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(Μελέαγρος/ Meléagros, Lat. Meleager). [German version] [1] Hero from the pre-Trojan period, Argonaut, [1] Hero from the pre-Trojan period, Argonaut Mythological hero. Hero from the generation before the Trojan War, from Calydon [3], the capital city of the Aetolians. As one the Argonauts ( Argonautae) M. participated in the funereal games for Pelias (Stesich. PMG 179; Diod. 4,48,4). As the brother of Deianeira he is also linked with the Hercules cycle (Bacchyl. 5,170-175; Pind. fr. 70b). First and foremost, however, he is associated with the local legend of Calydon. In the archaic …

(Νεοπτόλεμος; Neoptólemos). [German version] [1] Son of Achilles and Deidamia The son of Achilles [1] and Deidamia, the daughter of king Lycomedes [1] of Scyros. Rare but explainable variants of the mother's name are Pyrrha (Heliodorus 3,2 = Anth. Pal. 9,485,8) and Iphigenia (Duris of Samos FGrH 76 F 88; on this FGrH 2 C 130). Homer only knows the name N., and Pyrrhus probably only becomes more common in the 4th cent. (first Theopompus FGrH 115 F 355) because of dynastic considerations of the Epirote king…

(Μόνιμος/ Mónimos). [German version] [1] From Syracuse, pupil of Diogenes M. from Syracuse, slave of a Corinthian banker, heard Xeniades, a rich citizen of Corinth, extol the virtue of Diogenes [14] of Sinope, who lived with him. In order to be able to leave his master and follow Diogenes, M. made out that he was insane; he was dismissed and so became Diogenes' pupil. He also stayed with Crates [4] for a long time and imitated his way of life (Diog. Laert. 6,82). M. must have been famous, as he appears in…

[German version] Perhaps a dioiketes in Alexandria, at any rate a high ranking official; on 5 March 112 BC, he sent a letter to his subordinate Asclepiades, ho epì tôn prosódōn (ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν προσόδων) in Fayoum, regarding the preparations for the reception of the Roman senator L. Memmius (cf. [1], who also rejects the extension of the name to Herm(ias)). Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography 1 Mitteis/Wilcken I 3. E. Olshausen, Rom und Ägypten von 116 bis 51 v.Chr., Diss. 1963, 6f.

[German version] (Χάρμιον; Chármion). Maid to  Cleopatra VII; ascribed decisive political influence by the propaganda of Octavian; she died with the queen. PP 6, 14736. Ameling, Walter (Jena)

[German version] [1] see Nesysti  Nesysti. Ameling, Walter (Jena) [German version] [2] High priest of Ptah at Memphis (3rd cent. BC) 289-217 BC; under Ptolemy III high priest of Ptah at Memphis; son of the high priest Nesysti, brother of the high priest Petoubastis, father of the high priests Teos and Harmachis. In addition to other priestly duties, he was priest of the Theoi Euergetai and Philopatores, had numerous positions in the royal administration, especially related to financial control of other temples. PP 3/9, 5352; 5442. Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography D. Devauchelle, i…

[German version] Father of Petimuthes, high official in Semabehdet (17th district of lower Egypt). P.' son was one of Cleopatra [II 6] III's generals at the capture of Ptolemais/Akko in 103/2 BC and may later have been deployed to Thebes. The list of the numerous political, military and religious functions [1] performed by Petimuthes and, equally, by P. is a model of the self-confidence, considerably augmented in the 2nd cent. BC, of Egyptian officials in the service of the Ptolemies. Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography 1 J. Quaegebeur, Inscriptions in: E. van't Dack et al. (ed.), T…

[German version] (Βιλιστίχη; Bilistíchē). Daughter of Philo, from a Macedonian family that originated in Argos; won Olympic contests in 268 and 264 BC with young horses, in 251/50 kanephoros to  Arsinoe II 3 Philadelphus, (deified?) mistress of Ptolemy II. Mother of Ptolemy Andromachou (?). Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography A. Cameron, Two Mistresses of Ptolemy Philadelphus, in: GRBS 31, 1990, 287-311 HM 3, 589 O. Masson, Onomastica Graeca Selecta 2, 1990, 467ff.

(Παυσανίας; Pausanías). [German version] [1] Spartiate from the house of the Agiads Spartiate from the house of the Agiads, son of Cleombrotus [1], after whose death (480/479 BC) he became guardian for his cousin Pleistarchus [1] and 'regent' (Hdt. 9,10; Thuc. 1,132,1; Paus. 3,4,9), father of the later king Pleistoanax (Thuc. 1,107,2). In 479, P. led the contingent of the Hellenic confederacy of 481 to victory over the Persians at Plataeae (Persian Wars), where at first the Greeks almost suffered a catastro…

(Ἕλενος; Hélenos). [German version] [1] One of the great early seers One of the great early seers, more important in the epic kyklos than in Homer; son of  Priamus and  Hecabe (Hom. Il. 6,76; 7,44; Soph. Phil. 605f.; Apollod. 3,151; P Oxy. 56,3829), twin brother of  Cassandra (Anticlides FGrH 140 F 17; P Oxy. 56,3830). According to a probably archaic tradition, H. received his gift of prophecy when he was still a child in the temple of Apollo Thymbraeus, where he and Cassandra had fallen asleep. When their parents re…

[German version] (Ἴδιος λόγος; Ídios lógos). The idios logos (IL) was set up under  Ptolemaeus VI as a ‘special account’ (first documented 5.1.162 BC, [1]). Almost all revenues from the sale of state property, especially abandoned or confiscated estates (ἀδέσποτα, γῆ ἐν ὑπολόγῳ / adéspota, gê en hypológōi) were paid into this account; by the 1st cent. BC at the latest there was an office πρὸς τῷ ἰδίῳ λόγῳ ( pròs tôi idíōi lógōi) responsible for the administration of the land confiscated in favour of the IL and for reselling it (account management and administration h…

[German version] (Θῆρις; Thêris). Stratēgós of the nomós [2] of Heracleopolites (PSI VIII 949; Yale Papyri I 57), then in 69/8 BC  syngenḗs (Court titles B. 2) and hypomnēmatográphos ('secretary'; OGIS 736), perhaps until 64/3 (BGU VIII 1767). PP I/VIII 9; 262. Ameling, Walter (Jena)

[German version] From Cyrene, συγγενής ( syngennḗs) and allegedly official of  Ptolemaeus Apion; his daughter Aretaphila murdered the Cyrenian tyrant Nicostratus ( c. 88-81 BC). Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography A. Laronde, Cyrène et la Libye hellénistique, 1987, 421 f.; 455.

(νομογράφος/ nomográphos, ‘law-writer’) [German version] I. Greece In some Greek cities individual, specially qualified men were entrusted during the archaic period with the task of writing laws for the pólis. This could include writing down the existing legal practice as well as creating new laws. Known nomográphoi are, for example, Zaleucus in Locri Epizephyrii, Charondas in Catane, Draco [2] and later Solon in Athens. At times, but not always, this commission was associated with a regular office of state. Thus, Solon was at the same time an árchōn (Archontes [1]) in Athens but D…

(Ἡρακλείδης; Hērakleídēs). Famous persons: the politician and writer H. [19] Lembus, the philosopher H. [16] Ponticus the Younger, the doctor H. [27] of Tarentum. I. Political figures [German version] [1] Spokesman on behalf of Athens at the Persian court, end of 5th cent. BC H. of Clazomenae (cf. Pl. Ion 541d) was in the service of the Persians and probably called basileús for that reason. Thus, he was able to perform valuable services for Athens at the Persian court in 423 BC for which he received Attic citizenship soon after moving there (after 400, Syll.3 118). To move the Athenians …

(Ἐχεκράτης; Echekrátēs). [German version] [1] Thessalian condottierre of Ptolemy IV, c. 217 BC Thessalian condottiere of Ptolemy IV, whose training of the army and especially the cavalry significantly contributed to the victory at Raphia in 217 BC. In that battle, he commanded the right wing of the cavalry. An anecdotally coloured representation of the battle is recorded in Diod. Sic. 16,26,6. PP 2, 2161. Ameling, Walter (Jena) [German version] [2] Pythagorean from Phleius Pythagorean from Phleius, who together with Phanton, Polymnastos and Diocles, who also came fro…

(Σάτυρος/ Sátyros). [German version] [1] S. I King of the regnum Bosporanum from 433/2 to 389/8 BC. Son of Spartocus I. S.' co-regent may have been (until 393/2) his brother Seleucus [1]. S. directed his attention at the Asiatic coast of the Cimmerian Bosporus (Bosporus [2]). He restored the Sindian King Hecataeus following a revolt, and allied with him through a dynastic marriage. S.'s divorced wife then sent the King of the Ixomates against him (Polyaenus, Strat. 8,55). S. died during the siege of Theodosia. von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) Bibliography V. F. Gajdukevič, Da…

(Ἱππομέδων; Hippomédōn). [German version] [1] One of the Seven against Thebes One of the  Seven against Thebes, brother or nephew of  Adrastus [1], from Lerna, hero of gigantic size. In Aeschylus (Sept. 486ff.), he stands against Hyperbius at the Oncaean Gate, in Euripides (Phoen. 1113ff.; 119ff.), at the Ogygian Gate and at the head of the army. The motif on his shield is  Typhon or  Argus [II]. Euripides (Suppl. 881ff.) depicts him as a warrior limited to physical power. In Statius, he wins the discus co…

[German version] (Βάκχων; Bákchōn). Son of Nicetas, from Boeotia, Ptolemaic nesiarch of the League of Islanders in 286 BC. He stayed in office until after 280 (PP 6, 15038). Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography R. S. Bagnall, The administration of the Ptolemaic possessions outside Egypt, 1976, 136ff.

[German version] (Φιλόκτας/ Philóktas or Φιλοκράτης/ Philokrátēs). As the leader of a sacred embassy ( archithéōros) from Ptolemy II. and the city of Alexandria he brought votive offerings to Delos between 274 BC and 257 BC. Ameling, Walter (Jena) Bibliography E. Olshausen, Prosopographie der hellenistischen Königsgesandten, vol. 1, 1974, 316f. Nr. 209.