Hephaestion

Macedonian nobleman and general, best friend of Alexander the Great (c. 356–324 BC)

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Lived -356–-324, aged 32

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Wikipedia
40 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
-356–-324
Aged 32
Awards
1
recognised work

Summary

Updated 2026-06-11

Alexander the Great's closest companion and second-in-command — the friend he grew up with, shared every secret with, and compared to Patroclus. When Hephaestion died at thirty-two, Alexander petitioned an oracle to make him a god.

Biography

About

Son of Amyntor, probably of Attic or Ionian background, Hephaestion was raised alongside Alexander and remained at his side through the decade-long campaign across Asia. He commanded the Companion cavalry, led diplomatic missions, bridged rivers, oversaw sieges, and founded new settlements — soldier, engineer, and diplomat in one. Alexander appointed him Chiliarch, formalizing him as second-in-command of the empire, and married him to Drypetis, sister of Alexander's own wife and daughter of Darius III, binding him into the royal family. When he died suddenly at Ecbatana around 324 BC, Alexande…

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