Nicocreon

Nicocreon (Greek Nικoκρέων; lived 4th century BC) was king of Salamis in Cyprus, at the time of Alexander the Great's (336–323 BC) expedition against Persia. He submitted to the conqueror in along with the other princes of Cyprus, without opposition; in 331 BC, after the return of Alexander from Egypt, Nicocreon visited Tyre (Lebanon) to pay homage to him, where he distinguished himself by the magnificence which he displayed in furnishing the theatrical exhibitions. After the death of Alexander, Nicocreon took allied with Ptolemy against Antigonus, and in 315 BC, he colluded with Seleucus and Menelaus, the generals of Ptolemy, in neutralizing the Cypriot city-kingdoms who had supported Antigonus. In return for these services, Ptolemy awarded him personal command of the areas that would later be called Citium, Lapithos, Keryneia, and Marion, in addition retaining Salamis, and was also entrusted with the chief command over the whole island. We know nothing of the fortunes of Nicocreon after this: but as no mention occurs of his name during the memorable siege of Salamis, by Demetrius Poliorcetes (306 BC), or the great sea-fight that followed it, it seems probable that he must have died before those events. One personal anecdote transmitted to us of Nicocreon is his putting to death in a barbarous manner the philosopher Anaxarchus in revenge for an insult which the latter had offered him on the occasion of his visit to Alexander.

References

• Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Nicocreon (1)", Boston, (1867)

Notes

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