Brain Fertilizer

I've read a lot of Greek history lately and I think things are a little different than you had stated. Macedonian norms may have been different, so keep that caveat in mind. From what I've read, there were standard practices for this: an older man would take a young boy as his lover, as the boy got older though the relationship was supposed to end. The older man would choose his next boy, etc. The boy that grew up would get married and homosexual relations were supposed to end... until he was old enough to take a young boy as a lover, etc. For all I know, the whole thing was part of education to an extent. In some states, when a man got married his bride had her hair cut extremely short--probably to help ease him into a heterosexual relationship.

There seems to have been heavy social pressure to do things by whatever norms were accepted (which were quite different in the various Greek states). Extremes were frowned upon. However, Alexander's relationship with his older friend (which may or may not have continued beyond what was acceptable) was clearly outside those norms. So maybe Stone is not totally dishonest...the facts just aren't clear enough to base a story one way or the other.

I've oversimplified things, and from what I've read it seems Macedonian relationships may have been quite different. So an apology is due to those that have studied these things much more and can summarize them better.

One of my favorite quotes from Alexander, though, is along the lines of "Sex and sleep alone make me conscious that I am mortal." Which has nothing to do the discussion, but I love it anyway. OK, enough rambling...

Point taken.
And I have no problem conceding that your knowledge in this matter is clearly greater than my own. I've never studied Macedonian history/society to the degree that you obviously have. My opinion was formed more on a general understanding of what homosexuality meant back then, if that's not clear. In that, you describe it pretty much how I understood it, but your explanation clears up some aspects that leaves a different impression.
Thanks.

My pleasure. And I didn't mean to pick nits.

VD Hanson's books finally pushed me over the edge to actually read the source material from way back when. And it is incredibly fascinating stuff.

I didn't see it as picking nits, but rather an extension of the original issue.