Chapter 3: Solaris


„No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it by chance, they would not even known they had done so. “ -Xenophanes


Large palace of Kydonia, 227 BC

Syria, 251 BC. Night has come over the dry steppes of Syria as the man walks through his camp. His men fought hard during the day, attacking supply lines of the seleucid army. The mans name was Menander Asteraios and he was the leader of a mercenary band, offering their arms and courage to any who was willing to pay the price. As he reached his tent, his guards were already waiting for him.
„Sire, your company is already waiting for you.“
„Thank you Kreitos. Now look for our men, the day was hard and blooded – they need more wine.“
The guard confirmed and left Menander alone. Menander entered his tent and looked at his visitor. It was a tall man who apparently did his duty in one army or another. His hair was gray but his eyes still glazes in blue color. Menander and his counterpart looked each other in the eyes, challenging and competing each other.
„The day was long and the next might be even longer. You came to me, not was it me who came to you – so what is it that you want?“
„My name is Patrokles Marakandaios. I have come the long way from the very east, as I am the last of a royal family. You better know where you stand young general, for I am the king of my Baktria! In fact it is me who is giving an audience to you.“
Menander took himself a glas of wine when Patrokles finished his introduction. He looked upward, smiled and returned:
„I know that the seleucid empire had finally brought peace to the rebellish reastern satrapies. So the way I see it – you are a king without a kingdom. Which is as worthless as a peasent without farmland or a blacksmith without his tools. So I am Menander Asteraios, and I am a general and I DO hold an army. I know my place – I wonder if you do know yours?“


Baktrian-styled kydonian royal bodyguards

Almost twenty-four years later Menander stands on the balcony of his palace in Kydonia, remembering the old times, the time when he first met Patrokles and where he layed the ground for his later kingdomship. Now Menander had been Basileus of Kydonia for about fifteen years and he made Kydonia to one of the most powerful cities in the mediterranian. For Patrokles, it was enough to create his own paradies on Krete, like a dreamland, where he could enjoy the rest of his life. Menander however seeked for more. For Patrokles, Kydonia was his beautiful exile – but Menander wanted to create an empire. He used his political and military power to extend Kydonias influence on to asia minor, especially Halikarnassos. This had invoked a conflict with the mighty Arche Ptolemaioi and now in 227 BC, the small Basileion Kydonias sees itself threatened by multiple enemies.

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The Ptolemaioian War


The war of Kydonia against the Arche Ptolemaioi, 228 BC.

In 228 BC the Ptolemaioi had taken Halikarnassos and demonstrated their power. To those who knew Menander and his ambitions, it was clear, that he wouldn't accept this without an answer. Two years later, Menanders son Antimachos had his coming of age and Menander immediatly sent his firstborn to asia minor to engage the Ptolemies and gain terretory. Antimachos, who had been known for his vigor during his youth (although he didn't seem to be the smartest boy) enthuastically started his expedition. He hired an army of almost 30.ooo mercenaries and conquered Halikarnassos with relative ease only to head further east.


Kydonian mercenaries marching towards Halikarnassos, 226 BC.

He led his army towards Side and was about to start preperations to siege the city, when his agents informed him that a major ptolemaioian force advanced Side from the east. Antimachos positioned his mercenary army on the hills near the coast. He knew that the Ptolemies would use their superior troops to engage him, even if they have a disadvantage on the ground.


Antimachos engaged by the Ptolemaioi, 225 BC.

The great battle happened in 225 BC. Antimachos and his 29.640 men against the Ptolemaioian army led by Captain Onesikrates, fielding 37.060 soldiers. Antimachos calculations came out even as his enemy engaged his army who were positioned on a hill. Onesikrates ordered his men to circle Antimachos but the mercenary phalangitaies held their ground while the kretan archers perforated the ptolemaioian troops.


“Antimachos in Blood“, unknown painter, Kydonia, approx. 130 BC.

Antimachos personally led his bodyguards to battle and killed the light infantry to persia who were about to encircle him. In the end, Antimachos gained an heroic victory and had 26.300 soldiers left – while only 8.620 enemies survived.


Landscape near Side, asia minor.


Site of famous battle near Side.

However Antimachos was forced to retreat his army to Halikarnassos as another huge egyptian army was about to arrive from the east. Antimachos came to believe that it was futile to fight such a powerful faction as the Ptolemaioi and that it would only bring sadness and disaster to Kydonia and its people.

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Internal Affairs


Antimachos returned to Kydonia while his mercenaries were mostly abandoned or stayed in Halikarnassos as protection for kydonian property. Rumours spread that Menander and his son had some harsh arguements about the kydonian policy and that there was a major disagreement between those two ambitions. It all did not matter much as Kydonia had its hands tight. The war between the Arche Hellenon and the Basileion Pergamou reduced the trade income for Kydonia and the ongoing threat from the Ptolemaioi made it impossible to disband troops. Nevertheless the last ten years of Menanders reign were peaceful. Kydonia was inhabited by more than 20.000 citizens and the city was one of the richest in the hellenic world. Some say that Menander wad a real Connoisseur in his age and he reduced his ambitions by quite a rate.


Menander Asteraios, Basileus of Kydonia, 221 BC.

In 217 BC his second son, Herakon, celebrated his 16th birthday and one year later, in 216 BC, Menander made a bold decision: he announced that both of his sons shall reign his kingdom and that Herakon shall be the leader of the royal troops while Antimachos would administrate the city and all colonies.

Some said that this was related to his personal dispute with his son Antimachos about foreign policy and that he wanted his second son Herakon, who seemed more like a furious commander, to be the true heir of Kydonia. Antimachos was very famous to the people though, as he claimed that heroic victory over the Ptolemaioi in 225 BC and by his way to administrate the city. Therefore Menander could not announce Herakon as his new heir and forget about Antimachos. So both sons were announced heirs and a bilteral kingdomship would occur.

When Herakon was young, he looked up to Antimachos and his victories in asia minor and now, being the new leader of the kydonian army, he saw his chance to become a hero of his own.

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A King dies and a dynasty is born


In 215 BC Menander Asteraios died peacefully in Kydonia. The whole city celebrated the obsequies for more than twelve days. Even though Petrokles brought the crown to Kydonia, it was Menander who forged a dynasty. With the crown being carried by two strong personalities, many would believe that Kydonia would experience another level of success in the mediterranian world.


Menander dies in 215 BC.


Statue of Menander, approx. 231 BC.


Herakon Asteraios, Strategos of Kydonia, 215 BC.


Antimachos Asteraios, Administrator and Governor of Kydonia, 215 BC.

End of chapter 3.

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Unfortunenatly I couldnt incluce world events into my third chapter. I will include the ongoings of the world in my next chapter which will be uploaded soon. It will cover kydonian developement as well as the wars in the east and west. Make sure to check it out, comments and suggestions welcomed as usual! :)