Somatophylakes

Somatophylakes (Greek: Σωματοφύλακες; singular: somatophylax, σωματοφύλαξ,) in its literal English translation from Greek, means "bodyguards."

Coin of Balacrus, somatophylakes of Alexander, 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
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 of Lagus, Hephaestion, Peucestas
323
  • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy of Lagus, Peucestas.
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See also

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