeting in 44BC.

Leonardo da Vinci - An Italian artist and inventor (1452 - 1519), considered to be one of the world's greatest geniuses. He painted the Mona Lisa and designed an early flying machine.

Richard I - The King of England from 1189 to 1199. He was also the Duke of Normandy.

Tolerant - Being open-minded and listening to beliefs that are different to your own.

Perception - The way you look at something.