Bahm Karl. Berlin 1945: The Final Reckoning
Подождите немного. Документ загружается.
― 401 ―
result of capture in Cyprus. He first appears as an officer of Antigonos in late 313,
when he was in charge of a fleet summoned by Antigonos from Phoenicia to Karia,
and on the way met and routed some ships of Kassandros's (Diod. XIX 69,3). In the
next year he was Antigonos's main admiral in the Aegean, involved in the capture of
Miletos and sailing to and fro between Asia Minor and Greece in connection with the
campaigns of Telesphoros and Polemaios in Greece, and of Antigonos himself at the
Hellespont (Diod. XIX 75,3–4; 75,7–8; 77, 2–5.
An Athenian inscription of 303/2 (IG II
2
498: archonship of Leostratos) honors
Medeios, recording that he had in some way benefited the Athenians while with King
Antigonos in earlier times (proteronte : lines 6–9), which perhaps indicates that he
was at Antigonos's court in 307/6, and helped the Athenian embassy that came to
Antigonos then (Diod. XX 46,4). In 306 he was again active as an admiral, this time
under the supreme command of Demetrios at the battle of Salamis; he commanded
the front rank of the left wing of Demetrios's fleet, where Demetrios himself was also
stationed (Diod. XX 50,3). Indeed, it is plausibly conjectured by Hauben (below) that
Medeios was Antigonos's chief admiral throughout the period 313–304. He
accompanied Antigonos and Demetrios on their abortive expedition against Egypt
later in 306 (Plut. Dem. 19), and in 304 was sent by Antigonos with Demetrios to
liberate Greece, as the Athenian decree honoring him tells us (IG II
2
498, lines 10—
end). There survives also an inscription from Gonnoi in Thessaly honoring Medeios,
probably from the years 294–87, when Demetrios was king of Macedon, which would
indicate that Medeios remained loyal to Demetrios after Ipsos (Habicht, Arch. Mak. ,
1:265–69). There is, finally, a reference to a book by Medeios of a historical or
geographical nature (Strabo XI 530, on the origin of the name "Armenia"), which
indicates that Medeios shared the literary interests of other members of Antigonos's
court such as Hieronymos and Marsyas.
Further reading . F. Geyer, RE s.v. Medios, no. 2; Berve, no. 521; FGrH, no.
129; Hornblower, Hieronymus, pp. 126–30; Hauben, Vlootbevelhebberschap, pp. 60–
69, 110–17, 127.
69. MEDON, son of—–ras
Sources . Matthaiou, Horos 4 (1986):19–23.
Career . A recently published Athenian inscription from 304/3 (archonship of
Pherekles) preserves a decree honoring Medon for aiding the safety of Athens and
freedom of the Greeks while serving as a general under "the kings" (i.e., Antigonos
and Demetrios), and
― 402 ―
specifically records that he was sent by "the king" (i.e., Demetrios) to report on the
capture of the Attic frontier forts from Kassandros and Pleistarchos (lines 18–22; cf.
Plut. Demetrios 23, 1–3). The inscription breaks off at this point, so it is not known
what honors were accorded Medon. Lines 10–14 state that Medon's father
(Themistagoras? Pleistagoras?) also benefited Athens, but whether or not as an
Antigonid official is unclear.
Further reading . None.
70. MELESIPPOS, son of Bakkhios, Boiotian from Plataia
Sources. I. Ephesos, 6, no. 2003.
Career . Melesippos was honored with citizenship by the Ephesians, having
proved himself a public benefactor while at the court of Queen Phila, Demetrios's wife.
This was probably ca. 306–301, when Phila had her court in Asia Minor; and
Melesippos would, like Demarchos (no. 28 above), have been in Antigonid employ
assigned to Phila's service.
Further reading . Robert, Hellenica, 2:17 n. 1.
71. MENANDROS, son of Charikles (?), Macedonian
Sources . Arrian Anab. III 6,7–8; IV 13,7; VII 23,1; 24,1; Curtius VI 6,35; X
10,2; Arrian Met' Alex. 1,6; 1,26; 25,2; Diodoros XVIII 3,1; 59, 1–2; Plutarch Eum.
9; Justin XIII 4,15; Athenaios VI 245a; Ps.-Kallisthenes III 31,8; Epitome Mettensis
(ed. Thomas) 97–98; Pliny NH XXXV 93; Syll., no. 302.
Career . Menandros was one of the most senior officers and Companions in
Alexander's army at the crossing into Asia in 334, commanding the 5,000 mercenary
troops in the expeditionary force. This command he held until 331, when he was sent
from Phoenicia to take over as satrap of Lydia (Arrian Anab. III 6,7–8), and it was
doubtless while he was satrap of Lydia that he had his portrait painted by Apelles
(Pliny NH XXXV 93). He remained satrap of Lydia for the rest of Alexander's reign (cf.
Syll., no. 302, which is dated by the eleventh year of Alexander and the satrapy of
Menandros); during this time he despatched reinforcements to Alexander (Curt. VI
6,35), and in 323 he led a further body of reinforcements to Alexander in Babylon
(Arrian Anab. VII 23,1; 24,1). He was in Babylon at the time of Alexander's death,
and is reputed to have been present at Alexander's last banquet (Ps.-Kall. III 31,8;
Epit. Met. 97–98). The Charikles who helped to disclose to Alexander the Pages'
conspiracy, was the son of a Menandros (Arrian Anab. IV 13,7). If this was our
Menandros, by Greek custom his father's name too may have been Charikles.
― 403 ―
After the death of Alexander, Menandros was confirmed as satrap of Lydia by the
conference of Babylon (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,6; Diod. XVIII 3,1; Curt. X 10,2; Just. XIII
4,15). He appears to have become disillusioned with Perdikkas, perhaps as a result of
friendship with Antigonos, for when Antigonos returned from his flight to Europe and
landed in Asia Minor with a small force in 320, Menandros promptly sided with him
and warned him of Eumenes' presence in Sardis intriguing with Alexander's sister
Kleopatra (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,26; 25,2). Nevertheless, he was not continued as
satrap of Lydia at the Triparadeisos conference, being replaced by Kleitos (Berve
wrongly assumes that he died). Instead, he remained in the entourage of Antigonos,
becoming one of his most trusted officers. At the battle of Orkynia against Eumenes in
319, Menandros commanded Antigonos's rearguard and baggage, and was nearly
surprised by Eumenes' defeated troops, who eluded Antigonos and doubled back after
their retreat (Plut. Eum. 9).
In 318, after Eumenes had tricked his way out of the siege of Nora and was
gathering new forces in Kappadokia, Menandros was sent with an army to prevent a
revival of Eumenes' power there and to capture him if possible. As it happened,
Eumenes had warning of Menandros's approach and moved away to Kilikia.
Menandros arrived three days too late and, after pursuing the laggards among
Eumenes' supporters, returned to Kappadokia (Diod. XVIII 59,1–2). Evidently
Menandros had been made general over Kappadokia by Antigonos, for he seems to
have remained there while Antigonos himself pursued Eumenes eastwards. When
Antigonos returned from the east in 315, he found Kappadokia under attack by
Kassandros's general Asklepiodoros, and sent his nephew Polemaios to reestablish
order there; apparently Menandros had meanwhile died, perhaps in 317 or 316, for
nothing is ever heard of him again.
Further reading . F. Geyer, RE s.v., no. 5; Berve, no. 501.
72. MITHRIDATES (of Kios), son of Ariobarzanes, Persian
Sources . Diodoros XVI 90,2; XX 111,4.
Career . This man is commonly known as Mithridates II of Kios, son of
Ariobarzanes of Kios. The family apparently ruled a small principality on the cost of
the Sea of Marmara around Kios and Myrlea, to which Mithridates succeeded on his
father's death in 337 (Diod. XVI 90,2). Presumably they were descendants of the
Ariobarzanes who was satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia from ca. 387 until his death ca.
362, for we hear that they were of the highest Persian nobility, from one of the seven
great families (see Herodotos III 84;
― 404 ―
Diod. XIX 40,2 referring to the nephew of the present Mithridates, no. 73 below).
Mithridates ruled the principality for thirty-five years from 337 (Diod. XVI 90,2; XX
111,4); there is no evidence linking him to Alexander, either for or against; in 316 his
nephew was in Eumenes' army at Gabiene (Diod. XIX 40,2). During Antigonos's rule
over Asia Minor, 315–302, Mithridates evidently recognized Antigonos's suzerainty, for
his nephew was at Antigonos's court (Plut. Demetrios 4), and he is himself described
as "subject to Antigonos" (uphkooVwn'Antigonwi : Diod. XX 111,4). However,
when Lysimachos invaded Asia Minor in 302 Mithridates was suspected by Antigonos
of contemplating treachery and executed (Diod. XX 111,4).
Further reading . F. Geyer, RE s.v., no. 6; Hornblower, Hieronymus, pp. 243–45.
73. MITHRIDATES (Ktistes), son of Ariobarzanes, Persian
Sources . Diodoros XIX 40,2; XX 111,4; Plutarch Demetrios 4; Appian
Mithridatika 9; Trogus Prologues 17; Polyainos VII 29,2; Plutarch Mor. 183a;
[Loukianos] Makrobioi 13; Memnon in FGrH, no. 434 Fs 7,2; 9,4; Apollonios in FGrH,
no. 740 F 14; Strabo XII 562.
Career . Nephew of Mithridates of Kios, this Mithridates is commonly called
Mithridates Ktistes (Founder) from the fact that he founded the kingdom of Pontos. He
is described by Plutarch (Dem. 4) as being a coeval of Demetrios
(etairoVkaq'hlikian ), but this is probably a slight exaggeration: he died in 266
(Diod. XX 111,4: he ruled thirty-six years after his uncle died in 302) at the age of 84
([Louk.] Makrob. 13 = FGrH, no. 154 F 7 Hieronymos), and was thus born about 349
and some eleven years older than Demetrios. Consonant with this is the prominent
mention of him among the selected cavalry about Eumenes at the battle of Gabiene in
316 (Diod. XIX 40,2), when he would have been 33–34 years old. He is described by
Diodoros as "remarkable for his courage and trained as a soldier from childhood."
After the battle, he must have been among the captives who were persuaded to take
service under Antigonos.
It is at Antigonos's court, and as a close friend of Demetrios, that he is attested
in 302. His uncle was suspected of treason and executed, and he himself only escaped
from the same fate due to a timely warning from Demetrios to flee for his life (Plut.
Dem. 4; Mor. 183a; Appian Mith. 9; [Louk.] Makrob. 13). The anecdote recorded in
this context by Plutarch (twice) and by Appian, that it was as a result of a dream in
which he sowed a field with gold and Mithridates harvested it that Antigonos decided
to kill Mithridates, is doubtless a later
― 405 ―
embroidery based on the fact that in the turmoil in Asia Minor after Antigonos's death
in 301, Mithridates was able to lay the foundations of a powerful kingdom in northern
Kappadokia, so that he did in a sense reap where Antigonos had sown.
When Mithridates fled from Antigonos in 302, he found refuge in the fortress of
Kimiata in the Olgassys mountains in northern Kappadokia (Strabo XIX 562; Appian
Mith. 9; and cf. Polyainos VII 29,2) from which he extended his power over the
surrounding province of Kimiatene and eventually all of northern Kappadokia, aided
by "the embarrassment of the Macedonian power," as Appian puts it (Mith. 9:
enthidethiMakedonwnascoliai ), consequent upon the death of Antigonos and the
rivalry between Lysimachos, Demetrios, and Seleukos in Asia Minor. In 281 Seleukos
made an effort to subdue Mithridates, which he was able to overcome with the aid of
Herakleia, Byzantion, and Chalkedon (Trogus Prol. 17; Memnon in FGrH, no. 434 F
7,2). Shortly after the death of Seleukos in late 281, Mithridates' son Ariobarzanes
secured the important city of Amastris on the coast (Memnon in FGrH, no. 434 F 9,4);
and it seems that Mithridates weathered a later attack by Ptolemy with the aid of
Galatian mercenaries (Apollonios in FGrH, no. 740 F 14).
Further reading . F. Geyer, RE s.v., no. 7; Hornblower, Hieronymus, via index
and esp. pp. 123, 243–45; E. Olshausen, RE suppl. 15 s.v. Pontos.
74. MNESIMACHOS
Sources . Buckler and Robinson, Sardis VII, no. 1.
Career . An inscription from the temple of Artemis at Sardis records the granting
of a large estate in the Lydian plain to Mnesimachos by Antigonos, evidently towards
the end of the fourth century (see Debord, below). Mnesimachos had taken out a loan
of 1,325 gold pieces from the temple wardens and was unable to pay it back, so he
handed over the estate instead, which consisted of several villages in different
districts and a few kleroi (lots of the sort given to soldier-settlers) besides. Evidently,
then, Mnesimachos was a person high in Antigonos's favor, and he must presumably
have been a high-ranking officer or official under Antigonos. A clue to his provenance
may be provided by the Eretrian inscription IG XII.9 208 (from the beginning of the
third century) honoring a certain Apellas, son of Mnesimachos, from Klazomenai in
Asia Minor. However, as the name Mnesimachos is not especially uncommon, it is no
more than a possibility that Apellas of Klazomenai should be the son of this
Mnesimachos.
― 406 ―
Further reading: Buckler and Robinson, AJA 16 (1912):22–82; Debord, Aspects, app.
5, pp. 244–51; Austin, Hellenistic World, no. 181.
75. MOSCHION, son of Moirichos, of Thera
Sources . Diodoros XIX 57,4 and cf. 58,5; Segrè, TC, no. 8.
Career . Moschion was sent by Antigonos as ambassador to Rhodes in 314
together with Idomeneus (no. 56 above) to negotiate an agreement enabling
Antigonos to build warships there (Diod. XIX 57,4 and 58, 5), in which they were
successful. A late fourth century inscription from Kalymna (Segrè, TC, no. 8) records
honors granted to one Moschion, son of Moirichos of Thera, for his benevolent attitude
towards Kalymnian troops stationed under him at Pogla (the inscription reads Mogla,
presumably a scribal error) a town in the Kabalia district on the frontier between Lydia
and Pisidia. It is conjectured by Segrè, surely rightly, that this is the same man, who
is thus revealed as a military as well as diplomatic officer of Antigonos. It is
characteristic of Antigonos's tact that he should have sent as ambassador to the
island of Rhodes an island Greek from Thera in the Cyclades, and placed the same
man in charge of allied troops from the island of Kalymna.
Further reading . J. H. Kroll, RE s.v., no. 2; Olshausen, Prosopographie, no. 71;
Seibert, Ptolemaios I, pp. 141, 161, 227.
76. MUS, son of Proteas, from Eresos
Sources. IG VII 4.
Career . A Megarian inscription from the years 307–300 (see no. 140 below for
the nature and date of this and associated inscriptions) honors Mus with proxeny for
his goodwill towards the Megarians. The first line reads —–Vdia116; ribwn , which is
taken by the editor (Dittenberger) to be an error on the part of the stone-cutter, and
seems likely to be the remainder of a phrase such as [para Damatriontombasile ]a
diatribwn , making Mus (like Philon and Kleon of IG VII 5 and 6 from the same year)
an officer in the army of Demetrios in 304–302. The phrase was apparently omitted
by the cutter, and hence added later superlinearly.
Further reading . Urban, Wachstum and Krise des Achaiischen Bundes, pp. 66–
70.
77. NEARCHOS, son of Androtimos, from Lato on Crete
Sources . Arrian Anab. III 6, 5–6; IV 7,2; 30, 5–6; VI 2,3; 5,4; 5,5; 19,5; VII
4,6; 5,6; 19,3; 25,4; Ind. 18,3 and 17,6–42, 10 passim; Curtius
― 407 ―
IX 10,3; X 1,10–16; 6,10–12; Plutarch Alex. 10; 66; 73; 75–76; Diodoros XVII
104,3; 112,3–4; XIX 19,4–5; 69,1; Plutarch Eum. 2 and 18; Justin XIII 4,14–15; Ps.-
Kallisthenes III 31, 8; Epitome Mettensis (ed. Thomas) 97; Strabo XV 2,4 et al.; Suda
s.v. Nearchos; Polyainos V 35; Syll., no. 266; and cf. FGrH, no. 133.
Career . Though by birth a Cretan from Lato, Nearchos's home was Amphipolis
on the border of Macedon (Arrian Ind. 18,3; Syll., no. 266); it is thought that his
father probably moved to Macedon fairly early in the reign of Philip II. Nearchos hence
grew up in Macedon, and was a boyhood friend of Alexander (Arrian Anab. III 6,5–6;
Plut. Alex 10), even spending some time in exile for excessive loyalty to Alexander
when the latter was at odds with his father. It was apparently shortly after his return
from exile that he was honored by Delphi (Syll., no. 266). He accompanied Alexander
on the Anabasis until 333, when he was placed over the satrapy of Lykia and
Pamphylia (Arrian Anab. III 6,5–6; cf. id. I 24,4; Justin XIII 4,14–15). He did not
remain satrap for long, however, for in 329 he led a body of mercenary troops to
reinforce Alexander at Zariaspa (Arrian IV 7,2), and his satrapy apparently passed
under the control of Antigonos. Back with Alexander, he was appointed chiliarch of
one of the taxeis (1,000 strong) of the Hypaspists (which indicates how much he was
thought of as Macedonian), though on occasion used as a commander of other troops,
for example, the Agrianian light infantry at Dyrta in 327/26 (Arrian IV 30, 5–6). He
became really prominent in Alexander's force in India, when he was appointed admiral
of the fleet that sailed down the Indus, and later of the expedition that sailed from the
Indus to the Euphrates (see Arrian Ind. 17,6–42, 10 passim).
Nearchos was highly successful as admiral, which led to his being appointed
admiral for the expedition to Arabia that Alexander was planning in his last days
(Arrian Anab. VII 25,4). Nearchos was much in Alexander's company at Babylon: he is
reported to have passed on the Chaldaians' warning to Alexander not to enter Babylon
(Plut. Alex. 73; Diod. XVII 112,3–4); he entertained Alexander with stories of his
experiences in the Indian Ocean (Plut. Alex. 76); and he was given a grand farewell
banquet by Alexander (Plut. Alex. 75). In short, he was highly esteemed and trusted
by the king in every way; in Susa he had been specially crowned by the king for valor
(Arrian Anab. VII 5,6; Ind. 42,9), and at the great interracial marriage ceremony
organized by Alexander, Nearchos was given as his bride the daughter of Alexander's
reputed concubine Barsine (Arrian Anab. VII 4,6). It is ironic, therefore, that Nearchos
should be among those at
― 408 ―
Alexander's last banquet accused in the later romantic tradition of complicity in the
plot to poison the king (Ps.-Kall. III 31,8; Epit. Met. 97).
After Alexander's death, Nearchos participated in the conferences in Babylon to
decide the fate of the empire, reputedly championing the claims of his brother-in-law
Herakles, son of Barsine, to be considered Alexander's legitimate successor (Curt. X
6,10–12). He was not granted a satrapy either at the division of Babylon or at that of
Triparadeisos. He attached himself to Antigonos, and in 317/16 he served under
Antigonos on the latter's campaign against Eumenes in the east. When Antigonos
forced his way through the mountainous territory of the Kossaians, Nearchos was sent
ahead with a body of light troops to seize the passes in advance, an important and
responsible task (Diod. XIX 19,4–5). After the capture of Eumenes at Gabiene, it was
Nearchos who pleaded, along with Demetrios, for the life of Eumenes, whom most of
Antigonos's officers and advisers wished to execute (Plut. Eum. 18). The last mention
of Nearchos in the sources is of his appointment by Antigonos in 313–312 as one of
the four advisers of his son Demetrios when the latter was left in charge of Syria by
his father (Diod. XIX 69,1). As such Nearchos must have been present at the battle of
Gaza, but his presence is not specifically attested.
A story in Polyainos (V 35) of how Nearchos captured Telmessos, since it
appears to belong to the Diadoch period (Nearchos's opponent was an old friend
named Antipatrides—Berve, no. 92), may record another accomplishment of Nearchos
in Antigonos's service, possibly connected with the campaign against Alketas and
Attalos in Pisidia in 319 (see Diod. XVIII 44, 1–46,7). Attalos had earlier operated
with a fleet, near the Lykian and Karian coast (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,39), and might then
have installed Antipatrides in Telmessos. The date of Nearchos's literary activity
(writing the Anaplous, the account of his voyage in the Indian Ocean and Persian
Gulf) is not precisely known, but should perhaps fall after 312, given his busy military
activity before that date. It appears to have been written to correct Onesikritos's
account of the same event, in which Onesikritos falsely claimed to have been admiral
of the expedition (Ones. in FGrH, no. 134 F 27; Jacoby, FGrH, vol. 2 D, p. 446, argues
that Nearchos wrote to refute Onesikritos).
Further reading . H. Berve, RE, s.v., no. 3; W. Capelle, RE s.v., no. 3; Berve, no.
544; Jacoby, FGrH , no. 133; Pearson, Lost Histories, pp. 112ff.; Hornblower,
Hieronymus, via index and esp. p. 124.
― 409 ―
78. NEON
Sources . Diodoros XX 52,4.
Career . Neon was an officer in Demetrios's fleet at the battle of Cyprian Salamis
in 306. He was sent out after the battle to pick up survivors from among the
wreckage, together with Bourichos (no. 26 above).
Further reading . P. Schoch, RE s.v., no. 4; Hauben, Vlootbevelhebberschap, pp.
114–15.
79. NIKANOR, Macedonian
Sources . Arrian Met' Alex. 1,37; Diodoros XVIII 39,6; XIX 92,1–5; 100,3;
Plutarch Eum. 17,2; Appian Mith. 8; Syr. 55 and 57.
Career . At the conference of Triparadeisos in 320, Nikanor was appointed satrap
of Kappadokia in the place of Eumenes (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,37; Diod. XVIII 39,6;
Appian Mith. 8). Hence he was presumably a high-ranking Macedonian and must have
had some sort of career under Alexander, but it seems impossible to equate him with
any of the known men of this name under Alexander, for they were almost all either
dead or otherwise accounted for by 320, unless perchance the leader of Alexander's
fleet in the Aegean in 334 was this man (see Berve, no. 555). At any rate, upon
appointment to the satrapy of Kappadokia, he must have attached himself to
Antigonos, for Eumenes was in Kappadokia with a large and victorious army which it
was Antigonos's task to fight. Despite Antigonos's victory over Eumenes at Orkynia,
however, he did not install Nikanor in Kappadokia, preferring to send Menandros there
as general (Diod. XVIII 59, 1–2; cf. Menandros, no. 71 above). Nikanor remained with
Antigonos as one of his generals, and in 316, after the battle of Gabiene, he was sent
to treat with the Argyraspids and receive from them the captive Eumenes (Plut. Eum.
17,2).
If Nikanor was disappointed at not receiving the satrapy of Kappadokia, he was
amply indemnified by Antigonos, for he received the post of general over Media and
the upper satrapies, becoming in effect Antigonos's viceroy over the eastern part of
the empire (Diod. XIX 92,1–5; 100,3). He was probably appointed in late 315, after
Antigonos's original disposition for Media and the east had proved unsuccessful (see
Hippostratos, no. 54 above), but it is only in 311 that he is explicitly attested in this
post, when Seleukos crossed the Euphrates and seized Babylonia (Diod. XIX 85,1–2).
Nikanor, loyal to Antigonos, gathered from Media and Persia an army of 10,000 foot
and 7,000 horse and set out to deal with Seleukos. He was
― 410 ―
ambushed by Seleukos in a surprise night attack near the Tigris, however, and
decisively beaten, fleeing back to Media with a handful of followers (Diod. XIX 92, 1–
5). He tried to organize new forces and sent a message to Antigonos reporting on
Seleukos's successes (Diod. XIX 100,3), but Seleukos invaded Media, brought Nikanor
to battle, and killed him before aid from Antigonos could arrive (Appian Syr. 55 and
57, writing Nikat or). According to Isidore of Charax (in GGM, 1:248), the Greco-
Macedonian colony at Dura (i.e., Dura-Europos) was originally founded by a Nikanor,
but this was probably a different man, an officer of Seleukos, as Dura seems to have
been a Seleukid foundation (see Jones, below).
Further reading . H. Berve, RE s.v., no. 13 and no. 7; Bengtson, Strategie, pp.
188ff.; Schober, Gesch. Babyloniens, pp. 89–90, 97–103; Jones, Cities, pp. 216–17.
80. NIKANOR II
Sources . Polyainos IV 7,4.
Career . Shortly after the battle of Ipsos in 301, Demetrios, who had escaped to
Ephesos (Plut. Dem. 30), sailed to Kilikia to collect his mother, children, and much
treasure, leaving an officer named Diodoros (no. 30 above) in charge of Ephesos.
Soon, however, news reached him of negotiations going on for Diodoros to betray
Ephesos to Lysimachos, so he sailed back with a few ships, placing them under the
command of an officer named Nikanor and hiding his own persence. When Nikanor
had safely sailed into Ephesos, Demetrios suddenly revealed himself to his men
stationed there and had Diodoros arrested. Since Nikanor was a trusted officer of
Demetrios immediately after the battle of Ipsos, he must have been in Antigonid
employ already long before the battle and have joined Antigonid service during
Antigonos's lifetime.
Further reading . P. Schoch, RE s.v., no. 14.
81. NIKODEMOS, son of Nikarchides, of Messene
Sources . Plutarch Demosthenes 13,4; Ecole Française d'Athènes, Fouilles de
Delphes, 3.4, no. 7 (= Syll., no. 325).
Career . Plutarch adduces Nikodemos as an example of a man who is inconstant
and out for gain, explaining that he first served Kassandros but later went over to
Demetrios Poliorketes, with the justification that it always pays to obey the powerful.
His service with Demetrios should be placed in 303/2, when Demetrios was busy
liberating Greece from Kassandros by Antigonos's order. Around
― 411 ―
this time Nikodemos was also granted proxeny and other honors by the people of
Delphi.
Further reading . None.
82. NIKOMEDES, son of Aristandros, of Kos
Sources . Herzog, RFIC, n.s., 20 (1942):12–20; Habicht, AM 72 (1957):167–71,
no. 3; Dunst, Klio 37 (1959):63–68; Paton and Hicks, Inscr. of Cos, pp. 32–36, nos.
17–19; pp. 184–85, nos. 221, 227; G. Pugliese Carratelli, PP 33 (1978):156–57.
Career . An inscription from Kos containing a complete dossier of decrees from
Greek cities around the Aegean honoring Nikomedes proves that he was an important
official at Antigonos's court, apparently with primarily diplomatic duties. Only a few
parts of the inscription, which is very fragmentary, have been published to date,
recording decrees in his honor from Athens (Herzog, pp. 12–13), Ephesos (Paton and
Hicks, no. 18), Samos (Habicht), Chios (Dunst), Klazomenai (Pugliese Carratelli), and
probably Erythrai (Herzog, p. 18). In addition, fragments of decrees from Miletos,
Gryne, Phokaia, Antandros, Hamaxitos, and the Athenian colony on Lemnos are
recorded (Herzog, p. 12). There are also extant two other inscriptions from Kos, one
from the base of a statue of Nikomedes (Paton and Hicks, no. 221), and one from the
funerary stele of his mother, Olympias (Paton and Hicks, no. 227). The Erythraian (?)
decree honors Nikomedes' brother Kleumachos as well as Nikomedes.
From all of this, a picture can be formed of a man high in Antigonid service and
very well respected in his home city of Kos. The main inscription was inscribed on a
monument honoring Nikomedes in the Asklepieion of Kos, recording all of the many
honors accorded him by Greek cities. The Samian decree records specifically that
Nikomedes had helped a Samian embassy to Antigonos (lines 11–12), and apparently
dates from well before 306, perhaps ca. 312–310 (see Habicht, pp. 171, 262–66).
The Athenian decree, which appears to date from ca. 303/2 (Herzog, p. 12), records
that Nikomedes was a member of Demetrios's expedition to liberate Greece in 304–
302 (lines 4–6). Some of the other decrees mention Nikomedes' aid to embassies
and/or private citizens visiting Antigonos's court (Herzog, p. 12), from which it seems
Nikomedes' duties involved vetting embassies or individuals who sought access to
Antigonos and arranging audiences.
Further reading . J. and L. Robert, "Bull. ép.," 1948, no. 181;
― 412 ―
Sherwin-White, Ancient Cos, pp. 86–88, 122 n. 217; Osborne, Naturalisation in
Athens, no. D 51.
83. OLKIAS (or HOLKIAS), Illyrian (?)
Sources . Ps.-Kallisthenes III 31,8–9; 32,8; 33,1–25; Epitome Mettensis (ed.
Thomas) 97–98; 103; 106; 109–23; Polyainos IV 6,6.
Career . Olkias, unknown to the regular sources on Alexander, is extraordinarily
prominent in the romantic accounts of Alexander's last days. He is recorded (Ps.-Kall.
III 31,8–9; Epit. Met. 97–98) to have been one of the twenty high-ranking officers
who attended the banquet Medeios of Larissa (no. 68 above) gave for Alexander, and
one of the six of these who were innocent of the alleged plot to murder Alexander
(with Perdikkas, Eumenes, Ptolemy, Lysimachos, and Asandros). Subsequently, he
was entrusted by the dying Alexander with his last will and testament (Ps.-Kall. III
33,1; Epit. Met. 106), with orders to send a copy to Rhodes (Epit. Met. 109). He is
placed on a level with Ptolemy and Perdikkas as one of the three great men who stood
around the bed of the dying king (Ps.-Kall., Armenian version, p. 105, 10–26, Raabe
ed.). He read out the will of Alexander after his death (Epit. Met. 114), and the will
ordered that Olkias's sister Kleodike be married to Leonnatos, a relative of Alexander,
and that Olkias himself be appointed king of Illyria (Ps.-Kall. III 33,12; 33,23; Epit.
Met. 116; 122.)
Given these clearly fictitious details of Olkias's importance during Alexander's
last days, one would suppose him a wholly fictitious character were it not for the fact
that Polyainos (IV 6,6) records his existence in a fashion that can scarcely be
doubted. In the winter of 320/19, when Antigonos was encamped with an army near
Kappadokia, preparatory to undertaking operations against the armies of Alketas and
Eumenes, 3,000 Macedonian soldiers rebelled against him, the leader of the rebellion
being Olkias. Antigonos succeeded in quashing the rebellion and capturing Olkias,
with the aid of an officer named Leonidas (no. 61 above). This story tells us that by
320 Olkias was an officer in Antigonos's army, and was discontented. Antigonos's
army in 320/19 was in large part made up of the army that Perdikkas had
commanded in Egypt (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,38), these 3,000 men and Olkias no doubt
among them. Merkelbach (below) argues that the extraordinary prominence of Olkias
in the accounts of Alexander's last days can be explained by conjecturing a pamphlet
written by Olkias as the source of those accounts. A feature of these accounts is the
slander of poisoning Alexander directed at prominent
― 413 ―
enemies of Perdikkas such as Antipatros, Peithon, Meleagros, Philotas, and
Menandros, while Eumenes, Perdikkas, Olkias, Lysimachos, Ptolemy, and Asandros
are exculpated.
Olkias, then, was a middle-ranking officer in the Macedonian army and a
supporter of Perdikkas after Alexander's death. He passed into the service of
Antigonos in 320, but early in 319 raised a rebellion to help Alketas, Perdikkas's
brother and Antigonos's enemy (so Polyainos IV 6, 6). After his capture by Antigonos,
he is not heard of again, but he probably lived on for some time, for the accounts of
Alexander's last days based on his putative pamphlet show knowledge of Onesikritos's
history, chiding him for not naming the plotters against Alexander (Epit. Met. 97), and
of other events of the Diadoch period (see Merkelbach's in-depth treatment). Perhaps,
given Olkias's "appointment" as king of Illyria, he actually was an Illyrian.
Further reading . J. H. Kroll, RE suppl. 3 s. v. Holkias; Berve, no. 580;
Merkelbach, Quellen des griechischen Alexanderromans, pp. 164–93, esp. 171–73;
also pp. 253–83 for texts of the relevant portions of the Epitome Mettensis and Ps.-
Kallisthenes.
84. ONOMARCHOS
Sources . Plutarch Eum. 18, 4: Nepos Eum. 11, 3–4.
Career . When Antigonos captured Eumenes in 316 after the battle of Gabiene,
he was for some time undecided what to do with him, and kept him meanwhile under
heavy guard. Onomarchos is recorded as the captain of this guard in a story,
preserved in essentially the same form by both Plutarch and Nepos, of a sharp verbal
exchange between Eumenes and his guard. Hence Onomarchos would have been a
fairly low-ranking officer, but one considered reliable.
Further reading . None.
85. ORONTOBATES of Media
Sources . Diodoros XIX 46, 5–47, 2.
Career . After the defeat of Eumenes in the winter of 316/15, Antigonos had the
ambitious satrap of Media, Peithon, son of Krateuas, executed on suspicion of treason,
and replaced him as satrap by Orontobates the Mede, one of two native satraps
appointed by Antigonos in this area (cf. Aspeisas, no. 21 above). It is not clear how
long Orontobates remained satrap. In 311 Nikanor (no. 79 above) is called satrap of
Media by Appian (Syr. 55), but this could be an error, for Nikanor was certainly
general over the upper satrapies stationed in Media, and need not have been satrap
of Media as well (see Diod.
― 414 ―
XIX 92, 1, calling Nikanor "general in Media," and 100, 3, "general of Media and the
upper satrapies").
Further reading . Schober, Gesch. Babyloniens, pp. 85, 89–90.
86. OXYTHEMIS, son of Hippostratos, of Larissa
Sources . Demochares apud Athenaios VI 253a; Phylarchos apud Athenaios XIV
614f; Heraklides Lembos apud Athenaios XIII 578b; Diodoros XXI 15; 16, 5; IG II
2
558 (= Syll., no. 343).
Career . Oxythemis, probably from the dynastic family of the Aleuadai of Larissa,
was the nephew of Medeios of Larissa (no. 68 above) and the son of a Hippostratos
(Syll., no. 343), most probably the man appointed general of the upper satrapies by
Antigonos in 315 (no. 54 above). As his father and uncle were thus both prominent
officers of Antigonos, it is no surprise to find Oxythemis too serving in Antigonid
employ. He was an officer in Demetrios's army in Greece 304–302, being honored
with citizenship by the Athenians in 303/2 (Syll., no. 343; archonship of Leostratos).
According to Demochares, some Athenians went so far as to grant him heroic honors
(Athen. VI 253a). An anecdote of Phylarchos's (Athen. XIV 614f) places Oxythemis at
Demetrios's court as king of Macedon in 294–287 (it concerns the rivalry between
Demetrios and Lysimachos at that time). That Oxythemis remained with Demetrios
after Ipsos is also shown by Diodoros XXI 15 and 16, 5 recording that Demetrios sent
Oxythemis as his ambassador to Agathokles of Syracuse in 289. He survived
Demetrios (d. 283), but was executed by Antigonos Gonatas in a dispute over Demo,
Antigonos's concubine and the mother of his son Halkyoneus (Athen. XIII 578a–b).
Further reading . T. Lenschau, RE s. v.; Olshausen, Prosopographie , no. 77;
Habicht, Gottmenschentum , pp. 55–58; Robert, Hellenica , 2:19, 29; Wehrli,
Antigone et Démétrios , pp. 124–25; Osborne, Naturalisation in Athens , no. D 47.
87. PAUSANIAS
Sources . Diodoros XIX 73,6–10.
Career . Pausanias was sent by Antigonos into Thrace in 313/12 with a body of
troops "not few in number" (Diod. XIX 73,6) to the relief of Kallatis on the Black Sea,
under siege by Lysimachos. However, Lysimachos had warning of Pausanias's
approach and, leaving Kallatis, set an ambush for him. Pausanias's force was taken by
surprise and destroyed, and Pausanias himself was captured and killed. Since he was
entrusted with an independent command over a
― 415 ―
substantial body of troops, he must have ranked fairly high in Antigonos's service
before his death.
Further reading . T. Lenschau, RE s.v., no. 8.
88. PEITHON, son of Agenor, Macedonian
Sources . Arrian Anab. VI 15,4; 17,1–4; 20,1; Curtius IX 8,16; Arrian Met' Alex .
1,36; Dexippos in FGrH , no. 100 F 8,5; Diodoros XVIII 3,2; 39,6; XIX 56,4; 69,1;
80,1; 82,1; 85,2; Justin XIII 4,21.
Career . Peithon, son of Agenor, was a senior officer in the army of Alexander
the Great, first mentioned in 326/25, when he was appointed satrap of the lower
Indus valley in India (Arrian Anab. VI 15,4). The importance of this post indicates that
he must already have held high offices before and been with Alexander for some time,
perhaps even from the first crossing into Asia. As satrap he was charged with an
independent command against the rebellious Indian king Mousikanos, which he
completed successfully, bringing Mousikanos captive to Alexander's camp (Arrian
Arab. VI 17,1–2; Curtius IX 8,16). He was then sent with troops to settle affairs on
the left bank of the Indus and see to the colonizing of the towns being built there
(Arrian Anab. VI 17,4). He joined Alexander again at Patala (Arrian Anab. VI 20,1).
This is all that is recorded of his career under Alexander, but it shows him as an
able and trusted general. Before Alexander's death he seems to have been moved to
the satrapy between the Hindu Kush and the upper Indus, of which region he was
confirmed as a satrap at Babylon (Dex. F 8,5; Diod. XVIII 3,2), perhaps still with
oversight of the colonies along the lower Indus (Justin XIII 4,21). At the conference of
Triparadeisos he was again confirmed in his satrapy (Arrian Met' Alex. 1,36; Diod.
XVIII 39,6), but during the next few years it seems the rise of Indian nationalism
made his position untenable, and he was forced to evacuate India (see Schober,
below, for full details).
At any rate, Peithon left India and returned to the west to meet and join
Antigonos in 315. Such an able and experienced commander was evidently a welcome
addition to the circle of Antigonos's officers and friends, and Peithon was promptly
appointed to succeed the fugitive Seleukos as satrap of Babylonia (Diod. XIX 56,4).
Oddly, no satrap of northern Mesopotamia is known in this period since the deposing
in 315 of Blitor (no. 24 above). Perhaps Mesopotamia was added to Peithon's satrapy
of Babylonia, for in 313–312 Peithon was co-commander with Demetrios of the
Antigonid forces in Syria. To
― 416 ―
come from Babylonia to Syria, one had to pass through Mesopotamia along the
Euphrates valley, and it seems logical to suppose that Peithon came to Syria as
commander of forces raised in Babylonia and Mesopotamia to strengthen Syria
against possible attack by Ptolemy. This hypothesis explains the lack of mention of
any satrap of Mesopotamia in these years, and the ease with which Seleukos seized
Babylonia and Mesopotamia after the battle of Gaza, where Peithon died.
However that may be, Peithon was appointed co-commander with Demetrios in
Syria in 313 (Diod. XIX 69,1); he was left in charge of the army by Demetrios when
the latter rushed to oppose Ptolemy in Kilikia in early 312 (Diod. XIX 80,1); and he
was in joint command with Demetrios at the battle of Gaza in late 312 (Diod. XIX
82,1), being stationed with him on the left wing. He died in this battle, the most
distinguished of Demetrios's losses that day (Diod. XIX 85,2); perhaps he fell fighting
a rear-guard action while Demetrios sought to rally the fleeing Antigonid forces (cf.
Diod. XIX 84,5–85,5).
Further reading . H. Berve, RE s.v., no. 2; Berve, no. 619; Schober, Gesch.
Babyloniens , pp. 15–26, 88, 91–96, 158–60.
89. PERILAOS
Sources . Diodoros XIX 64,5–8; cf. Plutarch Mor. 179f; Curtius X 8,15.
Career . Perilaos was a general in Antigonos's service who in 313 commanded a
small army marching along the coast from Lykia to Kilikia, presumably intending to
join Antigonos in Syria, accompanied by a fleet under Theodotos (no. 113 below). A
Ptolemaic fleet was then cruising off Pamphylia and, getting wind of Perilaos's and
Theodotos's movements, sailed to Aphrodisias in Kilikia to set up an ambush for the
unwary Antigonid forces. The ambush succeeded, and Perilaos was captured and
carried off to Egypt, but was quickly ransomed by Antigonos.
It is possible that the Perilaos or Perillos attested as a Macedonian hetairos of
Alexander in an anecdote by Plutarch (Mor. 179f) and the Perilaos who mediated
between the cavalry and the infantry during the dispute at Babylon after Alexander's
death could be the same man. As holder of an independent command under
Antigonos, Perilaos was clearly a man of some standing, so that it is to be expected
he would already have had a career under Alexander.
Further reading . H. Berve, RE s.v. Perillos; Berve, no. 630.
― 417 ―
90. PEUKESTAS, son of Alexandros, Macedonian
Sources . Arrian Anab. VI 9,3–10,4; 28,3–3; 30,2–3; VII 5,4; 6,3; 23,1–3; 24,
1; 26,2; Ind. 18,6; 19,8; Met' Alex. 1,35; Curtius IX 5,14–18; Diodoros XVII 99,4;
110,2; XVIII 3,3; 39,6; XIX 14,2; 15, 1; 17,4–18, 1; 21, 1–24, 6; 28, 3; 37, 6–38,1;
42, 4–43, 5; 48,5; 56, 1; Plutarch Alex. 41; 42; 63; Eum. 13,4; 14,3; 15,4; 16,5;
Phylarchos apu d Athenaios XIV 614f; Ps.-Kallisthenes III 4; 31; 33, 22; Justin XIII 4,
23; Polyainos IV 6, 13; 8, 3; Robert, Coll. Froehner , no. 52, line 13, and pp. 70–71
n. 1; IG XI.4 161b, lines 55, 81; 162b, line 43.
Career . First mentioned in our sources as Alexander's shieldbearer and a
member of the Hypaspists (Arrian Anab. VI 9,3; Diod. XVII 99,4) at the city of the
Mallians in India in 325, when he saved Alexander's life, Peukestas must have been a
member of the expeditionary force for some time already, most likely from the
beginning of the expedition. As a result of his heroism in India, Peukestas was
appointed to Alexander's staff as a somatophylax (Arrian Anab. VI 28, 3), granted the
position of satrap of Persis (Arrian Anab. VI 28,4), and in 324 publicly crowned with
gold at Susa (Arrian Anab. VII 5,4). Peukestas was a very popular satrap in Persia
owing to his use of Persian dress and the Persian language (Arrian Anab. VII 6, 3),
though this caused many Macedonians to regard him askance. In 323 he brought new
Persian and Kossaian troops to Alexander in Babylon (Arrian Anab. VII 23, 1–3; 24, 1;
Diod. XVII 110, 2), and was in Babylon during Alexander's illness and death. He
attended the famous banquet of Medeios at which Alexander fell ill (Ps.-Kall. III 31,8),
and was one of those who sought the advice of the deity "Serapis" in Babylon
concerning the king's health (Arrian Anab. VII 26,2).