ceramic painting of Alexander and Hephastion
This ceramic painting shows Alexander and Hephastion going for a morning ride, probably about a year or two after Alexander has acquired his legendary horse Bucephalus, thus while they are both in mid-teens. I was not able to get the fine detail in the faces, as this is difficult to do with glazes. The horses came out well, with Bucephalus as the more spirited , and with Alexander's seat very relaxed and quite what Xenophon would have recomended.
Below I will put the drawing from which this plate was planned. Bucephalus is usually described as black with a triangular "oxhead" marking on his forehead. Both horses are a bit more modern than the classic Parthenon horses and both seem more comfortable with their riders. Alexander of course must have been a keen observer of horse behavior if there is any truth to the story of his "taming" of Bucephalus. Some writers suggest that this was a favorite dinner story of Alexander's and that over the years it may have had some drama enhanced in the telling and re-telling.
I'd like to do this scene on canvas with the addition of space to show a couple of dogs frolicing along and a pair of swans in the background. Swans were considered symbolic of couple fidelity and Alexander and Hephastion exemplified the Greek ideal in this regard.
drawing of Alexander and Hephastion

SITE INDEX BOUVIER RESCUE DOG CARE
PUPPY REARING TRAINING PROBLEMS WORKING DOGS
BOOKS VERSE IMAGES MISCELLANEOUS
site author Pam Green copyright 2003
created 10/24/2010 revised 10/24/2010
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