AR Tetradrachm 319/318 BCE
16.95g, 26mm, 12h
Struck under Laomedon, in the types of Alexander III. Sidon, dated RY 15 of Abdalonymos = 319/8 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right, O (date) in left field, ΣI below throne.
Price P175; Newell, Dated 45; DCA 878
Things used to be easy for Alexander‘s officers. They only had to follow him. There was no decision making on which side would win out or offer the better health plan. Laomedon was one of those officers.
Laomedon was one of the earliest supporters of Alexander, in fact going in exile with him after a fight with Philip II. He of course joined Alexander‘s expedition to conquer Persia, and served admirably in that endeavour.
However, like the case with many of Alexander‘s officers, things went seriously south after his death. Alexander had given him the satrapy of Syria, one of the more valuable governages. Even through the Partition of Triparidisus, the other parties agreed for Laomedon to keep this post.
That placed him at odds with Ptolemy I Soter, though, who rather liked Syria and wanted it to serve as a buffer for Egypt. Ptolemy tried all the usual trips such as offering him an all-expenses-paid vacation to a brand new Lamborghini chariot. However, Laomedon, the principled Macedonian officer, rejected these bribes. So, Ptolemy sent an army and booted him.
Laomedon then joined Alcestas, who was campaigning against Antigonos I Monophthalmos in the name of Polyperchon (since Perdikkas had been killed), but this also wasn’t a wise course of action. Antigonos was a very strong general, and he easily defeated Alcetas. We don’t know what happened to Laomedon after this, but it’s unlikely he died of old age.