Mentor from Rhodes

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Mentor ( Greek  Μέντωρ ; * around 385 BC; † 340 BC ) was a Greek mercenary and general of the 4th century BC.

Life

Mentor came from Rhodes , his brother was the later also known general Memnon . Both brothers began their military careers in 366 BC. As a mercenary leader in the service of her brother-in-law, the Persian satrap Artabazos , from whom they had received their own fiefs in the province of the Hellespontian Phrygia . Mentor also married a daughter of Artabazos, his niece Barsine . The Rhodian brothers supported their brother-in-law in 354 BC. At the revolt against the Persian great king Artaxerxes III. Ochos , but were hit by this one. Artabazos, Memnon and Barsine moved to Pella in the Macedonian exile.

But Mentor moved on to Egypt to serve as a mercenary commander for Pharaoh Nectanebos II . At that time the pharaoh was exposed to the immediate threat from the great Persian empire and based his defense to a large extent on mercenaries from Greece. In order to bind Persia otherwise, Nectanebos II supported the uprising of the Phoenician coastal cities under the leadership of King Tennes (Tabnit) of Sidon and sent a mentor in 350 BC. BC with a 4,000-strong mercenary army in support of Sidon . There Mentor was able to successfully defeat the armies of the satraps Mazaios and Belesys II .

But when the Persian great king marched personally with his entire army on Sidon, King Tennes feared his downfall. To avoid this, he intended to submit to the great king in time and to surrender his city to him. Mentor supported him in the betrayal of his own people and both changed sides, Sidon was taken over by the great king Artaxerxes III. burned down. While Tennes was nevertheless executed by the great king, Mentor was entrusted with a leading post in the Persian army.

Now in Persian service, mentor after the Greek historian Diodorus in that of Artaxerxes III. in winter 342/341 BC Led conquering battle against Egypt together with Bagoas one of the three attacking armies that first acted against Pharaoh Nectanebo II, while Artaxerxes III. should have initially kept in the background. The regiment of the Mentor and Bagoas is said to have included numerous ships. With the capture of Bubastis , he made the conquest of the Nile Delta possible. However, the information provided by Diodorus is questionable, which is why a reliable historical confirmation of the details described cannot be made.

Because of his high level of military experience, Mentor was then appointed Commander-in-Chief (Karanos) of all Persian troops west of the Euphrates , while Bagoas received high command in the east and became the first court minister. His high position enabled him to obtain a pardon from the great king for his brother-in-law and his brother, which were granted in 341 BC. Returned to the Persian court. Apparently the returnees informed the great king of the secret apostasy of the tyrant of Atarneus , Hermeias , to the side of King Philip II of Macedon .

Mentor was entrusted with the submission of Hermeias, whom he 341 BC. Besieged in Atarneus. In order to achieve a quick task, Mentor assured the traitor that he would stand up for his life with the great king should he surrender to him. Hermeias agreed, but Mentor broke his word and immediately locked him in a dungeon. Hermeias was a close friend of the famous philosopher Aristotle , who was also married to his niece. He wrote a warning letter to Mentor, reminding him of his word of honor and advocating protection for Hermeias. Mentor, however, ignored this and subjected Hermeias to torture, apparently in order to obtain information about Philip II of Macedonia's planned campaign in Asia. Hermeias is said to have withstood the torture until his death and remained silent. Aristotle later had a bronze statue erected for his friend in the Delphic sanctuary , in whose consecration epigram he expressed his indignation at Mentor's broken word.

The punishment of Hermeias was the last act mentioned in the traditions of Mentor, presumably he ended the rule of Princess Ada in Caria in favor of her brother Pixodaros before he died in 340 BC. BC died. He had a daughter who was not known by name and who later married the Macedonian admiral Nearchus . His brother Memnon took over the post of commander-in-chief of the western Persian provinces and married Barsine, who later became the lover of Alexander the great .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Diodorus 16.40-45.
  2. ↑ Diodorus, 16.47.4 .
  3. ↑ Diodorus, 16.47-50 .
  4. ↑ Pierre Briant: From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire . Pp. 784-785.
  5. ↑ Diodorus 16.52.5.
  6. ↑ Diogenes Laertius , Peripatos 5.27.
  7. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, Peripatos 5.6; see also Anthologia Palatina 3.48.
  8. ↑ Arrian , Anabasis 7.4.6.
personal data
SURNAME Mentor from Rhodes
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mentor, Μέντωρ
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek mercenary and general in Persian service
DATE OF BIRTH around 385 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH Rhodes
DATE OF DEATH 340 BC Chr.