In the annals of history, few figures loom as large as Alexander the Great.
conqueror, a visionary and a legend whose legacy has endured through the ages. However, among the stories of his conquests and exploits, there is one persistent rumor: the idea that Alexander shared a romantic relationship with his closest companion, Hephaestus. In this article, we delve into the historical record to separate fact from fiction and shed light on the true nature of their bond.
To understand the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion, we must first examine the cultural and social context of ancient Greece. . In this era, close male friendships were common and valued, often characterized by a deep emotional connection known as "friendship". In this context we must see the companionship of Alexander and Hephaistion.
Companionship or romance..?
While modern interpretations can suggest a romantic aspect to their relationship, it is important to analyze the evidence within its historical context. Primary sources from Alexander's time, such as the writings of Arrian and Plutarch, portray their bond as one of deep friendship and companionship, rather than romantic love.
Hephaestion was the son of Amyndora , Philip's general and Macedonian nobleman - he was the closest of all Alexander the Great's friends. Growing up together as children, they received the same education, having as a teacher one of the great philosophers and thinkers, Aristotle . We know that Aristotle's teaching played the greatest role in shaping the character of Alexander the Great and resulted in the cornerstone of his later historical course.
So let's see what Aristotle taught his students.. Aristotle believed that love is in principle an excess, and therefore it is not a virtue since every virtue is a golden ratio between two extremes. For Aristotle, in his work " Orator c ", love can "blind" you, it is a weakness and man must tame it with restraint, which was characterized as a virtue in ancient Greece.
In the Nicomachean Ethics , he compares friendship to love and says:
As for the blessed, seeing their beloved person is the most pleasant of all, and they prefer this question above all other senses, because in it, above all, love is related and born, so for friends . , the most desirable thing. is to spend their hours and days together." Here we see that he likens friendship to love, thus wanting to present the dynamics of real friendship as a sense of need for two people to be constantly together, as was the strong friendship between Alexander and Hephaestion. Aristotle emphasizes in the Nicomachean Ethics that the intense quality of amorous love can be realized in its full virtuous form only between androgynes, the kind of most fundamental relationship that people tend to enter into in society. Friendship, according to the Aristotelian definition of love for a person who desires his good for the sake of the one we love and not for us, can offer human symbiosis much more than love. The conclusion that easily follows is that through this teaching a steely but virtuous friendship was built between the two men, who had all those characteristics to present themselves more as an example for imitation than as a relationship of carnal lust.
Expert opinions: historians..
The concept of homosexuality, as it is understood in modern terms, did not have the same connotation in ancient Greece. The intensity of emotional bonds between men was often celebrated and respected without necessarily implying a sexual relationship.
Marriage and political alliances
Another often overlooked aspect is Alexander's marriages and political alliances. Throughout his life, Alexander made strategic marriages with women from powerful families, such as Roxana, daughter of a Bactrian noblewoman, and Stateira, daughter of the Persian king Darius III. These associations were critical to consolidating his rule and expanding his empire, underscoring his commitment to political alliances and potential ambitions. Alexander's marriages were necessary to maintain stability within his empire and to establish diplomatic ties with conquered territories. They demonstrate his focus on political strategy and expansion rather than personal relationships.
But there are some historians, such as Lucius Mestrius Plutarch (Greek historical limit of the 1st century AD) " Parallel Lives ", who state that Alexander was extremely chaste and noble in his relations with the opposite sex and showed great respect for institution of marriage. .
"He said that two things reminded him that he was a man and not a god: sleep and the act of reproduction, he believed that both were caused by the weakness of human nature."
Important historical element..
But there is also an important historical element that the screenwriters and film producers overlook or perhaps refuse to present the life and relationship of Alexander with Hephaestion.
After the conquest of Persia and a few months before he died, Hephaestion married the young daughter of Darius Drypetis , who was the sister of Alexander's wife, Stateira .
This in itself shows a completely different picture than what the various film productions flaunt, so we clearly see that their relationship was not pathologically homosexual with strong features of jealousy, but a purely ethnic friendship.
Cultural perspectives..
It is also important to consider the cultural patterns and claims of ancient Greece. In this society, ideals of masculinity and heroism were closely intertwined with concepts of honor, courage and military prowess. Alexander's conquests and leadership exemplified these ideals, shaping his legacy as a legendary figure in history.
Opinions of expert historians..
The ancient Greek concept of heroism emphasized such things as bravery, honor and excellence in war. Alexander embodied these ideals through his military conquests and leadership, which were central to his image as a heroic figure.
In conclusion, the notion of Alexander the Great's homosexual relationship with the Hephaestians is not supported by concrete evidence from historical sources. While their bond was undoubtedly deep and important, it was rooted in the cultural norms and pretensions of ancient Greece rather than modern concepts of romantic love.
In recent years we have been the recipient of an unprecedented distortion of the truth surrounding the two men's real relationship, but it is clear that all these efforts serve ulterior purposes.
As we reflect on the life and legacy of Alexander the Great, as he is remembered not for unfounded rumors but for his remarkable achievements as a conqueror, visionary and leader whose influence continues to shape the course of history for nearly 2500 thousand years.
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