Alexander: The Making of a God was released on Netflix on January 31, 2024, and in no time it became the most-watched series of the week in multiple countries including India. Courtesy of Alexander's great historical significance and arguably the golden era of the Greek empire, Alexander: The Making of a God has become a talking point all around the world. Directed by Hugh Ballantyne, Alexander: The Making of a God showcases the life and conquests of the Greek military commander & king who never lost any war in his lifespan. From children's history books to world archaeology, the topic of Alexander The Great continues to fascinate even now. Since you have landed on this page, True Scoop News assumes that you have watched Alexander: The Making of a God on Netflix and have multiple questions especially related to Alexander's boyfriend Hephaestion. Below is everything you need to know about Alexander The Great's boyfriend Hephaestion-
Who was Alexander's boyfriend Hephaestion?
As shown in the Netflix docuseries, Hephaestion was a military general and boyfriend of Alexander The Great. In fact, when Alexander was on 'self-exile' due to his father, he was living with his two companions. One of the companions were Hephaestion. Alexander: The Making of a God showcases Alexander and Hephaestion having an adult and physical relationship. The Netflix series say that homosexuality was not a crime for the Greeks. In fact, there was no name for homosexuality. Therefore having same-sex relationships was normal in the Greek empire. As a result, Hephaestion and Alexander were in a serious relationship.
A US media report quoted a historian named Robin Lane Fox. As per reports, Robin Lane Fox in one of books wrote, "Hephaistion was the man whom Alexander loved, and for the rest of their lives their relationship remained as intimate as it is now irrecoverable: Alexander was only defeated once, the Cynic philosophers said long after his death, and that was by Hephaistion’s thighs."
Quintus Curtius Rufus, a Roman senator, translated sculptor by Penguin says, "Hephaestion was by far the dearest of the king’s friends; he had been brought up with Alexander and shared all his secrets. No other person was privileged to advise the king as candidly as he did, and yet he exercised that privilege in such a way that it seemed granted by Alexander rather than claimed by Hephaestion."
Coming to who was Hephaestion professionally, he was a member of Alexander the Great's personal bodyguard. He went on to command the Companion cavalry and was entrusted with many other tasks throughout Alexander's ten-year campaign in Asia, including diplomatic missions, the bridging of major rivers, sieges, and the foundation of new settlements.
How did Hephaestion die?
As per the information available, Hephaestion died at the age of 32. Hephaestion's death was all of a sudden at Ecbatana. Hephaestion's death had impacted Alexander emotionally as well. In fact, Alexander was overwhelmed with grief. He petitioned the oracle at Siwa to grant Hephaestion divine status and thus Hephaestion was honoured as a Divine Hero. Hephaestion was cremated and his ashes taken to Babylon. At the time of his own death a mere eight months later, Alexander was still planning lasting monuments to Hephaestion's memory.
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