Search

[German version] A. Antecedents in the ancient Orient Court titles (CT) and court ranks in antiquity, used for the description and creation of personal proximity of members of courtly society to the  ruler or to the hierarchical rank classification of the upper class involved in administration, are a consequence of the emergence of territorial monarchies from the time of Alexander [4] the Great and the resulting organization of  courts as centres of political rule. The question of ancient Oriental antecedents and models for the CT of antiquity must be answered with the aid of the two essential characteristics of the court ranking system in the direct successors of the ancient Oriental empires, i.e. the Hellenistic monarchies: CT are not linked to offices; the court rank and CT of a person end with the death of the person who bestowed them. In view of these premises, the pre-Hellenistic monarchies in the Mesopotamian-Syrian area are excluded as models, as title and office here appear to be linked and as for example the table of the Assyrian king has place only for office bearers. In the Persian empire of the  Achaemenids numerous titles are common. Several resemble or are similar to the Hellenistic CT but the term ‘relatives of the king’ designates real not fictitious relations [1] of the Persian king, and titles are always linked with offices and functions: a nobleman's title derives from his being in the king's service . Achaeme…

(Ἰοτάπη; Iotápē). [German version] [1] Daughter of Antiochus [18] IV of Commagene Daughter of Antiochus [18] IV of Commagene. She was married to Alexander, the son of Tigranes, a descendant of Hero and for a short while king of Armenia. With the support of the Roman emperor Vespasian (= AD 79) her husband became king of a small territory in Cilicia and had coins minted with images of himself and his wife (Jos. Ant. Iud. 18, 139-141). Mehl, Andreas (Halle/Saale) Bibliography R. D. Sullivan, The Dynasty of Commagene, in: ANRW II 8, 1977, 794f. [German version] [2] Coastal town in Cilicia …

[German version] [1] First wife of Seleucus I (end of the 4th cent. BC) Daughter of the Bactrian Spitamenes, married at the ‘mass wedding’ staged in Susa in 324 BC by Alexander [4] the Great, to Se…

(Μενέδημος; Menédēmos). [German version] [1] Functionary of Alexander the Great, 329 BC sent by Alexander [4] the Great in 329 BC, with a 1500-strong mercenary infantry, Caranus with 800 mounted mercenaries and Andromachus with 60 hetairoi, to relieve the fortress of Maracanda, which was under siege by Spitamenes. Pharnuches, a Lycian (but certainly descended from Persian settlers) interpreter, was provided to them as he was familiar with the inhabitants and their language (Arr. An. 4,3,7). Through the inco…

(Διομέδων; Diomédōn). [German version] [1] Commander under Antiochus III As the commander of Seleucia on the Tigris under Antiochus III, he fled from Molon, the advancing rebel satrap of Media (Pol. 5,48,12). Mehl, Andreas (Halle/Saale) [German version] [2] Athenian commander during the Peloponnesian War Athenian commander during the Peloponnesian War. As strategos, he brought reinforcements to the Athenian troops in Asia Minor in 412-11 BC, regained control over seceding Lesbos together with Leon, and was victorious against the Rhodians (Thuc. …

(Στρατονίκη; Stratoníkē). [German version] [1] Daughter of Alexander [2] I, c. 500 BC Daughter of the Macedonian king Alexander [II 2] I. In the winter of 429/8 BC, she was married by her brother

…

(Ἱππόλοχος; Hippólochos). [German version] [1] Son of Bellerophontes Son of  Bellerophontes, father of the Lycian Prince  Glaucus [4] (Hom. Il. 6,206 et passim). Stoevesandt, Magdalene (Basle) [German version] [2] Trojan Trojan, falls into Agamemnon's hands alongside his brother  Peisander. Agamemnon harshly rejects the ransom for the brothers by pointing to their father  Antimachus' [1] guilt and kills them both (Hom. Il. 11,122-148). Stoevesandt, Magdalene (Basle) Bibliography P. Wathelet, Dictionnaire des Troyens de l'Iliade, 1988, no. 173f. [German version] [3] Thess…

(Δημήτριος; Dēmḗtrios). Well-known personalities: the Macedonian King D. [2] Poliorketes; the politician and writer D. [4] of Phalerum; the Jewish-Hellenistic chronographer D. [29]. I. Politically active personalities [German version] …

(Ἀμώνιος; Ammónios). [German version] [1] Favourite of  Alexander [II 13] I (Balas), middle of the 2nd cent. BC Favourite of  Alexander [II 13] I (Balas); ruled in his place in Syria, executed relatives and followers of (the deceased) Demetrius I and oppressed the Antiochenes. When he attempted an attack on Ptolemy VI, certainly Alexander's most important supporter, and Ptolemy demanded that A. be handed over, Alexander actually declined to do this, so Ptolemy broke with Alexander: despite dressing as a woman, A…

(Λυσίας; Lysías). [German version] [1] Attic logographos, 5th/4th cent. BC Attic logographos , 459/8 or c. 445 to …

(Ἀντίοχος; Antíochos). [German version] [1] Helmsman in the fleet of  Alcibiades [3] Helmsman…

[German version] (σωματοφύλακες/ sōmatophýlakes; from sôma = 'body' and phyláttein = 'keep guard'; sing. sōmatophýlax) were among the Greeks the bodyguards of high-ranking personages - sometimes nobles themselves (e.g. Diod. Sic. 14,43,3; cf. Hdt. 7,205; 8,124; Xen. Hell. 6,4,14). Two circles of attendants and guards surrounded Alexander [4] the Great, the 'companions' (Hetairoi) and the somatophylakes, some of whom could also be entrusted with assignments far away from the king [1. 1,32 ff.]. In this way, somatophylax (and ἀρχισωματοφύλαξ/ archisōmatophýlax, 'arch-bodyg…

(Μένιππος; Ménippos). [German version] [1] According to Plutarch sub-commander of Pericles In Plut. Pericles 13,10 (cf. Plut Mor. 812d) mentioned as a friend and sub-commander of Pericles (probably between 443 and 430 BC). Like the latter, he was mocked in the comedies. It is uncertain if M. really was a …

(Ἀνδρόνικος; Andrónikos). [German version] [1] from Olynthus Macedonian officer (2nd half of the 4th cent. BC) Participated in all campaigns of  Alexander [II 4]. 315 BC officer of …

(Νουμήνιος/Noumḗnios). [German version] [1] Author of didactic poems from Heraclea, c. 300 BC N. from Heraclea, physician and poet, end of the 4th cent. BC. He was a pupil of the physician Dieuches [1] (Ath. 1,5), wrote on cookery and composed didactic poems on fishing (Ἁλιευτικόν/ Halieutikón, SH 568-588), on the theriac (Θηριακόν/ Thēriakón: SH 589-594), on medicinal prescriptions (SH 595) and ‘On Banquets (Δείπνων ἀναγραφαί/ Deípnōn anagraphaí: Ath. 1,5a). He may be the source on Nicander [4] (cf. schol. Theriakon 237; 257; 519; 637) and Archigenes. Fornaro, Sotera (Sassari) Bibl…

(Μανία; Manía). [German version] [1] Greek personification of madness Greek personification of madness. Cultic worship as Maníai (plural!) in the place of that name near Megalopolis. According to Paus. 8,34,1-3, Orestes went mad there (identification with Erinyes/Eumenides? Erinys). In the singular M. is found only in Quint. Smyrn. 5,451ff. for the rag…

…

(Ἡλιόδωρος; Heliódōros). [German version] [1] Chancellor under Seleucus IV, 2nd cent. BC Son of Aeschylus of Antioch on the Orontes, was educated with Seleucus IV and was a courtier (τῶν περὶ τὴν αὐλήν) and well-respected chancellor (ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων τεταγμένος) under him in 187-175 BC (IG XI 4,1112-1114, or OGIS 247; App. Syr. 45). When financial difficulties after the defeat of Seleucus' father Antiochus III against the Romans (190/188), in conjunction with internal Jewish intrigues, had led to special…

[German version] (Εὐκρατίδης; Eukratídēs). The son of Heliocles and Laodice, overthrew Demetrius I of Bactria and India about 170 BC on behalf of his cousin Antiochus IV and made himself ‘great king’. About 150 (?) E. was murdered by his son. Soon after E.'s death the Bactrian kingdom came to an end due to external attacks (HN 838f.; Str. 11,9,2, 11,11,2; 15,1,3; Iust. 41,6,1-5 Mehl, Andreas (Halle/Saale) Bibliography The Cambridge History of Iran 3, 1984 A. N. Lahiri, Corpus of Indo-Greek Coins, 1965 A. K. Narain, The Indo-Greeks, 1957 W. W. Tarn, The Greeks in Bactria and India, 21951 Wi…