A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1176 NICANOR. NICANOR.
Issus, and of Arbela. He afterwards accompanied withdrawal of the Macedonian garrison from MuAlexander with a part of the troops under his nychia, according to the decree just issued by
command, during the rapid march of the king in Polysperchon. But while he thus deluded them
pursuit of Dareius (B.C. 330); which was pro- with false hopes, instead of surrendering Munychia,
bably his last service, as he died of disease shortly he took the opportunity to surprise the Peiraeeus
afterwards, during the advance of Alexander into also, and, having occupied it with a strong garrison,
Bactria. His death at this juncture was probably declared his intention to hold both fortresses for
a fortunate event, as it saved him from participat- Cassander. (Diod. xviii. 64; Plut. Phoc. 31, 32;
ing either in the designs or the fate of his brother Corn. Nep. Phoc, 2.) In vain did Olympias, at
Philotas. (Arrian, Anab. i. 14, ii. 8, iii. 11, 21, this time on friendly terms with the regent, unite
25; Curt. iii. 24. ~ 7, iv. 50. ~ 27, v. 37. ~ 19, in commanding him to withdraw his troops: nor
vi. 22. ~ 18; Diod. xvii. 57.) did Alexander, the son of Polysperchon, who ar2. Father of Balacrus, the satrap of Cilicia. rived in Attica the following spring (B. C. 318) at
[BALaCRUS.] It is probably this Nicanor who is the head of a considerable army, effect anything
alluded to in an anecdote related by Plutarch of more. Shortly after, Cassander himself arrived
Philip of Macedon, as a person of some distinction with a fleet of thirty-five ships, and Nicanor immeduring the reign of that monarch. (Plut. Apopkth. diately put him in possession of the Peiraeeus,
p. 177.) while he himself retained the command of Mu3. Son of Balacrus, and grandson of the preced- nychia. He was, however, quickly despatched by
ing. (Harpocration, s. v. NKcdvcop.) Cassander with a fleet to the Hellespont, where he
4. Of Stageira, was despatched by Alexander to was joined by the naval forces of Antigonus; and
Greece to proclaim, at the Olympic games of the though at first defeated by Cleitus, the admiral of
year B. c. 324, the decree for the recall of the Polysperchon, he soon after retrieved his fortune,
exiles throughout the Greek cities. (Diod. xviii. and gained a complete victory, destroying or cap8; Deinarch. adv. Demosth. p. 199, ed. Bekk.) It turing almost the whole of the enemy's fleet. On
is perhaps the same person whom we find at an his return to Athens he was received by Cassander
earlier period entrusted with the command of the with the utmost distinction, and reinstated in his
fleet during the siege of Miletus (Arr. Anab. i. 18, former command of Munychia. But his late suc19); at least it seems probable that the Nicanor cesses had so much elated him that he incurred the
there mentioned is not the son of Parmenion; he suspicion of aiming at higher objects, and'intending
may, however, be identical with the following. to set up for himself. On these grounds Cassander
5. A Macedonian officer of distinction, who, in determined to rid himself of one who was beginthe division of the provinces at Triparadeisus, after ning to give him umbrage, and having succeeded
the death of Perdiccas (B. c. 321), obtained the by the basest treachery in decoying Nicanor into
important government of Cappadocia. (Arrian, ap. his power, he caused him to be put to death, after
Phot. p. 72, a.; Diod. xviii. 39; App. Mit/sr. 8.) undergoing the form of a trial before the MacedoHe attached himself to the party of Antigonus, nian army. (Plut. Phoc. 33; Diod. xviii. 65, 68,
whom he accompanied in the war against Eumenes, 72, 75; Polyaen. iv. 6. ~ 8, 11. ~ 1.; Trog. Pomp.
and when, after the second battle in Gabiene, the prol. xiv.)
mutinous Argyraspids consented to surrender their 7. A son of Antipater and brother of Cassander,
general into the hands of Antigonus [EUMENES], put to death by Olympias, B.c. 317. (Diod. xix.
it was Nicanor who was selected to receive their 11.)
prisoner from them. (Plut. Eumz. 17.) After the 8. A friend and general of Ptolemy, the son of
defeat of Pithon and his associates, B. c. 316, Lagus, who was despatched by the Egyptian king
Nicanor was appointed by Antigonus, governor of in B. C. 320, with an army to reduce Syria and
Media and the adjoining provinces, commonly Phoenicia; an object which he quickly effected,
termed the upper satrapies, which he continued to taking prisoner Laomedon, the governor of those
hold until the year 312, when Seleucus made him- provinces. (Diod. xviii. 43.)
self master of Babylon. Thereupon Nicanor as- 9. A Syrian Greek, who, together with a Gaul
sembled a: large force and marched against the named Apaturius, assassinated Seleucus III. Ceinvader, but was surprised and defeated by Se- raunis, during his expedition into Asia against
leucus at the passage of the Tigris, and his troops Attalus, B. c. 222. He was immediately seized
were either cut to pieces or went over to the and executed by order of Achaeus. (Polyb. iv.
enemy. According to Diodorus, he himself escaped 48; Euseb. Arm. p. 165, fol. ed.)
the slaughter, and fled for safety to the desert, 10. Surnamed the Elephant, a general under
from whence he wrote to Antigonus for assistance. Philip V. king of Macedonia, who invaded Attica
Appian, on the contrary; represents him as killed with an army shortly before the breaking out of
in the battle. It is certain, at least, that we hear the war between Philip and the Romans, B. C.
no more of him. (Diod. xix. 92, 100; Appian, 200; but, after laying waste part of the open
Syr. 55.) country, he was induced, by the remonstrances
6. A Macedonian officer under Cassander, by of the Roman ambassadors then at Athens, to
whom he was secretly despatched immediately on withdraw. (Polyb. xvi. 27.) He is again menthe death of Antipater, B. C. 319, to take the com- tioned as commanding the rearguard of Philip's
mand of the Macedonian garrison at Munychia. army at the battle of Cynoscephalae, B.c. 197.
Nicanor arrived at Athens before the news of An- (Id. xviii. 7; Liv. xxxiii. 8.)
tipater's death, and thus readily obtained posses- 11. An Epeirot, son of Myrton, who united with
sion of the fortress, which he afterwards refused his father in supporting the oppressive and rapato give; up notwithstanding the orders of Polysper- cious proceedings of Charops in the government of
chon. He however entered into friendly relations their native country. [CHAxUoPS.] (Polyb. xxxii.
with Phocion, and through his means began to 21.)
negotiate with the Athenians, who demanded the 12. Son of Patroclus, was apparently the chief