All Topics  
Menelaus (general)

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Menelaus (general)
 
 
  Topics Menelaus (general) Topic Home

Menelaus (in Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 Me?e?ao? /me'nelaos/; lived 4th century BC) was son of Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
 and brother of Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter

Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
, king of Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt

Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Aegyptus in 30 BC....
. His name does not occur among the officers or generals of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
 (336
336 BC

Events...
–323 BC) during the lifetime of that monarch, though it is incidentally mentioned by Phylarchus
Phylarchus

Phylarchus or Phylarch was a Ancient Greek literature historical writer whose works have been lost, but not before having been considerably used by other historians whose works have survived....
 in terms that would seem to imply that he then already occupied a distinguished position. The first occasion, on which he appears in history is 315 BC, when he was appointed by his brother to the chief command of the forces dispatched to Cyprus
Ancient history of Cyprus

This article treats the history of Cyprus in Classical Antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the Cyprus . The earliest written records relating to Cyprus date to the Middle Bronze Age , see Alasiya....
, where they were destined to co-operate with the fleet of Seleucus
Seleucus I Nicator

Seleucus I , was a Ancient Macedonians officer of Alexander the Great. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire....
, and with Nicocreon
Nicocreon

Nicocreon was king of Salamis, Cyprus in Ancient history of Cyprus, at the time of Alexander the Great's expedition against Persian Empire. He submitted to the conqueror in common with the other princes of Cyprus, without opposition; and in 331 BC, after the return of Alexander from Ptolemaic Egypt, repaired to Tyre to pay homage to that m...
, king of Salamis
Salamis, Cyprus

Salamis was an ancient city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos, 6 km north of modern Famagusta....
.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Menelaus (general)'
Start a new discussion about 'Menelaus (general)'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Menelaus (in Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 Me?e?ao? /me'nelaos/; lived 4th century BC) was son of Lagus
Lagus

Lagus from Eordaea was the father, or reputed father, of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He married Arsinoe of Macedonia, a concubine of Philip II of Macedon, king of Macedon, who was said to have been pregnant at the time of their marriage, on which account it is told that the Macedonians generally looked upon Ptolemy...
 and brother of Ptolemy I Soter
Ptolemy I Soter

Ptolemy I Soter was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great who became ruler of Egypt and founder of both the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Ptolemaic Dynasty....
, king of Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt

Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Aegyptus in 30 BC....
. His name does not occur among the officers or generals of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle....
 (336
336 BC

Events...
–323 BC) during the lifetime of that monarch, though it is incidentally mentioned by Phylarchus
Phylarchus

Phylarchus or Phylarch was a Ancient Greek literature historical writer whose works have been lost, but not before having been considerably used by other historians whose works have survived....
 in terms that would seem to imply that he then already occupied a distinguished position. The first occasion, on which he appears in history is 315 BC, when he was appointed by his brother to the chief command of the forces dispatched to Cyprus
Ancient history of Cyprus

This article treats the history of Cyprus in Classical Antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the Cyprus . The earliest written records relating to Cyprus date to the Middle Bronze Age , see Alasiya....
, where they were destined to co-operate with the fleet of Seleucus
Seleucus I Nicator

Seleucus I , was a Ancient Macedonians officer of Alexander the Great. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire....
, and with Nicocreon
Nicocreon

Nicocreon was king of Salamis, Cyprus in Ancient history of Cyprus, at the time of Alexander the Great's expedition against Persian Empire. He submitted to the conqueror in common with the other princes of Cyprus, without opposition; and in 331 BC, after the return of Alexander from Ptolemaic Egypt, repaired to Tyre to pay homage to that m...
, king of Salamis
Salamis, Cyprus

Salamis was an ancient city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos, 6 km north of modern Famagusta....
. By their combined efforts, they soon reduced all the cities of Cyprus to subjection, with the exception of Citium
Larnaca

Larnaca, is a city of the Cyprus#Government situated on the southern coast of Cyprus. The island's largest airport, Larnaca International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city....
; and that also, it would appear, must have ultimately submitted. Menelaus now remained in the island, which he governed with almost absolute authority, the petty princes of the several cities being deposed, imprisoned, or assassinated on the slightest symptom of disaffection. He still held the chief command in 306 BC, when Demetrius Poliorcetes
Demetrius I of Macedon

Demetrius I , called Poliorcetes , son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Stratonice , was a king of Macedon . He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty....
 arrived in Cyprus with a powerful fleet and army. Unable to contend with this formidable antagonist in the open field, Menelaus drew together all his forces, and shut himself up within the walls of Salamis, which he prepared to defend to the utmost. But having risked an action under the walls of the town, he was defeated with much loss; and Demetrius pressed the siege with his wonted vigour. Menelaus, however, succeeded in burning his battering engines; and by the most strenuous exertions, made good his defence until the arrival of Ptolemy himself, with a powerful fleet, to the relief of the island. In the great sea-fight
Battle of Salamis in Cyprus (306 BC)

The naval Battle of Salamis took place in 306 BC near Salamis, Cyprus between the fleets of Ptolemy I of Egypt and Demetrius I of Macedon, two of the diadochi, the successors to Alexander the Great....
 that ensued, Menelaus sent a squadron of sixty ships to assist Ptolemy; but though these succeeded in forcing their way out of the harbour of Salamis, they came too late to retrieve the fortune of the day; and the total defeat of the Egyptian fleet having extinguished all his hopes of succour, he immediately afterwards surrendered the city of Salamis, with all his forces, both military and naval, into the hands of Demetrius. The conqueror, with characteristic magnanimity
Magnanimity

Magnanimity is the virtue of being great of mind and heart. It encompasses, usually, a refusal to be petty, a willingness to face danger, and actions for noble purposes....
, sent him back to Egypt, accompanied by his friends, and carrying with him all his private property. From this time we hear no more of Menelaus. There are some coins, attributed to him, which must have been struck during the period of his occupation of Cyprus.