My Beloved Friend is Dead

[toujours_nigel]

He very nearly did, one must assume, which begs the question of why. I'm a rabid Hephaistion fan-girl, but I'd like to present one very well-known fact for general consideration, instead of foaming at the mouth about how very perfect Hephaistion is (He is.).

Alexander called him Alexander, too; he let him choose the King of Sidon; he repeatedly divided his army and put half of it under Hephaistion; he publicly shared letters with him... I could go on. Alexander's affection for Hephaistion is well-known, it has been variously interpreted. But the fact I'm talking about, here, which is why the user-pic is apt, is the amount that was spent on Hephaistion's funeral was equal to or greater than the amount Darius wanted to ransom his family for-- 100,000 talents, which, so Wikipedia tells me, comes to 150,000,000 pounds.

I rest my case.

Comments

[riaki.livejournal.com]

Sure you'd mourn your best friend and you would probably want a lavish funeral to honor them....The money spent for Hephaistion's Pyre has been interpreted in various ways as the whole thing about the "true" nature of their relationship. On the one hand there are the ones that say that it doesn't show that they were lovers as Alexander at the time was the richest and most powerful man in the world. SO what were 10.000-12.000 talents to him, a world-ruler, who would probably want to exhibit his power at any given chance? On the other hand there are the ones that say that his mourning and rich funeral show the closest relationship imaginable...What do I think? Hmmm, I think that the Funeral costs don't say much. Alexander's mourning doesn't say much either. What always struck me as "weird" was the fact that Alexander wanted Hephaistion deified...Couldn't he bear his afterlife in the Elyssian Fields without his dear friend? Probably not. Had he gone mad after his loss? In my opinion yes, he had gone slightly or less slightly mad....But don't my word for it;)

[toujours-nigel.livejournal.com]

I didn't try to say that the cost showed the nature of the relationship, sorry if that's how it came across, simply that it was something that meant a lot to him. The deification-attempt is far more touching, but it's the gesture of a hero as opposed to the gesture of a king, which shows in the funeral, i thought. I know that post is pretty incoherent, I'll sit down and write something more logical, soon.

[riaki.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was not incoherent...I just like to ramble :DDD

[mizrychik62]

Good points, all. Which shows that Phai was fab and Lexy was gaga for him, and most rightly so. Now, what's so wrong about foaming at the mouth?

*does so*

[toujours-nigel.livejournal.com]

nothing wrong at all, but reserving that for another post. :)

[mizrychik62]

*ponders*
We do need more Phai-ming at the mouth posts.