The long, slow journey into the light
Do not go my love without asking my leave, I have watched you all night
and now my eyes are heavy with sleep, lest I loose you whilst I am sleeping, so do not go my love without asking my leave
- Khalil Gibran
Author: Laurensis
Notes: This is more historically inspired by Arrian, Plutarch, Lane Fox and Green. Also the Lebanese
(Tyre in Alexander's time) poet/philosopher Gibran and Oliver Stone's movie.
Foreword:
A lot has been written in this Website about Hephaistions death some of which from Alexander's point of view. This is my take on Alexander's "omminium amicorum carissimus" dearest of all friends as the historian Curtius describes him. Historians Plutarch, Diodorus, Curtius and Arrian quoting extant sources all agree that Alexanders grief over Hephaistion's death was tremendous. This story is written from the points of view of those who historically or otherwise have been closest to Alexander, how the death of his beloved Hephaistion affected him and what the possible reactions were to his death and Alexander's enormous grief.
Reading the historical sources, I do to agree with some historians when they state that Perdiccas enjoyed a close relationship with the Alexander and Hephaistion. Consider: It was Perdiccas that Alexander sent with Hephaistion on various missions. The same Perdiccas who conducted Hephaistion's funeral cortege to Babylon and was appointed by Alexander as the dead man's successor in the post of Chiliarch and gave his royal seal (ring) to.
Glossary of Terms (in accordance of how they appear in the story):
Chiliarch - Persian title of office, Vice-Regent, 2nd in command after a King
Ahura Mazda "Lord of Wisdom" -Supreme god of the ancient Babylonians, creator of the heavens and earth
Hyperberetaios - in the ancient Macedonian calendar, the moon of September
Honeycakes - in ancient Macedonia a sweet treat made from roasted barley flour,nuts and honey
Somatophylakes - Bodyguards in ancient Macedonia during Phillip and Alexander's time
Daimon - a spirit of lowly order, a felt but unseen presence the connotation has it's origins probably from Plato and Xenocrates
Chiton - tunic of ancient greeks made of a rectangular cloth of wool fastened by pins (fibulae)
Atropos - one of the three goddesses of Fate in greek mythology, cutter of a human beings thread of life
Elysium or Elysian Fields - in Greek mythology home of the gods and divine heroes
Achilles and Patroclus - Heroes of Homer's Iliad. Achilles was the son of Thethys and Zeus, Patroclus was
His faithful friend, lover and partner
Gynnis - an effeminate man, in ancient Greece a man who receives a kiss from another man (as opposed
To one who initiates a kiss-which was nit considered unmanly)
Pothos - a longing, in Alexander's context ever to be the best
Shade - spirit of the dead
Cuirass - body armour that covers the chest and the back
Thanatos - in Greek mythology god of death and brother of Hypnos (god of sleep)
The Indus - third largest river in the Indian subcontinent. Originates in the Tibetan plateau and runs thru India ( states of Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Balgistan) and Pakistan
Greaves - part of an army uniform in ancient Greece use to protect the lower leg and knees. Made of flexible metal lined with felt or layer of cloth.
Cubit - a unit of measurement in ancient times. The Greek cubit was about 474.2mm or 18.6 inches.
Stadia - foot racecourses in ancient Greece. They varied in length from 183 to 192 metres.
Dirge - a lamentation for the dead that is sung.
Aesclepios - Greek god of Medicine and Healing.
Zoroaster (greek: Zarathusthra) - founder of the religion of Zoroastrianism. The religion was widely practice in ancient Persia
Knucklebones - forerunner of today's "jack stone" game. In ancient times was played with the knucklebones of sheep.
Gorpiaios - in the ancient greek calendar the month of August (Louos in ancient Macedonia)
Talent - a unit of currency in the ancient Hellenistic world (1 gold talent =around US$965,000., 1 silver talent = around US$2.8 million. stand: May08)
Quinquiriemes - an oar-propelled warship used during the hellenic period. It had a complement of 300 oarsmen, 120 sailors and 50 crew.
Himeros - desire for earthly things, as opposed to, desire to attain loft ideals (Pothos)
Krater - a huge mostly intricately decorated fired clay vase which was glazed mostly on its inside
used by the ancient greeks to mix their wine with water
Ptah, - ancient Egyptian god of creation, rebirth an craftsmen.
Ra ( also Re) - Egyptian sun god, became a major deity in the 5th dynasty
Toth - Moon god, also god of writing and magic in ancient Egypt
Khnnum - in ancient Egypt god of the source of the river Nile, creator of childen
Apellaios - the month of November
Eiar - the season of spring
Agora - the square. A place where merchants set up their stalls
Xandica - a spring festival
Kyathion - a small jar
Hades - God of the underworld