Ophellas
Encyclopedia
Ophellas or Ophelas of Pella
in Macedonia was later a king of Cyrene
; his father's name was Silenus
. He was considered as one of the closest friends of Alexander the Great. He appears to have accompanied his expedition in Asia, but his name is first mentioned as a trierarch
of the fleet on the Indus 327 BC
. After the death of Alexander, he followed the fortunes of Ptolemy I Soter
, by whom he was sent, in 322 BC
, at the head of a considerable army, to take advantage of the civil war which had broken out in the Cyrenaica
. This object he successfully accomplished, totally defeated Thimbron
and the party that supported him, and established the supremacy of Ptolemaic Egypt
over Cyrene itself and its dependencies. But shortly after, the civil dissensions having broken out again led Ptolemy himself to repair to Cyrene, which he this time appears to have reduced to com plete subjection.
The subsequent proceedings of Ophelias are involved in great obscurity. It seems certain that he was still left by Ptolemy at this time in the government of Cyrene, which he probably continued to hold on behalf of Ptolemy until about the year 313 BC
: but no mention is found of his name in the account given by Diodorus (xviii. 79) of the revolt of the Cyrenaeans in that year, which was suppressed by Agis
and Epaenetus
, the generals of Ptolemy. Yet it could not have been long after that he availed himself of the continued disaffection of that people towards Egypt to assume the government of Cyrene as an independent state. The continual wars in which Ptolemy was engaged against Antigonus I Monophthalmus
, and the natural difficulties of assailing Cyrene, secured him against invasion ; and he appears to have continued in undisputed possession of the country for near five years.
The power to which Ophellas had thus attained, and the strong mercenary force, mainly from Athens which he was able to bring into the field, caused Agathocles
, during his expedition in Africa in 308 BC to turn his attention towards the new ruler of Cyrene as likely to prove a useful ally against the Carthaginians. In order to gain him over he promised to cede to him whatever conquests their combined forces might make in Africa, reserving to himself only the possession of Sicily. The ambition of Ophelias was thus aroused: he put himself at the head of a powerful army, and notwith standing all the natural obstacles which presented themselves on his route, succeeded in reaching the Carthaginian territories after a toilsome and perilous march of more than two months' duration. He was received by his new ally with every demonstration of friendship, and the two armies encamped near each other: but not many days had elapsed when Agathocles took an opportunity treacherously to surprise the camp of the Cyrenaeans, and Ophellas himself perished in the confusion. His troops, thus left without a leader, joined the standard of Agathocles. Justin
styles Ophellas "rex Cyrenamm,"' but it seems improbable that he had really assumed the regal title. He was married Eurydice of Athens
, a descendant of Miltiades
, and appears to have maintained friendly relations with Athens.
Pella
Pella , an ancient Greek city located in Pella Prefecture of Macedonia in Greece, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.-Etymology:...
in Macedonia was later a king of Cyrene
Cyrene, Libya
Cyrene was an ancient Greek colony and then a Roman city in present-day Shahhat, Libya, the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region. It gave eastern Libya the classical name Cyrenaica that it has retained to modern times.Cyrene lies in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar...
; his father's name was Silenus
Silenus
In Greek mythology, Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus.-Evolution of the character:The original Silenus resembled a folklore man of the forest with the ears of a horse and sometimes also the tail and legs of a horse...
. He was considered as one of the closest friends of Alexander the Great. He appears to have accompanied his expedition in Asia, but his name is first mentioned as a trierarch
Trierarch
Trierarch was the title of officers who commanded a trireme in the classical Greek world. In Athens and a few other states this officer was also required to pay for the outfitting and maintenance of the ship. Trierarchs thus had to be men of considerable means, since the expenses incurred could...
of the fleet on the Indus 327 BC
327 BC
Year 327 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Philo...
. After the death of Alexander, he followed the fortunes of Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter I , also known as Ptolemy Lagides, c. 367 BC – c. 283 BC, was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty...
, by whom he was sent, in 322 BC
322 BC
Year 322 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rullianus and Curvus...
, at the head of a considerable army, to take advantage of the civil war which had broken out in the Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
. This object he successfully accomplished, totally defeated Thimbron
Thimbron
Thimbron or Thibron may refer to:*a Lacedaemonian, he was sent out as harmost in 400 BC, with an army of about 5000 men, to aid the Ionians against Tissaphernes, who wished to bring them into subjection. Thibron raised a substantial force of Peloponnesian troops and levies from other cities...
and the party that supported him, and established the supremacy of Ptolemaic Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter invaded Egypt and declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. The Ptolemaic Kingdom was a powerful Hellenistic state, extending from southern Syria in the east, to...
over Cyrene itself and its dependencies. But shortly after, the civil dissensions having broken out again led Ptolemy himself to repair to Cyrene, which he this time appears to have reduced to com plete subjection.
The subsequent proceedings of Ophelias are involved in great obscurity. It seems certain that he was still left by Ptolemy at this time in the government of Cyrene, which he probably continued to hold on behalf of Ptolemy until about the year 313 BC
313 BC
Year 313 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cursor and Brutus...
: but no mention is found of his name in the account given by Diodorus (xviii. 79) of the revolt of the Cyrenaeans in that year, which was suppressed by Agis
Agis
Agis may refer to:* Agis I , a Spartan king* Agis II , a Spartan king* Agis III , a Spartan king* Agis IV , a Spartan king; Plutarch included a chapter on him in his Parallel Lives...
and Epaenetus
Epaenetus
Epaenetus may refer to the following persons:*Epaenetus , a Christian at Rome to whom Paul sent his salutation...
, the generals of Ptolemy. Yet it could not have been long after that he availed himself of the continued disaffection of that people towards Egypt to assume the government of Cyrene as an independent state. The continual wars in which Ptolemy was engaged against Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonus I Monophthalmus , son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian nobleman, general, and satrap under Alexander the Great. During his early life he served under Philip II, and he was a major figure in the Wars of the Diadochi after Alexander's death, declaring himself king in 306 BC and...
, and the natural difficulties of assailing Cyrene, secured him against invasion ; and he appears to have continued in undisputed possession of the country for near five years.
The power to which Ophellas had thus attained, and the strong mercenary force, mainly from Athens which he was able to bring into the field, caused Agathocles
Agathocles
Agathocles , , was tyrant of Syracuse and king of Sicily .-Biography:...
, during his expedition in Africa in 308 BC to turn his attention towards the new ruler of Cyrene as likely to prove a useful ally against the Carthaginians. In order to gain him over he promised to cede to him whatever conquests their combined forces might make in Africa, reserving to himself only the possession of Sicily. The ambition of Ophelias was thus aroused: he put himself at the head of a powerful army, and notwith standing all the natural obstacles which presented themselves on his route, succeeded in reaching the Carthaginian territories after a toilsome and perilous march of more than two months' duration. He was received by his new ally with every demonstration of friendship, and the two armies encamped near each other: but not many days had elapsed when Agathocles took an opportunity treacherously to surprise the camp of the Cyrenaeans, and Ophellas himself perished in the confusion. His troops, thus left without a leader, joined the standard of Agathocles. Justin
Justin
Justin is a given name. It may refer to:People* Justin , a common given name* Justin , 3rd century Roman historian* Justin I , or Flavius Iustinius Augustus, an Eastern Roman Emperor who ruled from 518 to 527...
styles Ophellas "rex Cyrenamm,"' but it seems improbable that he had really assumed the regal title. He was married Eurydice of Athens
Eurydice of Athens
For other persons with the same name, see Eurydice Eurydice was an Athenian woman of a family descended from the great Miltiades. She was first married to Macedonian Ophellas, the conqueror and king of Cyrene, and after his death returned to Athens, where she married Demetrius I of Macedon, on...
, a descendant of Miltiades
Miltiades
Miltiades or Miltiadis is a Greek name. Several historic persons have been called Miltiades .* Miltiades the Elder wealthy Athenian, and step-uncle of Miltiades the Younger...
, and appears to have maintained friendly relations with Athens.