Somatophylakes
Encyclopedia
Somatophylakes in its literal English
translation from Greek
, means "bodyguards".
The most famous body of somatophylakes were those of Philip of Macedon
and Alexander the Great. They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedon
ian nobility, who also acted as high-ranking military officers, holding command positions such as general or chiliarch
. Alexander the Great appointed Peucestas
as eighth somatophylax after the siege of Malli.
333
332
331
330–327
326–324
323
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, means "bodyguards".
The most famous body of somatophylakes were those of Philip of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
and Alexander the Great. They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian nobility, who also acted as high-ranking military officers, holding command positions such as general or chiliarch
Chiliarch
Chiliarch , in the Greek army of the Hellenistic period, was a commander of a 1,000 men unit, roughly equivalent to a modern battalion. The office was an adaptation by Alexander the Great of the Persian Achaemenid empire's hazarapatish. A chiliarch held duties both martial and civil...
. Alexander the Great appointed Peucestas
Peucestas
Peucestas was a native of the town of Mieza, in Macedonia, and a distinguished officer in the service of Alexander the Great. His name is first mentioned as one of those appointed to command a trireme on the Hydaspes...
as eighth somatophylax after the siege of Malli.
Somatophylakes of Alexander the Great
336–334- Aristonous of PellaAristonous of PellaFor other persons with the same name, see AristonousAristonous of Pella, son of Peisaeus, was one of the somatophylakes bodyguards of Alexander the Great, distinguished himself greatly on one occasion in India. On the death of Alexander, he was one of the first to propose that the supreme power...
, LysimachusLysimachusLysimachus was a Macedonian officer and diadochus of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.-Early Life & Career:...
, PeithonPeithonPeithon or Pithon was the son of Crateuas, a nobleman from Eordaia in western Macedonia. One of the bodyguards of Alexander the Great, later satrap of Media and one of the diadochi....
, ArybbasArybbas (somatophylax)Arybbas was a somatophylax of Alexander the Great. He was probably from Epirus, a member of the Molossian royal house . He died of illness in Egypt in the winter of 332 BC and was replaced by Leonnatus.-References:...
, BalacrusBalacrusBalacrus , the son of Nicanor, one of Alexander the Great's "Somatophylakes" , was appointed satrap of Cilicia after the battle of Issus, 333 BC. He fell in battle against the Pisidians in the life-time of Alexander...
, DemetriusDemetrius (somatophylax)Demetrius was one of Alexander's somatophylakes. He was suspected of being engaged in the conspiracy of Philotas, and was executed. Ptolemy replaced him as Somatophylax.-References:* Arrian, Anabasis 3.27.5...
, PtolemyPtolemy (somatophylax)Ptolemy was one of the selected officers of Alexander the Great, called Somatophylaces. He was killed at the siege of Halicarnassus, 334 BC, commanding two taxeis of Hypaspists those of Adaeus and Timander.-References:*Arrian, Anab. i. 22...
.
333
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Balacrus, Demetrius, HephaestionHephaestionHephaestion , son of Amyntor, was a Macedonian nobleman and a general in the army of Alexander the Great...
.
332
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, MenesMenes of PellaMenes of Pella , son of Dionysius, was one of the officers of Alexander the Great; and after the Battle of Issus was admitted by the king into the number of his somatophylakes, in the place of Balacrus, who was promoted to the satrapy of Cilicia...
, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
331
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, LeonnatusLeonnatusLeonnatus was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the diadochi.He was a member of the royal house of Lyncestis, a small kingdom that had been included in Macedonia by King Philip II of Macedon. Leonnatus was the same age as Alexander and was very close to him. Later, he was one...
, Menes, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
330–327
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, PerdiccasPerdiccasPerdiccas was one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander's death in 323 BC he became regent of all Alexander's empire.Arrian tells us he was son of Orontes, a descendant of the independent princes of the Macedonian province of Orestis...
, Ptolemy I SoterPtolemy I SoterPtolemy I Soter I , also known as Ptolemy Lagides, c. 367 BC – c. 283 BC, was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty...
, Hephaestion.
326–324
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy I Soter, Hephaestion, PeucestasPeucestasPeucestas was a native of the town of Mieza, in Macedonia, and a distinguished officer in the service of Alexander the Great. His name is first mentioned as one of those appointed to command a trireme on the Hydaspes...
323
- Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy I Soter, Peucestas.