1870 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities ed W Smith

[kizzikat]

Part of the entry on Hephaestion:

‘For it is equally to the credit of Hephaestion and Alexander, that though the former undoubtedly owed his elevation to the personal favour and affection of the king, rather than to any abilities or achievements of his own he never allowed himself to degenerate into the-position of a flatterer or mere favourite, and

Comments

[gingerhead76]

Well, I don't agree that his elevation was due to the personal favour and affection of the king, rather than to any abilities or achievements of his own...

[kizzikat]

I'd agree with you but I thought this was rather sweet, and in contrast to many historians' view of Hephaestion, especially from W Tarn (1948) to Mary Renault (1975). Tarn was very influential and he regarded Hephaestion as a competent cavalry officer but fundamentally stupid, and a boon companion rewarded for his dogged devotion - not very flattering!

[gingerhead76]

I have to say that I'm quite surprised that a great historian like Tarn thought that Alexander could have put his kingdom in jeopardy giving important responsibilities (or responsibilities whatsoever) and important positions to a stupid and unqualified person (even if this person was his favourite)... ;-P

[kizzikat]

True, but Tarn would probably argue that Hephaestion was never given a major battle command and his commands were shared with someone else such as Perdiccas to watch over him. I think he basically started from a position of disliking nepotism, probably from too many examples from the Roman Emperors, and failed to see whether it was justified in Hephaestion's case.

[parisad]

The author is fair to Hephaestion, at least. Yes, I don't think that his elevation was just due to Alexander's feelings for him, but the love and affection of the king surely had a great part on it.

[kizzikat]

Yes, he wasn't a total non-combatant, and I think Alexander, as king, came to depend upon him more and more. Hephaestion obviously picked up a lot of the slack that Parmenion's death left.

Nice to see you back, btw!

[parisad]

Thank you :) I think I will be more around from now on ;)
As for Hephaestion and his true personality, I've always found impressive that - either he meant it or not, and that's the point we still need to find out - he got ridden of all his ennemies: Parmenion and Philotas (who were leaders of a clan opposite to Hephaestion's), Kleitos (who was killed by Alexandros, accidentally probably, but he had already lost his major command on Alexander's order to Hephaestion's advantage)and Krateros (who was sent back to Macedonia with the veterans just when his enmity with Hephaestion was breaking out with violence)...so,I really tend to agree with Reames-Zimmermann when she calls Hephaestion the "eminence grise" at Alexander's court: I believe that his place behind the throne was far more important than we use to think.

[kizzikat]

There is some evidence that Hephaestion was ambitious enough to manipulate Alexander to his own advantage when the opportunity arose. In Plutarch's Life of Eumenes, Alexander originally chided Hephaestion, but then changed his mind and decided Eumenes was in the wrong - a case I think of Hephaestion exterting his influence over Alexander. In the case of Philotas, Alexander was orginally inclined to forgive Philotas until persuaded otherwise by his friends, Hephaestion doubtless included. Hephaestion may have persuaded Alexander to sideline Cleitus, but this cannot be proven, and he may have suggested that the old-timer Craterus was the best man to return to Greece with the veterans and replace Antipater - but this might well have been self-evident to Alexander, and the removal of other old-timers such as Parmenion might well have coincided with Alexander's own inclinations and policy. Whether Hephaestion was Machiavellian enough to manipulate events to present these opportunities for his own advancement is something that perhaps