Re: sending dispatches

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:35 pm

Menyllus was the garrison commander at Munychia, the Macedonian fortress situated on a rise above Pireaus. I've visited the site a couple of times.
It commanded a view up and down the Coast and the harbours of Zea in particular where the fleet anchored. Menyllus was a friend of Phocion the Arcon of Athens and Kassandros wanted both of them deposed in favour of his own friends.

smittysmitty · Post by **smittysmitty** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:01 pm

Phocion was never Archon of Athens! at least not to my knowledge.

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:03 pm

Yes he was. Read Plutarch. Phocion was elected a number of times.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:39 am

Well, you're both right ... and you're both wrong ...Phokion might well have been *an* archon a number of times, but he was never *the* archon (as in, the eponymous archon). For what it's worth, the eponymous archons for the early years of the diadochoi were:324/3 Igisias (Hegesias)
323/2 Kiphisodoros
322/1 Philokles
321/0 Archippos
320/19 Neaechmos
319/8 Apollodoros
318/7 Archippos
317/6 DemogenesATBMarcus

smittysmitty · Post by **smittysmitty** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:31 am

With all due respect,there are no your right and your wrong answers applicable! Phocion never was archon of Athens.As to Plutarch stating so, I don't recall it, but he may have., and if he did he was in error.cheers!

smittysmitty · Post by **smittysmitty** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:16 am

My apologies!I looked through some books I've got at home and apparently the position of 'strategos' as held by Phocion is indeed an archon of sorts.Never the less, I think it more likely his title of strategos is more appropriate than archon.
cheers!

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:56 pm

Hi Smitty,I reckon you're right, that Strategos is probably a more accurate thing to say - but, as you've found out, that post was an 'archon' ... it just wasn't eponymous archon.ATBMarcus

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:40 am

The Archon was chief magistrate in many Greek cities, but in Athens there were 3 archons. The archon eponymous, the polemarch (replaced in 501 BC by ten strategoi - generals) and the basileus (the ceremonial remnant of the Athenian aristocracy).
The military governor (like Phocion) was elected, not chosen by lottery. I think it's probably simpler just to refer to Phocion as the 'governor'. What do you think?

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:21 am

Hi Ruth,Obviously, you'll have to make up your own mind, depending on how best it 'reads' in your book; but to me 'governor' sounds more like a 'ruler' than Phocion actually would have been. Then again, I'm not sure what his actual position was at that time, so it might be entirely appropriate to call him such.Otherwise, you could always just refer to Phocion as 'General' ...That's not much help, I'm afraid. I'd have to have another read of Plutarch to see if I can be more clear about the actual position Ph held ... but I'm not sure where my copy of the life of Phocion is at the moment ... probably buried under a pile of other books. ATBMarcus

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 1:18 pm

Hi Marcus, I gather from Plutarch that Phocion was almost equal the Antipater (Regent) and was certainly in charge of things in Athens. I've seen him referred to as "Archon" in some other places but have to go through my archives to find out where. He had an important connection with both Philip and Alexander too, and was offered gifts by Alexander which he refused to accept. A very interseting character...might merit a whole book himself. He's just a 'minor' character in my novel but he's important in the last part because of the political intrigues of Kassandros.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 3:56 am

Hi Ruth,I don't think that Phocion can ever have been 'in charge' of Athens - in charge of the military, perhaps. Still, as I said, I'd need to re-read Plut. to check what he says.Phocion was certainly held in high regard by Philip, Antipater and Alexander. I always like the bit in Pl. that Phocion was the only one (except for Antipater) to whom Alexander wrote the greeting "charein" in his letters.ATBMarcus

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:08 pm

Hi Marcus, I'm still trying to find out for sure if Menyllus, the garrison commander, was killed after he was relieved of his command or ??? Do you happen to know? thanks.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:34 am

Blimey, Ruth, I haven't a clue. Unfortunately I'm not any sort of expert on the Diadochoi, certainly not at that sort of level of detail.Sorry.Marcus

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:49 am

Well I spent some time today sorting through all my notes and photo-copied book excerpts and I still didn't find out what happened to Menyllus. I wonder if anyone knows? Or can I take poetic license and just bump him off? (Kassandros loved doing things like that!)

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:09 am

Good solution! If in doubt, kill'em. :-)ATBMarcusPS: More seriously - if he definitely doesn't appear again in the histories, as far as you can see, then there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't kill him off, if it works with the characters.