My Beloved Friend is Dead

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.