A. & H.

“If you were to fall, Hephaistion… I will avenge you, then follow you to the house of death.” (Alexander The Great)

After Hephaistion’s death, Alexander’s grief was uncontrollable. He ordered that manes and tails of all horses should be shorn, demolition of battlements for cities, banning of flutes and every kind of music…

He flung himself on Hephaistion’s body and lay there nearly all day long in tears, refused to be parted from him until he was dragged away by force of his Companions.

He had the doctor, Glaucias, to be executed for his lack of care.

He cut his hair short in mourning. He laid the lock of hair in the hand of Hephaistion’s corpse… made whole witnesses moved in tears.

For days after, Alexander tasted no food and paid no attention in any of his bodily needs. He lay on his bed only, crying lamentably in the silence of grief.

On the day of the funeral, he gave orders that the sacred of flame in the temple should be extinguished. Normally, this was only done on the death of the Great King himself.