Controversial and Famous Same Sex Relationships in World History

You may not believe it but there are some historical figures that were known as homosexuals. They’ve been romantically and sexually involved to same sex.

Here are some of the most famous and controversial homosexuals in history and literature.

Alexander the Great and Hephaeston

Alexander the Great

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One of the most popular figures in history is Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 – 10/11 June 323 BC). He is more popularly known as Alexander the Great. He have had a few relationship with the opposite sex but the greatest emotional relationship of Alexander’s life was with his friend, general and bodyguard Hephaestion, the son of a Macedonian noble.

Hephaeston

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Hephaestion had been brought up with Alexander and shared all his secrets. This friendship lasted their whole lives. His death devastated Alexander, sending him into a six month period of grieving.  Upon the death of Hephaestion, Alexander sacked a nearby town, and put all of its inhabitants to the sword, as a ‘sacrifice’ to Hephaestion’s ghost.

Hadrian and Antinous

Hadrian

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Hadrian or Publius Aelius Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus (24 January 76 – 10 July 138), was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall. Hadrian had a close relationship with a Bithynian Greek youth, Antinous, which was most likely sexual. When Antinous died in 130 CE during a journey on the Nile, Hadrian wept like a woman.

Antinous

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Antinous, born on November 27, 111 CE, was deified after his death. The grief of the emperor knew no bounds, causing the most extravagant veneration to be paid to his memory. Cities were founded in his name, medals struck with his likeness, and cities throughout the east commissioned godlike images of the dead youth for their shrines and sanctuaries. Hadrian had Antinous proclaimed a god.

Elton John and David Furnish

Elton John

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Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947, is an English singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor, is one of the most successful artists of all time having been sold more than 250 million records. Elton John entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on December 21, 2005 and continues to be a champion for LGBT social movement. Their son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born to a surrogate mother on December 25, 2010 in California, USA.

David James Furnish

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David James Furnish was born on October 25, 1962. He is a Canadian/British filmmaker, former advertising executive.

Helen De Generes and Portia Lee James

Helen De Generes

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Ellen Lee DeGeneres, born January 26, 1958, is an American stand-up comedian, television host and actress. She hosts the talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its 19^th season. She came out publicly as a lesbian in 1997. She is currently married to Portia de Rossi.

Portia Lee James DeGeneres

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Portia Lee James DeGeneres was born Amanda Lee Rogers on January 31 1973. She is known professionally as Portia de Rossi. This Australian-American actress, best known for her roles as lawyer Nelle Porter on the television series Ally McBeal, is openly gay.

Achilles and Patroclus

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The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, the two heroes of the Trojan War, had a deep and extremely meaningful friendship. Achilles is tender towards Patroclus, while he is callous and arrogant towards others. These "war buddies" are often said as an egalitarian homosexual couples. In Iliad, Homer described clearly the strong connection of Achilles and Patroclus.

Achilles

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Achilles is the central character and the greatest warrion of Homer’s Iliad. He was named the most handsome of the heroes assembled against Troy by Plato. He was invulnerable in all of his body except for his heel. Like Alexander the Great, Achilles have had sexual relationships with women.

Patroclus

Patroclus was the beloved comrade and brother-in-arms of Achilles. Patroclus is cremated on a funeral pyre, and his bones are collected into a golden urn in two layers of fat. When Achilles died, his bones were mingled with those of Patroclus so that the two would be companions in death as in life and the remains were transferred to Leuke, an island in the Black Sea.

Hercules and Iolaus

Heracles

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Heracles was a divine hero in Greek Mythology. He is known as Hercules in Roman Mythology. Heracles was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. He was the foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson (and half-brother) of Perseus. He was the greatest of the Greek heroes, a paragon of masculinity. His extraordinary strength, courage, ingenuity, and sexual prowess with both males and females were among Heracles notable characteristic. As symbol of masculinity and warriorship, Heracles also had a number of male lovers. Notable male lovers of Heracles were Hylas, Elacatas, Abderus, Sostratus and many others.

Iolaus

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Iolaus is one of the most controversial lovers of Heracles. He was a Theban divine hero in Greek mythology. He was the son of Iphicles, Heracles’ brother, and Automedusa. Iolaus was a nephew of Heracles. He often acted as Heracles' charioteer and companion. He was popularly regarded as Heracles' lover, and the shrine to him in Thebes was a place where male couples worshiped and made vows.

Orestes and Pylades

Pylades

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Pylades is the son of King Strophius of Phocis and Anaxibia, daughter of Atreus and sister of Agamemnon and Menelaus in Greek mythology. Pylades is mostly known for his strong friendship or homosexual relationship with his cousin Orestes, son of Agamemnon.

Orestes

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Orestes was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. He is the cousin and lover of Pylades.

Theseus and Pirithus

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Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. 

His best friend was Pirithous, prince of the Lapiths. These great heroes, the strongest men on earth were allegedly lovers.

Castor and Pollox

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Castor and Pollux were the Gemini/Dioscuri or twin brothers in Roman mythology, taken from Greek Mythology. Their mother was Leda but they had different fathers, Sparta's King Tyndareus and the god Zeus, respectively. They were brothers to Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy, and the half-brothers of Hercules, Phoebe, Timandra and Philonoe. The pair were regarded as the patrons of sailors, to whom they appeared as St. Elmo’s fire.

See also

100 Interesting and Amazing Things AboutAlexander the Great