Mazaeus orMazday (Aramaic: 𐡌𐡆𐡃𐡉 MZDY, Greek: ΜαζαῖοςMazaios)[1] (died 328 BC) was anAchaemenid Persian noble, satrap (a type of governor) ofCilicia and later satrap ofBabylon for the Achaemenid Empire. He retained the satrapy after Babylon was under the rule ofAlexander the Great.[2]
Mazaeus | |
|---|---|
 Possible coin of Mazaeus | |
| Native name | Mazaios |
| Born | 385 BC |
| Died | 328 BC (aged 57 years) Babylon |
| Allegiance | Achaemenid Empire,Macedonian Empire |
| Rank | Satrap ofCilicia (under theAchaemenids) Satrap ofBabylon (underAlexander the Great) |
Life
editMazaeus was the penultimatePersiansatrap (governor) ofCilicia. His successor in Cilicia wasArsames, who was ultimately expelled byAlexander the Great.
At theBattle of Gaugamela, Mazaeus commanded the right flank with theSyrian,Median,Mesopotamian,Parthian,Sacian,Tapurian,Hyrcanian,Sacesinian,Cappadocian, andArmenian cavalry.
As a reward for his recognition of Alexander as the legitimate successor of Darius, Mazaeus was rewarded by being able to retain the satrapy of Babylon, as a Hellenistic satrap.[2] Alexander left a Macedonian,Apollodorus of Amphipolis, as the military commander of the garrison of Babylon, and another as tax-collector.[2] Mazaeus continued minting coins under his name, and later without his name.
The daughter of the Persian king Darius III,Stateira II, was originally betrothed to him, but he died before they could be married. She was eventually married to Alexander.
Waldemar Heckel suggested that theAlexander Sarcophagus might have been dedicated to him.[3]
Coinage
editMazaeus had an abundant coinage, which he minted inTarsos,Sidon andBabylon.Coinage as Satrap of Cilicia
Mazday (Mazaios) as ruler ofSidon. Circa 353-333 BC.
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Coinage as Satrap of Babylon
Coinage of Mazaios as Hellenistic Satrap of Babylon, circa 331-328 BC.
Late coinage of Mazaeus as satrap ofBabylon.
References
edit- ^Metcalf, William (2012).The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage. Oxford University Press USA.ISBN 978-0-19-530574-6.
- ^abcO'Brien, J. M. (2003).Alexander the Great: The Invisible Enemy: A Biography. Routledge. p. 94.ISBN 9781134845019.
- ^Heckel, Waldemar (2006). "Mazaeus, Callisthenes and the Alexander Sarcophagus".Historia.55 (4):385–396.doi:10.25162/historia-2006-0025.
- ^Roisman, Joseph (2002).Brill's Companion to Alexander the Great. BRILL. p. 189.ISBN 9789004217553.
