Waja

Prosopography of the Somatophylakes of

Alexander the Great
Monica O. Aneni
Department of Classics
University of Ibadan
Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Ancient authors such as Arrian, Polybius, Plutarch
and several others have dedicated a huge amount of literature
to the exploits and politics of Alexander the Great. Modern
scholars, drawing from the narrations of ancient authors, have
analysed several aspects of the times and life of this great leader
and those of his Diadochi. However, little attention has been
paid to the men who served as his bodyguards. This paper is
therefore designed to examine the biographies of the
somatophylakes of Alexander the Great, with a view to
understanding their roles throughout the period of Alexander’s
warring years until his death in 323 BC, as well as their
positions and influences post Alexander. The paper adopts a
historical methodology as it examines the times and lives of the
bodyguards. Plutarch’s ideology on biography is adopted as
framework. Further studies may examine the sphere of control
of the Diadochi and their roles in promoting Hellenistic culture
in Africa and the Near East after the demise of Alexander
[Keywords: Leadership, bodyguards, biography, the
Macedonian Empire]