Memnon of Rhodes
Memnon of Rhodes (380 – 333 BC) was the commander of the Greek mercenaries working for the Persian king Darius III when Alexander the Great of Macedonia invaded Persia in 334 BC and won the Battle of the Granicus River. He was the only one to declare, prior to the battle, that it was impossible for the Persians to defeat the Macedonian army in a set-piece confrontation, and called for a strategy of scorched earth that would deny Alexander both supplies and treasure, both of which they badly needed to feed and pay the army. This advice was rejected by the Persian satraps and history was the result.
Many scholars maintain that had Memnon's advice been taken, Alexander would have had an immensely difficult time continuing his campaign in Asia, and might have soon been forced to withdraw back to Macedon. Memnon also suggested trying to stir up a revolt in Greece itself, threatening Alexander's base of power and perhaps forcing him to withdraw. It was not until the major defeat at the Battle of Issus that this admirable approach to the Macedonian invasion was finally put into action, but by then the advantage had been lost, and Alexander showed himself willing to sacrifice Greece if necessary by then if he still felt he could accomplish his greater goals.
Memnon died during the siege of Mytilene in August 333. Cause of death was unknown.
Family
Memnon was the son of Timocrates of Rhodes, the brother of Mentor of Rhodes, brother-in-law of Artabazus of Phrygia, and husband and uncle of Barsine, Artabazus' daughter and Alexander the Great's mistress.
Memnon of Rhodes is the subject of a work of historical fiction, Memnon ISBN 1-932815-39-2 by Scott Oden
External links
- Memnon of Rhodes from Livius.org, by Jona Lendering
- Memnon (1) from Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography
- Wiki Classical Dictionary: Memnon of Rhodes
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