Introduction to hephaestion

Hephaestion was Alexander the Great's personal bodyguard and the closest lifelong friend and adviser of the King of Macedonia. That Hephaestion's death would make the young king cry. From 334 BC to 323 BC, Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world. He led the army across Asia Minor, into Persia, Egypt and India, and made a ten-year odyssey. Finally, after defeating Darius, he claimed to be the king of Asia. Of course, without his loyal army and skilled officers-Ptolemy, Paddikos and Craterus, but the most important thing is the support of Hephaestion, he could not have done this.

Early life

As the son of Amin Tass, Hephaestian grew up in Pella, the capital of Macedonia. According to most information, he was born in 356 BC, the same year as the king. Born in a famous family, so did many staff officers who followed Alexander into Asia. Together with Alexander, he became a student of the philosopher Aristotle in Mieza, a city west of Pella. His wisdom left a deep impression on Athenian scholars. Like the king, they would communicate with each other in the long Persian campaign. Many people think Hephaestion is handsome, and Alexander's father Philip II thinks he has a great influence on his son. Shortly after Philip married Cleopatra, the future king began to worry about his status as heir. There was a disagreement between Philip and Alexander, which was started by his friend. Because of this, many of Alexander's friends were exiled. However, Philip's respect for Hephaestion saved him from this humiliation.

run for office

In 334 BC, after regaining the loyalty of many Greek city-states, especially after Thebes was razed to the ground, Alexander and his army crossed the Ponte River in Hellers, the first stop to conquer Persia. However, before the conflict between the Kush River in grani and Persian troops, Alexander chose to visit the tomb of his hero (and presumed ancestor) Achilles in Troy (a small village in Alexander's time). This is his fascination with heroes. The king always sleeps with a copy of Homer's Iliad under his pillow. Of course, when he was in Troy, Hephaestion laid a wreath at the grave of Achilles' friend Patrocles. In fact, many people think that the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion is similar to that between Achilles and Patroclus. Then, two people stand side by side, Alexander cut off Gaudian's heart. Because of this unique sense of closeness, many officers are extremely jealous. Strangely, this jealousy is not limited to employees in Olympias, but Alexander's overprotective mother is also dissatisfied with this relationship.

Hephaestion was Alexander's closest and most loyal partner in the military action of the great king.

Hephaestion's friendship with Alexander eventually led to his appointment as chief or agent. Although there are considerable differences between contemporary sources, many people in the army do not believe that Hephaestian has the necessary leadership or military skills. In fact, some people did not mention that he had actively participated in several major battles (although he was seriously injured in Gauguin Milla); Fortunately for Alexander, however, he showed organizational talent. Alexander will leave most of the logistics of the campaign to Hephaestion-the supply and transportation of equipment, the construction of bridges and even the establishment and planning of new settlements.

Competition and special status

An officer named Craterus was deeply disgusted with Hephaestion (this feeling was mutual), and Alexander had to separate them more than once. In India, they really draw swords. Alexander was forced to reprimand them both, rebuke Hephaestion and tell him that he would accomplish nothing without Alexander. Historians disagree with the meaning of this sentence. People often say that Craterus is a friend of the king and Hephaestion is a friend of Alexander. Historian Plutarch wrote in his Greek Life:

..... He (Alexander) loved Hephaestion the most, but respected Craterus the most. In his view, Hephaestion was loyal to Alexander and Craterus was loyal to the king. This also explains why the bad feelings between two people continue to spread, so that conflicts often occur.

Later, Plutarch said that the king brought them together and made them friends again, but he gave everyone a warning that if he found them quarreling again, he would kill them. Finally, Craterus returned to Macedonia and eventually died in the war of succession after Alexander's death in 32 1 BC.

This intimate relationship between hephaistion and Alexander can also be seen from the battle of Isus and an incident after Darius Iii's defeat. The king of Persia fled the battlefield and escaped the prisoners, and his army suffered a devastating rout. Unfortunately, for his mother, wife and daughter, they left a fortune. Darius finally appealed to them to return safely, but failed. Aware of the fate of many prisoners of war, especially women, to make matters worse, sisyphus Gambis, Darius' mother, worried about their safety, entered the tent for Alexander and Hephaistion, and Hephaistion, who was taller and more handsome than her, jumped in front and begged for mercy. This story was told in the battle of his Alexandria historian Ariane.

Darius' mother wondered which of them was the king because of their similar clothes, and fell down in front of hephaistion because he was taller than his companions. Hephaestion took a step back, and one of the queen's attendants pointed to Alexander and corrected her mistake. The queen stepped out in embarrassment, but Alexander only said that her mistake was irrelevant, because Hephaestion was also Alexander.

Ariane added that whether this is true or not, the young king's respect and trust for his friends should be admirable-but it also shows the essence of Alexander's character.

Naval command

After Isus, Hephaestion was appointed to be in charge of the naval reinforcements in Alexandria, and was ordered to follow the progress of the army along the Mediterranean coast from Gaza to the Egyptian delta city of Perrusi, whose governor surrendered to the city and its entire treasury without a fight. In another test of Alexander's trust in Hephaestion, the king appointed him to replace the old and deposed Persian rulers with another governor in the newly occupied port city of Sidon. Abdalorymus, a member of the old royal family, was quickly found and appointed governor. Next, Hephaestion led the fleet along the Nile to Memphis, the capital of Egypt, where he, Ptolemy, Craterus and Alexander studied the laws and customs of Egypt. Before the last battle between Gauguin Milla and Darius, Alexander put Hephaestion in charge of a squadron to scout the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and build a bridge. Wisely, he didn't finish the bridge before Alexander arrived, fearing that the Persians would destroy it. Apart from his wounds, the source did not mention Hephaestion until the conspiracy trial in Philotas.

Loyal to Alexander

Before the March into India and the summer expedition, there was a great turmoil within the army. The veteran is tired and wants to go back to Macedonia to reunite with his family. In addition, many advisers disagreed with many atypical decisions of the king-he adopted Persian customs and costumes, and he wanted them to bow down before him and kiss his ring. They were especially dissatisfied with the Persians joining the army and being asked to marry Persian sons. However, unlike many others, Hephaestion always supported Alexander's decision. Even if he wanted to marry a Persian wife, he got a daughter of Darius Delhi Patis, and Alexander chose another daughter, Bassin, as his mistress.

However, Hephaestion's loyalty to Alexander was best proved in the potential rebellion against Alexander. In 330 BC, Hephaestion joined forces with Craterus to oppose Philotas, the suspected leader of the plot, and persuaded the king to torture him and other associates and execute them-this time, Philotas's father and long-term commander PaMeniaud from Philip's court were also executed. Later, Alexander rewarded Hephaestion and let him and Cretors command his companions.

In the Battle of India, Hephaestian led a great army through khyber pass and conquered any rebellious Indian tribe. Next, Perdiccos and half of his companions, hired cavalry, luggage train and several Indian engineers built a bridge over the Indian River (the bridge will be used to cross the Hydaspes). When the communication lines were guaranteed, they reunited with Alexander and prepared to cross the Indus River, facing the King of Porus-in Hedas pace, hephaistion would be assigned to command a squadron. After the defeat of Porus, Hephaestion was divided, and Alexander was later reconnected to fight the Malians-it was here that Alexander was injured and dying. Finally, he can't go far; Alexander bowed to the will of the army and decided to return to northern Babylon.

die

They spent summer and autumn in Ek Platthana, where after drinking all night, Hephaestian began to have a high fever-Alexander would stay with his friends until he showed signs of recovery. Unfortunately, Hephaestion soon relapsed and died in 10 BC (the possibility of poisoning was not ruled out). Alexander will die in eight months. For the next two days, the king kept crying and mourning the death of his friend. In addition to cutting off his own hair, he also ordered the mane and tail of all horses to be cut off. Declare a state of mourning, make sacrifices, and light a flame. Unfortunately, it was a sad day for Grotius, the doctor of Hephaestion, who was executed for failing to save the patient's life. Hephaestion's body will eventually be sent to Babylon, where a huge woodpile will be built. Alexander sent messengers to see Shiva, demanding that Hephaestion be regarded as a god, but was rejected; He will only be honored as a sacred hero. Plutarch wrote,

..... He (Alexander) nailed the poor doctor to a stake and banned playing flute and all music in the camp for a long time, until he received an Oracle from Armon, telling him to worship hephaistion as a hero and set up a sacrifice in his name.

Although some sources claimed that Hephaestion and Alexander were not only good friends, most people thought their relationship was unique and strengthened. During his life, Hephaestion kept close relationship with the king, and was both a valuable adviser and a friend. It doesn't matter whether he is a competent commander. His logistical ability helped defeat the Persians and their king Darius Iii.