Philocles (Strategos)

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Philocles ( Greek Φιλοκλής ; † 405 BC at Aigospotamoi ) was an Attic strategos during the Peloponnesian War .

After the Athenians in 406 BC B.C. had their best admirals sentenced to death and executed in the Arginusen trial , Philocles was elected strategist along with several other colleagues ( Konon , Adeimantos , Menandros and Tydeus ) in 405 and went to the Hellespont with the Attic fleet. There, the incompetent fleet management of the admirals aroused the displeasure of the deposed general Alkibiades , who approached the Athenian ship camp at Aigospotamoi to admonish the strategists. However, they believed that they could forego the advice of their experienced predecessor and expelled him from the camp with gross abuse.

On the following day, Philocles was in charge of the supreme command as the Spartan sea ​​lord Lysander managed to surprise the Athenian fleet at its unprotected camp and completely destroy it in a sweep-like attack, with most of the rowers and soldiers not getting into their ships in time and on Banks were taken up. Of about 180 ships, only nine escaped, and Lysander took 3,000 prisoners. He had the Attic citizens among them executed, as well as the strategists. The fate of Philocles, who was charged with particular cruelty because he had the prisoners of two ships from Corinth and Andros thrown into the sea and persuaded the Athenian army assembly to decide, after the expected victory, the right hand or the right hand of all enemy prisoners, is reported in more detail chop off the right thumb. Lysander asked him what punishment he deserved for these crimes, and when Philocles tried to deny his right to judge, he personally cut his throat.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Xenophon , Hellenika 2, 1, 16.
  2. ↑ Xenophon, Hellenika 2, 1, 26; Plutarch , Alkibiades 36-37.
  3. ↑ Diodor , Bibliothek 13, 105-106; Xenophon, Hellenika 2, 1, 27-32; Plutarch, Lysander 13.
personal data
SURNAME Philocles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek general
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 405 BC Chr.
Place of death at Aigospotamoi