Patrocles (geographer)
Encyclopedia
For other uses ,see Patrocles
Patrocles (Greek
: ) (active c. 312 -270 BC) was a Macedon
ian general and writer on geographical subjects. He served Seleucus
and Antiochus
for several decades. After exploring the Caspian Sea
, Patrocles concluded that the Caspian was a gulf or inlet that could be entered from the Indian Ocean
. The only information on his work (even the title is unknown) is documented in the work of Strabo
. As a military officer, Patrocles was a skilled engineer, and at one point managed to defend Babylonia
for Seleucus against Demetrius Poliorcetes by flooding the irrigation
canal
s.
After the death of Seleucus, Patrocles was sent by his successor Antiochus to put down a revolt in Asia Minor
. However his forces were defeated there in an engagement with the Bithynians.
Patrocles
Patrocles name may refer to:*Patroclus *Patrocles of Thurii tragic poet 5th c.BC*Patrocles teacher of rhetoric mentioned by Quintilian*Patrocles Macedonian general and writer under Seleucus and Antiochus...
Patrocles (Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
: ) (active c. 312 -270 BC) was a Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian general and writer on geographical subjects. He served Seleucus
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire...
and Antiochus
Antiochus I Soter
Antiochus I Soter , was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. He reigned from 281 BC - 261 BC....
for several decades. After exploring the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
, Patrocles concluded that the Caspian was a gulf or inlet that could be entered from the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. The only information on his work (even the title is unknown) is documented in the work of Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
. As a military officer, Patrocles was a skilled engineer, and at one point managed to defend Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
for Seleucus against Demetrius Poliorcetes by flooding the irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s.
After the death of Seleucus, Patrocles was sent by his successor Antiochus to put down a revolt in Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. However his forces were defeated there in an engagement with the Bithynians.