Robin Lane Fox's Hephaestion
Even though Fox's account of Alexander is immensely detailed, he admits it is not exactly a biography of Alexander the Great. Rather, it is an interpretation - one plausible take on Alexander and his career. With that in mind, what does Fox have to say about Hephaestion?
What was Alexander the Great's personal life like?
Alexander's personal life was complicated. We know that Alexander married at least three women during his short life: Roxane, Stateira, and Parysatis. However, that doesn't necessarily mean he had on-going, intimate relationships with all of them.
Curtius on Alexander the Great and Hephaestion
This post looks at what Quintus Curtius Rufus (aka simply Curtius) wrote about Alexander and Hephaestion. Curtius was a Roman historian who wrote The History of Alexander in the First Century AD (a few decades before both Plutarch and Arrian). The History of Alexander is considered one of the five main sources on Alexander's campaign.
Is this what ancient Greek music sounded like?
Apparently, this is a close rendition of what a song sounded like in ancient Greek. The lyrics and music were taken from inscriptions on a marble column more than 2,000 years old.
Plutarch on Alexander the Great & Hephaestion
As far as I can tell, the first major insight Plutarch offers into Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion comes in Book 39, as he discusses Alexander's mother's habit of sending her son private letters from Macedon.
Arrian on Alexander the Great & Hephaestion
Arrian's first mention of Hephaestion comes in Book I of his account, when Alexander and his army visit the ruins of Troy. There, Arrian writes that Alexander traded armor at the Temple of Athena, then proceeded to honor the tombs of those who fought at Troy.
How Reliable is Arrian's Account of Alexander's Personality?
Arrian primarily relied on the accounts of Ptolemy (Alexander's childhood friend, soldier in his army, and ruler of Egypt after Alexander's death) and Aristobulus (an engineer who worked for Alexander). Both of these men knew Alexander personally and were present for much of his campaign, unlike other contemporaries of Alexander who wrote their own accounts.
How Did Achilles Die?
This question, which I discovered on Quora last night, seems very straightforward. However, Achilles is a figure of myth, rather than history. Like many mythological figures, the stories about him evolved over time and contain discrepancies.
Did Alexander the Great Really Idolize Achilles?
Oxford historian Robin Lane Fox, whose biography of Alexander was the primary inspiration behind Oliver Stone's film Alexander, has long maintained that Alexander the Great saw himself as a kind of "new Achilles". Many other scholars agree with Fox that the myth of Achilles played a key role in Alexander's public persona and personal motivation. But are they right?
What was Alexander the Great's IQ?
Although there is no way to estimate Alexander's IQ with any degree of confidence (he obviously never took an IQ test or anything remotely similar to one), we do have plenty of clues as to his intelligence.
The 6 Leadership Secrets of Alexander the Great
While studying Alexander the Great's leadership style over the past year and half, I have come across many lists claiming to reveal the Macedonian king's secrets to success. At best, the lists I've seen are a random assortment of vague tips like "Be unsurpassed in execution" and "Encourage innovation". Hard to argue there. At worst, these lists lack any regard for historical accuracy or the modern study of leadership. So, I decided to improve on these lists with one of my own.