Polycrates of Argos

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Polykrates ( Greek  Πολυκράτης ; † after 184 BC) was a Greek official and general of the Egyptian kings of the Ptolemaic dynasty in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.

Polykrates came from Argos and was a son of the wrestler Mnasiadas. The father was so popular in his sport within the Hellenistic world that shortly after their arrival together in Egypt for the year 218/217 B.C. Was appointed eponymous priest for the deified Alexander , one of the highest honors in the Egyptian Ptolemaic state ( Ptolemaic Alexander cult ).

Polykrates himself received a high post in the Ptolemaic military through the protection of Agathocles and Sosibios and was responsible for training the cavalry. In the victorious battle of Raphia against the Seleucids in 217 BC He led the cavalry on the left wing. 203 BC He was appointed governor (strategos) and high priest (archiereus) of Cyprus , where he is said to have ruled particularly vigorously. As a rival of the regent Tlepolemus , he attacked in 197 BC. He was actively involved in Egyptian politics by returning to Alexandria to host the anakleteria for King Ptolemy V , who was thus able to personally take over the government of his kingdom. Polykrates himself became commander in chief of the army, as the successor to the convicted Skopas , and after the end of Aristomenes around 192 BC. Appointed the new chief minister of the king. The last time he is in the year 185/184 BC. Called BC, in the fight against rebellious Egyptians.

Polykrates was married to Zeuxo, a daughter of Ariston from Cyrene . They had at least three daughters, Zeuxo, Eukretia, and Hermione, and two sons, Polycrates and Ptolemy. The female family members in particular were known to have participated in the Panathenaic Games . Polycrates himself and his wife were victorious in 198 BC. In the chariot race, he with a single horse , she with a four -horse team . The three daughters appeared one after the other between 190 and 178 BC. At these games, also in the discipline of chariot racing. Hermione also officiated in 170/169 BC. In the priesthood of the crown wearer (athlophore) of the deified Berenike Euergetes in Alexandria. The sons also served in the Ptolemaic imperial administration.

During his time as governor in Cyprus, Polykrates had a group of statues erected in Paphos that represented him, his father, his wife and two of his daughters. He also had a statue erected in this city for King Ptolemy V Epiphanes. Another statue was dedicated to Polykrates in Delos .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Polybios , Historíai. 64.5-6.
  2. ↑ Polybios, Historíai. 18.54.1.
  3. ↑ Polybios, Historíai. 18.55.4.
  4. ↑ Polybios, Historíai. 22.17.3.
  5. ↑ Inscriptiones Graecae II² 2313.59-60 ; Prosopographia Ptolemaica (PP) 2172.
  6. ↑ PP 17212; 17210; 17209.
  7. ↑ I. Hell. Paphos 46. (TB Mitford: The Hellenistic Inscription of old Papos. In: The annual of the British School at Athens. [ABSA] Volume 56, London 1961, pp. 1-41.)
  8. ↑ I. Hell Paphos 43-45.
  9. ↑ I. Hell Paphos 40.
  10. ↑ Inscriptiones Graecae XI 4.1177 .
personal data
SURNAME Polycrates of Argos
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Πολυκράτης
BRIEF DESCRIPTION General of the Ptolemies of Egypt, strategist of Cyprus
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH after 184 BC Chr.