Chapter 50

 

Glossary:

 

Archihypaspistes: Commander of the 3,000 hypaspists.

 

CHAPTER 50

 

About Publius Cornelius Scipio, the Africanus

209 BC Hispania

 

Long lookout towers and palisades that stretched hundreds of steps testifying the large army Publius Cornelius Scipio, at age 24, had at his command. Some 20 000 men between the veterans who fought with his father and his uncle, and fresh troops he'd bring with him from Italy [...] With these troops the whole project was a political and military suicide. But he could not do anything but continue to the end, as his father and uncle did. Continued to the end. Alexander the Great was also in his twenties when he got to the throne and set out to conquer Asia, but he, Publius, of course, was not Alexander (1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

Hephaistion felt terrible nervous while walking to where his new troops were waiting. This was his first major appointment; he never before had so many men under his command and had no idea of what he was going to do.  The army was marching to the southeast next day, but he couldn’t go without introducing himself first, he needed to start working right away, after all Ptolemaios had been dying for a week, which meant the Agema was under the command of his second in command.

 

He swallowed thinking he had under his command one thousand men of the 3 thousand that conformed the elite of the infantry. All right, one thousand wasn’t very much compared to the entire army, nonetheless, for him, was a very big group. 

 

The hypaspist were divided in 2 main groups the Agema and the Regular hypaspist. The Agema served as the King’s royal guards, their duty was to keep the King safe. “The Agema of the hypaspists was the infantry equivalent of the Ile Basilike […] The Agema, then, was regarded as separate from the main troop of the hypaspists and it was virtually always with the King”(2)

 

The regular hypaspist were under the command of Nikanor, who was no other than Parmelio’s second son, and these men were chosen for their fitness, strength and courage.

 

— I don’t understand, what’s the Agema and what’s the hypaspist? –asked Kyros the night before, while he was picking up the dishes after dinner. Achilles, who was drinking his milk, turned to see his father. He knew Hephaistion as going to do something important but he didn’t understand the rest.

 

— The Agema is the elite of the hypaspist, Kyros –explained Hephaistion, cleaning his son’s mouth—You see, when the son of a Macedonian aristocrat finishes his time as a page, he had to serve in the infantry, but not as an ordinary pezhetairoi, they served in the Agema, and they fight like the phalanx but use lighter equipment.  

 

— Oh! It sounds like something important –said the Theban excited, even more knowing that, when Glycon finished his time as page, he was going to remain in the army.

 

Of course it’s something important –said Hephaistion to himself, walking to where the Agema and the regular hypaspist had their tents inside the camp. The Agema was divided in 8 groups and each of these groups known as tetrarchia were in charge of the King’s security on different days. In order words, Alexander had put Hephaistion in charge of his own security and above the youth of the Macedonian aristocracy.

 

Nikanor received him with a gentle smile on his face. Technically Nikanor’s men had no relation with the Agema, but he went to meet Hephaistion as a courtesy. He was Parmelio’s second son, only 2 years younger than Philotas, he had now 25 years old. Hephaistion had only seen him a couple of times in the royal palace at Pella, and had no idea of what kind of person was he.

 

But judging of what he had seen of Parmelio and Philotas he didn’t expected anything good.

 

— I think we have never spoken before –said Nikanor. He was blond like his older brother; the same blue eyes but he had a very kind face and a gentle nature. His hair was slightly wavy, reaching his jaw.

 

And watching Nikanor’s wavy hair, made Hephaistion think that maybe it was because of this that Philotas had that military style. He almost laughed imaging Philotas with abundant blond, long wavy hair. 

 

— No, I don’t think so –said Hephaistion politely—I’ve spent more time with your brother. 

 

Nikanor nodded.

 

— He talks a lot about you –those words caught the General’s curiosity, but Philotas’ brother didn’t say more—It’s a pity what happened to Ptolemaios –he changed the subject.

 

— Yes, it is.

 

— I heard you are now a Somatophylax, congratulations –his words were sincere and Hephaistion smiled.

 

You don’t seem to understand the importance of my new status. Let me explain this, there were only 7 Somatophylakes and the appointment was for life. I don’t have to tell you that very few in their life reached this position, it was the equivalent for a Roman in the time of the Republic, of becoming a consul, it was the culmination of your political career, the end of our very own Cursus Honorum.

 

— Thank you –said Hephaistion, he was feeling more comfortable now—It was all too soon. 

 

— My father wanted me to be in charge of the Agema.

 

— I…I’m sorry –Nikanor stooped walking and turned to see him, he was confused.

 

— Sorry? About what?

 

What am I saying? –thought Hephaistion.

 

— You have been the archihypaspistes, the commander in charge of the regular hypaspist since we arrived to Asia, I think you should have replaced Ptolemaios –it was the truth.

 

Of course Hephaistion was happy with his promotion. His brother, grandfather, uncle and cousin were delighted, and they had urged him to write to his father to tell him the news; he was the first one in his family to have such an important title. He was one of the Seven, the Somatophilakes, and also in charge of the Agema. But…why was he promoted? He felt again as if he were 16 years old, in Byzantium with King Philip, and he heard the King’s words very clearly in his head…

 

— If I were to treat you like any other Macedonian boy of your age you would never be in my staff meetings or in the Ile Basilike, not now not ever –said Philip coldly—You have all the right to be in the hetairoi cavalry because of your family, but nothing more. You are not a good soldier and you are clumsy in the battlefield.

 

Now, he was a good soldier, a good warrior, he wasn’t clumsy anymore in the battlefield but…was he really a good commander? Did he deserved to be in charge of the Agema?…

 

Alexander is right, I think too much –he said to himself. 

 

Nikanor smiled.

 

— I have seen you fight –he said—You are an outstanding warrior, I don’t mind if you are in charge.

 

— Thank you –Hephaistion felt better now. Nikanor was truly a very nice person, who would have thought that?

 

When Hephaistion arrive at the place were the Agema had its tents, his second in command, a veteran man named Dismas, who had fight under the orders of King Philip, had the Agema ready for him.

 

— How long did you fight with General Ptolemaios? –asked Hephaistion feeling very uncomfortable. Dismas son of Eleon had the same age of his father, 51 years old, and was also part of the Macedonian aristocracy. And he, at his young age, was his superior, honestly, how could Alexander do this? Hephaistion was used to respect his elders and now he had to give orders to a man like his father.

 

— 6 years, sir –said Dismas, his face revealing nothing. Hephaistion couldn’t tell if he was angry, upset, happy, tired…he had no idea—I met General Ptolemaios in Byzantium and fought with him at Chaeronea.

 

Byzantium! That’s why his face was so familiar –thought the General. Dismas was in King Philip’s military meetings— Oh, how embarrassing; he must know I was there at my 16 years old because the King was obsessed with me.  

 

— I see –for a second he didn’t know what else to say—How is the status of the Agema? 

 

— We are a little under strength, sir –said Dismas, without changing his professional tone of voice— At the beginning of the campaign we were one thousand, now we are 924. We lost several men at Halicarnassus.

 

— Well, lets hope in spring we can receive some reinforcements –Hephaistion smiled, but Dismas kept the same serious expression.

 

Oh, this is going to be tough –thought Hephaistion. 

 

XXX

 

Thais wasn’t going to give up. She had 2 days looking around Halicarnassus for her father without rest. She had asked all kind of people and visited the different houses that served as hospitals for the Macedonian, Greek and Persian wounded. She and Sophonisba had been walking all day; the Numidian’s feet hurt and she was very hungry, when they finally arrived to the last house.

 

— Are you sure this is the place? –asked the hetaira, watching the shabby facade. The fire hadn’t reached this zone but the house looked in a very bad state. 

 

— Yes, one of the guards told me –said her slave and Thais nodded.

 

If her father wasn’t here, then, he had escaped with Memnon. After all she had already looked among the dead. Thais always looked for Lykaon first among the dead, she thought it was easy this way, if her father was dead then she wanted to know as soon as possible, not start looking for him with a false hope only to find he was long dead.

 

— Excuse me –Thais asked one of the slaves in charge of the improvised hospital, a very young man carrying a bucket with reddish water. Sophonisba felt her knees trembled and she decided to wait outside. The Numidian felt sick when she saw blood, and only Baal knew how difficult had been for her to help doctor Philip after the battle at the Granicus River—I’m looking for a man named Lykaon son of Codros.

 

— I am Lykaon, miss –said a strong voice behind her.

 

Thais opened her eyes as big and round as jewels, shining with excitement, her heart beat faster and her hands trembled while she turned, slowly, to find the face of her father. He was sitting on a bed with a dressing around his right leg. It was her father, as she remembered him, with the obvious changes on his face that came along with the age.

 

Thais took her hands to her mouth and felt the tears sliding through her cheeks. Lykaon for his part was speechless, for a moment he thought the ghost of her late wife was in front of him, then, he recognized this beautiful woman, the same eyes and hair color as he.

 

— Thais… —he said without voice and his daughter ran to embrace him.

 

The hetaira cried for a long time, thanking all the Gods in silence for this gift, finally she had seen her father again.

 

Everything went according to Alexander’s plans. Parmelio left Halicarnassus before us, Ptolemy stayed behind with an extremely happy Thais and part of the troops, and Alexander and the rest of the army continued our journey and crossed the Dalaman River.

 

Leonnatos, for his part, tried to convince my sister to go back to Macedonia, but…

 

— Eni, I talked with Alexander –has said Leonnatos—I have permission to go back with you and the kids; we are going to travel with Koinos and the group of men that are going to spend the winter back home.

 

— And then what? –that question threw Leonnatos off balance—After the winter, are you coming back? –her gray eyes shone expectant.

 

Her husband sighed.

 

— You know I have to come back…but we can spend winter together at home –for Leonnatos was a perfectly and reasonably plan, but Berenike shook her head.

 

— No, if you are going to stay so do I –she said stubbornly.

 

— Eni, please –Leonnatos tried to convince her—You already put yourself and the kids in danger at Halicarnassus.

 

— But now I’m with you and the army –said his wife, as if that solved everything.

 

— But it’s dangerous!

 

— Leonnatos, if you insist in sending me back to Macedonia –said Berenike, in the same tone her brother Hephaistion used when he was determined—I’ll come back to Asia, I swear it by all the Gods.

 

Leonnatos gave up and Berenike, her children and, of course, grandpa stayed.

 

We continued our journey. Thanks to Nearchus we took Telmessus without a fight and then we crosses the Xanthus River. Many towns surrendered to my King and as we advance we lost complete contact with Parmelio. Our communication lines were terrible and weeks had to pass before we could get word from him. But when we received a message from the old general was something we didn’t expected…

 

— He has a cold –said doctor Philip after checking little Achilles in his tent.

 

Hephaistion ran a hand through his face.

 

— A cold? –he asked as if he didn’t know what was that.

 

— How is he traveling? –asked the doctor and the boy coughed.

 

— On a wagon with my sister –Hephaistion explained.

 

It had been difficult at first but now he was getting used to Achilles. Since he didn’t want a slave, he left Achilles with Kyros, now that he was a Somatophilax he inherited Ptolemaios 3 pages, which made things easier. Kyros and Achilles traveled with the camp followers, at the end of the army near the baggage train, with Berenike, her children, Netikerty and grandfather Demetrios.  

 

His uncle Althaimenes and his cousin Demetrios had gone with Parmelio, and Nikandros had stayed with the rest of the hetairoi cavalry.

 

Berenike had agreed to help her brother in anyway she could, but Hephaistion didn’t want to be a nuisance and went everyday to see his son, when he could, they ate together and slept together, and every day he liked his son even more, he was a sweet and clever boy easy to love…but 2 days ago Achilles had started coughing and now he was sick. No surprise there, the weather was pretty cold since Alexander made them march near the mountains. 

 

— I know it’s difficult, General –said doctor Philip—But this boy needs to be warm, you should make an offering to Asclepius, and –the doctor looked inside his trunk until he found a small leather bag with flax seeds—Give him this, it will help with the cough –Hephaistion took the bag—You should take good care of this boy, he is too young and they are very vulnerable, half the children at his age died before they are 10 years old –Achilles coughed again.  

 

— Thank you, I will take care of him –answered a very worried Hephaistion.     

 

When Hephaistion left the doctor’s tent he had Achilles wrapped in a blanket, and the boy rested his head on his shoulder, with his little fist close to his mouth. The General sighed; this whole thing of being a father was more difficult than being in charge of the Agema. Hephaistion knew as much about children as he knew about rocket science; he only knew they were like small persons that somehow later became adults. How was he going to know they were so vulnerable?

 

— General! –Hephaistion saw Glycon running directly to him, under a thick fur cloak—General, please forgive my manners, but the King wants to see you. He said is urgent, sir.

 

Hephaistion hesitated for a moment, he wanted to go back to his tent and leave Achilles before going to see Alexander, but Glycon’s expression told him something really important had happened. He decided to go with the page to the King’s tent.

 

The army was camping only for that day and had orders to continue the march at dawn, and as he walked, he saw that some men took this brief opportunity to rest to take care of their equipment, others were sleeping under a very weak sunray and others were making bets while playing dice.

 

Two members of the Agema were at the King’s tent on guard duty, and when they saw their commander they saluted. Hephaistion was really trying to remember all their names but was starting to give up; he would never know how Alexander did it. He couldn’t with almost one thousand names and the King seemed to know the entire army.

 

Inside, he found Alexander pacing around with a letter in his hand, and Peritas comfortably sleeping on the King’s bed, curled up.

 

— Bad news? –he asked, changing the child’s weight from one arm to the other.

 

— Parmelio sent me this –said the King without preambles, showing him the letter—Along with a Persian prisoner, a man named Sisines. 

 

— Why? –Hephaistion took the letter; since Achilles arrived he was getting good in doing things just with one hand.

 

— What happened to Aki? –asked Alexander, while his best friend was reading.

 

— He has a cold –Hephaistion answered absently. The boy lifted his eyes and when he saw the King he smiled; he liked his uncle, he was always telling him stories about a hero named Achilles. The King had told him this great hero was their ancestor, along with a demigod named Herakles.

 

And Alexander had the time of his life having Achilles so interested in everything he said. The boy was fascinated with Achilles and had said, for his uncle utterly delight, that he too would be a great hero.    

 

— A cold? Why? Is not freezing here –said Alexander, taking his hand to the boy’s forehead to see if he had fever.

 

— Well Alex, apparently kids are more susceptible to the cold than we are… what do you think about this? –said Hephaistion returning the attention to the letter—Do you really think that Alejandro, the Lyncestian, is plotting with Darius? 

 

— Parmelio is sure about it –said the King hearing Achilles cough— Give me boy –Alexander carried Achilles—That’s why he is sending this Persian, according to him, Sisines is the living proof that Alejandro is planning to betray me.

 

— Did you interrogate Sisines? 

 

— Not yet, I was waiting for you. Did you take Aki to doctor Philip? –Alexander asked, checking the boy. He had studied medicine with Aristotle back in Mieza. Usually, the great philosopher had taught the same lessons to Alexander and the rest of the boys, but there were some lessons that he exclusively had given to the Crown Prince.  

 

— Yes, he said Aki must stayed in a warm place and eat flax seeds for the cough –he omitted the part about the offering to the Gods– And where is the Persian prisoner? –asked Hephaistion.

 

— Outside, with my guards.

 

They left Achilles with Glycon, the King instructed his page to give the boy the flax seed with honey, the little honey they had left. Achilles was very happy to be left with Peritas, he loved that dog and the dog liked him too. Then, they went to see the prisoner.

 

The Persian was a young man in his mid twenties and he swore to have been the messenger between the Great King and Alejandro of Lyncestis. 

 

— He says that Alejandro wrote a letter to the Great King –said the interpreter—Offering him his services, and the Great King promised him one thousand gold talents and, his full support to get to the Macedonian throne, if he assassinates you, sire. 

 

— Ask him, where are these letters –Alexander was calm, analyzing the whole situation from every possible angle. This whole business was very suspicious and he needed to use all his astuteness. 

 

The interpreter asked and the Persian shook his head speaking quickly. He was very nervous.

 

— Sire, he says Alejandro destroyed the letters in his presence after reading them.

 

— And what about the message he had when General Parmelio’s guards captured him? –asked the King. Sisines spoke calmer this time.

 

— He says it was a verbal message, sire –explained the interpreter.

 

— How convenient –whispered Hephaistion, he didn’t like this either.

 

— Take him out of here –ordered the King and he went back to his tent with his best friend—What do you think? –he asked when they were far enough to be heard.

 

— I think we don’t have a solid proof that Alejandro is plotting to kill you, therefore you can’t take a strong action against him, but you can’t ignore this either –said his best friend—Alejandro is Antipater’s son-in-law, you can’t offend your Regent but you can’t ignore your father’s oldest General’s letter. 

 

Alexander took his hands to his hips, and puffed out. 

 

— I can’t stop thinking that Parmelio has something to do with this –he said, his uneven eyes on the sky—He was angry when I chose you to be in charge of the Agema, and Alejandro is the leader of the Thracian cavalry. I bet you he wants to put one of his own men in that position.

 

— Maybe… —Hephaistion couldn’t avoid remembering Nikanor, he was kind and honest, so different from his father.

 

— This is what I’m going to do –said Alexander after a while—I’m going to put Alejandro under arrest, pending an investigation, and sent Erigyios to Parmelio to take Alejandro’s place.

 

— Clever, that way he can’t appoint anyone to that position –said Hephaistion, approving the plan. 

 

— Tell me something, Phai –said the King suddenly serious—Do you think Alejandro is trying to kill me?

 

— As I said, we don’t have proofs…

 

— Forget proofs –the King interrupted him— What does your instincts say? 

 

Hephaistion took a moment to think, this was a delicate matter, and for him, it was an especially important one. They were talking about a plan to assassinate Alexander, HIS Alex. Many Macedonian Kings had died assassinated, but Hephaistion vowed that he would protect Alexander with his life.

 

Not my King –he said to himself—He would not died assassinated, no matter what I have to do to protect him. 

 

— No, I don’t think so –he said at last—His brothers died accused of being part of the conspiracy to kill your father. Why would he risk everything? He is doing great with you in charge.

 

Alexander nodded. And that conversation remind Hephaistion that they never knew who had killed King Philip; he had his own suspicious and he was almost sure that Olympias was the culprit even if Alexander doubted it, but he didn’t have any proof. Who had been behind that crime? 

 

— Phai, I want to talk to you about something else –he said changing the subject, and taking his best friend out of his thoughts.

 

— About what?

 

— About Aki –that took Hephaistion by surprise, he had expected something about the Agema or regarding the army—I think he must have a tutor.

 

— Alex, he is 3 years old –said his best friend, recovering for his initial surprise. For weeks he had noted that the King’s fascination with his son instead of decreasing it was increasing every day. He was very happy to see that Alexander loved his son, but he was also worried. Many people was angry and insulted because of his promotion, and he didn’t wanted his son to be the target of that lot of detractors—At that age I was picking up snails with Nick in our garden, for mom’s utterly displeasure.

 

— Well, I have a tutor since I was very young –the King insisted—In fact, now that I think of it, I had many tutors.

 

— Yes, but you were the Crown Prince.

 

— And Aki is a prince –that left Hephaistion speechless.

 

— What? –for a moment, the General thought he had not heard it correctly.

 

— He is my nephew –said Alexander as if that explained everything.

 

— He is my illegitimate son –said Hephaistion, making an especial emphasis in the word “illegitimate”— I would have to be married with Cleopatra to consider him a Macedonian prince.

 

— Well, whatever, the point is I want him to have a tutor –said Alexander as if his best friend had said nothing—I’m going to ask Kallisthenes to teach him.

 

This is going too far –thought Hephaistion, but he had to admit the King had a point, after all Achilles didn’t know Greek and his Macedonian was very bad thanks to have been living in a town at Illyria. Besides, he was a very curious boy and was always asking about everything, a tutor would be great for him, and who was better to teach him that Aristotle’s nephew? 

 

— Fine, do it –said his best friend, sighing.

 

— And I was thinking that Kleitos should train him –Alexander continued.

 

— What are you talking about? –now Hephaistion was lost.

 

— I have Leonidas training me when I was a kid, you told me your father hired a Spartan to train you and Nick, so why not let Kleitos train Aki? –said Alexander.

 

— Why would the hipparch of the Ile Basilike want to train MY son? –asked his best friend as if he hadn’t heard nothing more ridiculous. 

 

— MY nephew –Hephaistion puffed out, it was pointless to discuss with the King—I give up –Alexander smiled.

 

— Great! I’ll tell Kleitos…I think he should start training when he is 6, I started at that age –said Alexander, his mind racing.

 

Hephaistion shook his head, smiling. They were about to enter the King’s tent, when he took Alexander by the arm.

 

— Alex, I also want to ask you something –he said changing the subject. 

 

— Hm? –the King stopped and turned to see him.

 

— Why did you choose me to be the leader of the Agema? –he had weeks with that question buzzing in his head, and until now he found the opportunity to ask—Dismas has years being the second in command, you could have promoted him. 

 

— I thought it was obvious why I chose you –Alexander blinked in confusion—The Agema is in charge of my security, I need to have near me a man I can trust with my life. What better commander than you to take care of me?

 

Hephaistion blushed. He should have thought about that before, the King was right, of course he was right, and that made him immensely happy. He had taken and oath to always protect Alexander and now he was in the right place to do it. 

 

XXX

 

That night Hephaistion barely slept. Achilles coughed almost all night and he was awake watching over him. It was until he had the idea of sitting with the boy on his legs and started rubbing his back, that Achilles finally stopped coughing and fell asleep leaning against his chest. He yawned and he feared he would fall asleep in that position, when he heard a noise outside. For a moment he thought were the guards, but then he heard that noise again and his instincts told him he was in danger.

 

He gently put Achilles on the bed and took his sword, the one he always had at the side of his bed. He saw a shadow entering his tent with stealth worthy of a cat, without making a sound. Hephaistion decided to pretend to be asleep, and remained lying motionless on his bed, watching every movement of the intruder. He heard the soft sound of the flaps of the tent and knew a second intruder had come in. 

 

The shadows moved to his bed and when one of them bent over him, he punched him hard on the face, while standing up. The intruder screamed and his companion rushed to help him. But he was too slow; Hephaistion took his sword and pierced his side, kicked him and, when the first man tried to attack him again he kicked him on the chest sending him flying to the other extreme of the tent, breaking the furniture.

 

The commotion woke Achilles up, who immediately sat and called his father. The man with the wounded side saw the boy, but before he could even think of approaching him, Hephaistion hit him on the head with the hilt of the sword, knocking him unconscious.

 

— Daddy? –asked the boy with apprehension.

 

— I’m here –Hephaistion walked to him and Achilles jumped at him like a small monkey, with his arms behind his father’s neck and legs around his body.

 

Hephaistion lit his oil lamp. Two men dressed in the most peculiar black outfits he had even seen, where laying on his tent’s floor.

 

— Kyros! –he called the Theban, fearing the strangers had done something to him. When Kyros didn’t answer, Hephaistion went to check his bed, and found a couple of pillows arranged in a way that looked as if someone was sleeping there.

 

Hephaistion smiled. He had noticed that the Theban used to sneak out at night to see Glycon when he wasn’t on duty, but he hadn’t say anything to not embarrassed him. 

 

— Daddy, what happened? –asked Achilles scared, while his father walked outside, his right hand on the sword, ready in case more enemies were waiting for him, and his left hand on his son’s back.

 

— Shush –said Hephaistion gently—It’s all right –he whispered—It’s all right.

 

He opened the tent’s flaps with the blade and outside found his guards dead. He cursed. He knew them and seeing their immobile silhouettes in the dark hurt his heart, these were now his men. He took a deep breath and tried to put his feelings aside to see things more clearly.

 

The sounds he had heard were of the intruders killing his guards; they had acted in completely stealth because his men didn’t even have time to scream. Hephaistion put his left hand of his son’s head, he didn’t want the boy to see this macabre spectacle, and with his blade moved the guards’ clothes. They only had one precise cut across their throat.

 

Clever –thought Hephaistion. It was fast, it was clean and that prevented them from screaming. Which told him these intruders were no amateurs.      

 

He went back to his tent and sat Achilles on Kyros’ bed.

 

— Stay here –said Hephaistion and the boy just saw him with his eyes wide open.

 

The intruders were unconscious but very much alive; the one with the wounded side was loosing blood but nothing too serious. Hephaistion cut his sheet and tied the men back to back on the floor. He needed to call someone but he didn’t want to leave these men alone. He closed his eyes thinking what to do now, and when he opened them he saw Achilles staring at him, his hands clutching the blankets. 

 

— Aki, I need you to do something –he said as softly as he could in that circumstances—Go to Alexander’s tent and bring him here.

 

He didn’t want to send his son and certainly he didn’t want to bother the King, but Achilles only knew how to get to Alexander’s tent, he would never find Leonnatos or his brother Nikandros.

 

— Understood? –Achilles moved his head up and down—Good boy.

 

Hephaistion covered the child with a fur cloak, wrapped him from head to toe, and tied his sandals over his thick socks. He gave his son the oil lamp and then Achilles went outside.

 

XXX

 

(1) Santiago Posteguillo. Africanus, the Consul’s Son, p 593

(2) Waldemar Heckel. The Marshals of Alexander’s Empire, p 226 and 227.