Somatophylakes

Somatophylakes (Greek: Σωματοφύλακες; singular: somatophylax, σωματοφύλαξ) were the bodyguards of high-ranking people in ancient Greece.

Coin of Balacrus, somatophylax of Alexander the Great, as satrap of Cilicia, with letter "B" next to the shield, standing for B[AΛAKPOI].[1] Tarsos. 333–323 BC.

The most famous body of somatophylakes were those of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedonian 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.

Somatophylakes of Alexander the Great

(Please note that this list is speculative in several cases, and would be disputed by scholars. E.g., Hephaestion was probably not named as early as given below. The only complete list of Alexander's Bodyguard in the original sources is found in Arrian (6.28.4), given upon the extraordinary appointment of Peucestas in Carmania.)

336–334
333,
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Balacrus, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
332
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Menes of Pella, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
331
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Menes, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
330–327
326–324
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy Lagus, Hephaestion, Peucestas
323
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy Lagus, Peucestas.

See also

References

Heckel, Waldemar. "The 'Somatophylakes' of Alexander the Great: Some Thoughts." Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte Bd. 27, H. 1 (1st Qtr., 1978), pp. 224-228.

  1. Rider, Georges Le (2007). Alexander the Great: Coinage, Finances, and Policy. American Philosophical Society. p. 153. ISBN 9780871692610.
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