corilannam | Bagoas and the Miscellaneous Homoerotica

Man, that could almost be a band name. Not really, but almost.

So here's my promised and long-awaited (by one, and possibly two, of you) rundown of the non-Alexander/Hephaistion homoerotic scenes in Alexander, subdivided into sections for Bagoas, and then non-Alexander related homoerotic incidents.

Two things before we start: 1) Since I saw the movie again, I've updated my Alexander/Hephaistion scene summaries with more accurate and detailed descriptions, for those that care about such things. And 2) if you're longing for Alexander stories and you're not exceptionally picky about the quality, alexanderfics has a bunch. Or at least a scattering.

As an addendum to that last one, I was planning on begging the universe to be merciful and not let anyone start writing this pairing as "Alex/Heph," or similar diminutives, but I can see that army has long since marched. So instead, I'm going to plead for the retention of what little dignity we still have -- just don't smoosh their names together. Please. I'll give you candy. And seriously, folks, the first person to post a threesome story labeled "Alexahephagas" gets my foot up their ass. I'm not kidding.

Okay. So now that I've had my moment, on with the gay.

The first time we see Bagoas is in the palace harem in Babylon (see "He is also Alexander" scene from the A/H post). Alexander doesn't seem to notice him particularly, but he certainly notices Alexander.

After that, Bagoas is frequently around attending Alexander. He has no lines at all, but is usually watching Alexander with some heat and Hephaistion with some jealousy. He is significant in the following scenes:

When Hephaistion comes to Alexander's chamber in Babylon while Alexander is reading his mother's letter (prelude to the balcony scene), Bagoas is there preparing Alexander's bath. When Alexander dismisses him so he and Hephaistion can talk alone, Bagoas looks deeply unhappy about it.

While Parmenion is being killed, Alexander is at his camp desk writing. Bagoas moves about the room, engaged in various tasks, but always watching Alexander. Alexander looks up at him several times, and they exchange looks heavy with sexual tension. Eventually Alexander gets up and goes to his bed. Bagoas stares at him as he strips and climbs naked into bed (and yes, there's a brief ass shot, and a glimpse of more). Alexander stares back, then lifts his hand to beckon Bagoas into bed with him, but the shot cuts off befor the gesture is even completed. This scene is intercut with the scene of Parmenion being killed on Alexander's orders, hence Alexander's weariness and black mood.

Later, in India, Alexander and all of his generals are at a big party. Bagoas and another very pretty boy are dancing as part of the entertainment. Alexander watches Bagoas closely, and when the dance finishes (with Bagoas and the other boy twining themselves together on the floor -- very hot), Alexander gets up and walks out to him. "Bagoas! Bagoas!" several of the drunken Macedonians are shouting as Alexander congratulates Bagoas with a carress.

"Kiss him!" Kleitos yells, and several others echo him.

So Alexander does, to the applause of the crowd.

Then Bagoas stands meekly beside Alexander as Kleitos offers a toast to Bagoas -- and all the other Persian boys they're training into the prettiest army in the world. The scene turns ugly from there, ending in Alexander skewering Kleitos in a drunken rage.

Afterwards, Alexander feels really, really bad about that. So he weeps in his tent for three days, and after Hephaistion is done dissing Roxane, he comes back to Alexander's private room where Alexander is sprawled on his bed, still crying. Bagoas is by his side, offering silent comfort while Hephaistion tries to talk Alexander out of his funk. At one point, Alexander sort of topples over to the side and ends up in Bagoas's lap, clasping his waist. This is the first and only time we see Hephaistion and Bagoas united in order to care for Alexander.

The last time we see Bagoas is when Alexander is on his death bed, and Bagoas is there wiping his face with damp cloths.

Whew. That's a lot of Persian boy.

Now, onto the "gay" moments that don't involve Alexander at all. Yes, there were a few.

If you blinked, you missed it, but Alexander's father also had a thing for the boys. At Philip's wedding to Eurydike, we briefly meet Pausanias, Philip's latest male favorite. Philip declares that he's tired of Pausanias, and a few minutes later, we see Pausanias being bent over a table by Philip and several other men. Pausanias's chiton is pulled up over his ass, and although the camera cuts away, the implication of imminent gang rape is clear. Not long after, the other men (minus Philip) drag a weeping and struggling Pausanias out to be passed around amongst Philip's guards.

Much, much later in the movie, after 98% of the audience who never knew who the fuck Pausanias was in the first place has forgotten his existence, we get the mistimed flashback to Philip's murder. Pausanias is one of Philip's guards now, and Alexander sees him pacing just inside the entrance to the amphitheatre where Philip is about to enter. Alexander has a bad feeling about this, but he can't stop Philip, who insists on walking in alone. He does, and Pausanias comes up to him and kisses him hard on the mouth. It's an angry kiss, and it lasts for a long time, until the people sitting in the amphitheatre realize something's amiss.

Then Pausanias pulls back and drives a knife into Philip's belly. Philip falls to the ground, dying, and Pausanias takes off running. He's pursued by guards into the woods, where he trips and falls to the ground. They're on him before he can get up and stab him to death on the spot while Alexander is being proclaimed king.

Incidentally, it's Hephaistion who grabs Alexander's hand and raises it while shouting "Long live the king!" so as to get Alexander acknowledged as the rightful heir before anyone can think to question it. He also puts Philip's crown on Alexander's head after Kassander picks it up and hands it to him.

And the last bit of homoeroticism (unless someone thinks of something I missed) is at Alexander's wedding. Everyone is celebrating, and Kleitos (who, I must mention, is way hotter than Black Kleitos has any business being) is happily snuggled up with a really lovely Persian boy. When Alexander makes a toast to all the women who have been following the army loyally, Kleitos shouts out, "What about our boys?" and kisses his. A nice moment to show the normality of male/male sex at the time.

Okay, that's it, I'm all out of gay here. Go write some stories, people!