Bagoi (favorite of Alexander of Macedon)

Bagoas prays on behalf of Nabarzan (Flemish miniature, 3rd quarter of the 15th century)

Bagoi ( ancient Greek Βαγώας / Bagōas / ), the son of Farnuk, a Persian youth, is a eunuch who has become the favorite and, according to some sources , Alexander the Great's lover. ^[1] Plutarch ^[2] and Curtius ^[3] also reported that Bagoy was close to the king.

Alexander of Macedon received Bagoi from the Persian nobleman Nabarzan as a trophy left over from King Darius III the Coderman : “ Nabarzan, having received a promise of security, met him with abundant gifts. Among them was Bagoy, a young eunuch in the heyday of youth and beauty, whom Darius loved, and Alexander soon fell in love with him . ” ^[4] Bagoy accompanied Alexander in the Indian campaign, his name along with other approximate Alexander is found in the list of Trierarchs, that is, people equipped at their own expense ships. The episode with the execution of Orsin, the satrap of Persia , testifies to the influence of Bagoi at the court.

Quint Curtius Rufus puts it like this:

“... bestowing upon all the king's friends above their own desires, he did not give any honor to the eunuch Bagoy, who with his depravity attached Alexander to him. Informed by some, as far as Bagoy is amiable to Alexander, Orsin replied that he caters to Alexander’s friends, not to his lovers, and that it is not in the Persians ’way to honor men who are like vice to women ” ^[5]

Bagoi accused Orsin of ruining the tomb of Cyrus the Great , for which the nobleman was shackled. Bagoi, as presented by Curtius, killed Orsin himself. In the presentation of Arrian , Orsina was hanged for looting temples and tombs. ^[6]

The Macedonians, like the Greeks , tolerated this kind of relationship. According to Plutarch, Alexander allowed himself to kiss Bagoy to the applause of those present when he won the contest of choirs (songs and dances). Athenaeus also talked about this case:

To madness loved the young men and Tsar Alexander. Dikearh in his book On the Ilion Sacrifices talks about one case in which he was so enchanted by the eunuch Bagoy that he threw him back and kissed him in full view of the full theater; and even after loud shouts and applause from the public, he repeated it again. ^[7]

About the fate of the eunuch after the death of Alexander nothing is known. At the court of the Persian king was another famous eunuch Bagoy , in charge of public affairs to Darius III.