Netflix often takes liberties with historical accuracy in its content, sometimes to an absurd extent. The latest historical drama, “Alexander: The Making of a God,” mixes truth with fiction to push a specific agenda. Despite being marketed as a blockbuster, the series falls short in many aspects.
The show offers a brief overview of Alexander the Great’s conquests, focusing equally on his romantic relationships. However, these relationships are portrayed inaccurately, with key historical figures omitted or misrepresented. The central portrayal of Alexander’s relationship with his friend Hephaestion is sensationalized for modern audiences, featuring scenes that seem out of place in ancient history.
While the show presents the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion as romantic and sensual, it misses the historical context of Greek homosexuality. In ancient Greece, relationships like theirs served a social function of education and military training, rather than solely romantic purposes. The show’s portrayal misses the mark on the historical significance of such relationships in Greek society.
Overall, the attempt to portray Ancient Greeks as proto-LGBT lacks historical accuracy and oversimplifies complex societal dynamics. The show’s interpretation falls short of capturing the true essence of Greek homosexuality, painting a distorted picture of history for modern viewers.
