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In name, they are successors of the Avengers, but in spirit, they're successors of Guardians of the Galaxy.
I'm sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but we hear about how much Hephaestion meant to Alexander all the time but never the reverse. Based on descriptions I'm inclined to believe otherwise, but how do we know they had a close mutual relationship at all? I feel like he could have also just been someone who knew how to make good use of the king's good graces.
Generally, I constantly wonder why there is so little known about him anyway? Considering that he was most likely the closest person to one of the greatest conquerors ever and ALSO had a high position in the military, it is strange to me that we know so little of him.
Why Don't We Know More about Hephaistion? (Or, one of the problems with Great Man history)
It’s not particularly strange to know so little given one important detail: Alexander didn’t outlive him by even a year.
In the Successor Wars that followed, it didn’t serve anyone to preserve his memory…especially not when they could elevate their own instead. This isn’t necessarily a matter of spite or resentment, but of simple ambition. Hephaistion was dead; he couldn’t help them. And he’d not been the king (seat of power), so elevating his memory couldn’t really help them to further their own. Unlike elevating Alexander’s memory, as their power came as a result of being his officers.
Also, we do know a fair bit about him compared to others—now virtual unknowns—who during Alexander’s lifetime were apparently pretty important individuals.
How many of you—WITHOUT racing to Google—can tell me anything about Aristonous, or Peithon? These were members of his personal bodyguard (Somatophylakes). And no, that does not make them faceless Men in Black/Secret Service. All Somatophylakes were quite highly placed Hetairoi from families as important as Hephaistion’s, maybe (probably) even more so.
Truth is, we know about those around Alexander who went on to become Successors, or who played pivotal roles in the drama (like Eumenes). Aristonous served those men instead…so you’ve never heard of him. Peithon might be slightly better known as he became a satrap, but he faded behind Seleukos and Antigonos and Perdikkas.
Even Krateros is unknown to the average person with only a passing interest in ATG. Kleitos is better known, and when I mention Krateros to non-specialists, they often confuse him with Kleitos … “Oh, is he the one Alexander killed in a drunken rage?” Nope. I couldn’t convince the Netflix people to include him even though he went on to become the second most important person in the empire at the end of Aleander’s life, after Hephaistion. From their point of view, his wasn’t a “recognizable” name.
So, I think it can sometimes help to get a sense of expectations. History written in that time was very much "Great Man" history, where the focus was on a particular individual and others would appear in the spotlight only when they walked on stage to interact with him.
As I’ve collected all ancient references to either Hephaistion or Krateros, it’s pretty clear that, even in the Roman world, Hephaistion was better-known. And he certainly had a much longer afterlife into the medieval and Renaissance worlds. The only surviving figures from the court to be remembered in greater detail were those who established dynasties of their own, such as the Ptolemies, Seleucids, and Antigonids. Or Eumenes, because Plutarch wrote a Life about him.
In the end, whatever you do won't matter if nobody remembers it--and writes about it. I'm opening my monograph on Hephaistion and Krateros with this famous line from Hamilton:
"Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?"
The poster child for that one kid who was gifted and lil bit smug about it. But then realized in adulthood all being gifted means is you're completely alone, no one cares about you as a person, you're over exposed to the worst of the worst, and you're over responsible for managing everyone else's problems while no one gives a FUUUUUUUUUUUCK about yours, but doesn't have the luxury to just completely burnout *cough* Matt *cough*
It doesn’t matter how many rounds it has taken. What matters is that it keeps moving. This is steel designed for the end of the world.
We paint vehicles, single models, and full armies. Commissions – [email protected]
Future Generations
Since I'm currently busy, here's an updated version of my older Earth-15594 piece I did, with this universe's lineup of the Young Avengers and the Champions both gathered here.
Here's the current lineups of both teams.
Young Avengers:
Harley Keener/Iron Lad
Scott Summers/Cyclops
Elijah Bradley/Patriot
Kate Bishop/Hawkeye
J.O.N.A.S./Vision
Champions:
Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
Vivian Vision
William Kaplan/Asgardian
Cassie Lang/Stinger
Hope you like it!
Hyrule's Final Stand - Masterlist
Lore and Worldbuilding
Overview (may have errors)
An Oversimplified View of ToZA's Royal Family
Hateno Village Social Makeup (TotK-era)
Wolfbred: The Affection Coded Beast Tribe
So Why Did Mipha Make the Zora Armor?
The Infected Dreamscape - Concepts and Lore from "Trial of the Zora Armor"
No Way to Forget - The Tragedy of Midna Marie Imperial
Testosterone Imbalance Disorder (Failed Mating Syndrome)
Wolfbred Social Titles
Hyrule's Caste System
Hyrule's Caste System - List of characters and their castes
Character Masterlist
Art Masterlist
The Wolfbred Chronicles - A Short Story Collection
The "Lost" Tribe - Part One - Moonlight, Markings and Musings
The "Lost" Tribe - Part Two - To Zora's Domain
Trial of the Zora Armor
TOZA Chapter One
TOZA Chapter Two
TOZA Chapter Three
TOZA Chapter Four
TOZA Chapter Five
TOZA Chapter Six
TOZA Chapter Seven
TOZA Chapter Eight
TOZA Chapter Nine
TOZA Chapter Ten
TOZA Chapter Eleven
TOZA Chapter Twelve
TOZA Chapter Thirteen
TOZA Chapter Fourteen
TOZA Chapter Fifteen
TOZA Epilogue
Saying Goodbye (readers recommend tissues...)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Successors
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Link, Wolfbred King
Chapter One
Chapter Two
One-shots and Ficlets
Khosha, Wife of Revali
Kabre's Tale
Guilty as Ganon
Guilty as Ganon - Epilogue
To Heir is Champion - Urbosa
Doctor Purah
Monthly Events (-tobers, May events, etc)
2021 Shiptober - Day 1 - Enemies
Zora May 2024 - Sentimental/Tears
Other
Link actually had knight friends (based on AoC content)
This discussion about Wolfbred lore that I'm shoving here until I get less lazy and write it down neatly in another post
Iconic Queen Zelda quote that's going here for whatever reason
Link's Social Relationships - TotK era
TotK Era Headcanons/Trivia
"Perfection" aka "Failure" the "Perfect" Ancient Wolfbred
This TotK Sage Link Idea That I Got Struck With
King Rhoam's Contrition (courtesy of @aikoiya)
Link's attempts at Hyrulean diplomacy, pt 1
King Karu's super-strength
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Yes, you are permitted to make fanart/fanfiction of anything linked above.
The Master Masterlist
