Hephaistion, the "persecuted outsider" - where and how?
In many fan-inspired stories, Hephaistion is the persecuted outsider, the neglected loyal friend, the lonely steadfast lover whose friend Alexander is happy with conquests, Bagoas, Rhoxane, etc.
Recently, Moon71 wrote in a post: "What proof, “Nothing without me” aside, do we have that Alexander was ever cruel, spiteful or insulting to Hephaestion? The fact that the row in India got so much attention indicates to me it was uncommon. Hephaestion as the persecuted outsider, which has no basis in historical fact that I can see, has become something of a convention in some stories and I don’t see why"?
Yes, indeed. The historical sources don't ever imply that Hephaistion was JEALOUS! NEGLECTED! an OUTSIDER! The historical Hephaistion was at Alexander's side from when they were young, till he died. He was second in power only to Alexander, rapidly promoted at every stage despite his relative youth, inexperience and lack of powerful family connections. People were as scared of him and his power as they were of Alexander by the time he died. Despite wives, mistresses, Persian lovers, Alexander held Hephaistion above everyone else, thus inspiring jealousy in OTHERS! He was Alexander's "alter-ego". Alexander deliberately made him "ROYAL" by marrying him into the highest Persian nobility. Even during the scene in India, Hephaistion was pretty aggressive, drawing his sword against Kraterus and his men, and supported by his own men. And the end result, despite the "Nothing without me", was that he stayed close to Alexander, while Kraterus was packed off away from Court to Macedon. Hephaistion fought many battles in India and commanded his own army - he was no "gentle soul" averse to war and "put upon" by Alexander and his bloodthirsty friends.
So, what has inspired the quite different view of Hephaistion? I think the "persecuted outsider", sweet and gentle friend, neglected lover persona was inspired by Oliver Stone's movie and his vision of Hephaistion as played by the beautiful Jared Leto. Also, Mary Renault's "The Persian Boy" gives the impression of a lonely, somewhat neglected, perhaps jealous, Hephaistion. Perhaps these two works, more than anything else, gives this somewhat popular view of Hephaistion that is not supported by the ancient sources. Are there other popular sources that suggest Hephaistion was a sidelined and neglected figure?
Recently, Moon71 wrote in a post: "What proof, “Nothing without me” aside, do we have that Alexander was ever cruel, spiteful or insulting to Hephaestion? The fact that the row in India got so much attention indicates to me it was uncommon. Hephaestion as the persecuted outsider, which has no basis in historical fact that I can see, has become something of a convention in some stories and I don’t see why"?
Yes, indeed. The historical sources don't ever imply that Hephaistion was JEALOUS! NEGLECTED! an OUTSIDER! The historical Hephaistion was at Alexander's side from when they were young, till he died. He was second in power only to Alexander, rapidly promoted at every stage despite his relative youth, inexperience and lack of powerful family connections. People were as scared of him and his power as they were of Alexander by the time he died. Despite wives, mistresses, Persian lovers, Alexander held Hephaistion above everyone else, thus inspiring jealousy in OTHERS! He was Alexander's "alter-ego". Alexander deliberately made him "ROYAL" by marrying him into the highest Persian nobility. Even during the scene in India, Hephaistion was pretty aggressive, drawing his sword against Kraterus and his men, and supported by his own men. And the end result, despite the "Nothing without me", was that he stayed close to Alexander, while Kraterus was packed off away from Court to Macedon. Hephaistion fought many battles in India and commanded his own army - he was no "gentle soul" averse to war and "put upon" by Alexander and his bloodthirsty friends.
So, what has inspired the quite different view of Hephaistion? I think the "persecuted outsider", sweet and gentle friend, neglected lover persona was inspired by Oliver Stone's movie and his vision of Hephaistion as played by the beautiful Jared Leto. Also, Mary Renault's "The Persian Boy" gives the impression of a lonely, somewhat neglected, perhaps jealous, Hephaistion. Perhaps these two works, more than anything else, gives this somewhat popular view of Hephaistion that is not supported by the ancient sources. Are there other popular sources that suggest Hephaistion was a sidelined and neglected figure?