Circa 350-325 BCE
Bronze, 11 mm, 2.38 g
Lion standing left, looking back; above, monogram of Miletos. Rev. Stellate pattern. Deppert-Lippitz 297-303. Weber 6041
Ex J. Metzger Collection
Ex Nomos
Perhaps no other city touches as many of the Diadochi as Miletos. It started as Alexander‘s first major siege with the Persian Empire. Philotas, who Alexander would later execute for treason, played a key roll in preventing the Persian navy from being a factor.
After Alexander died, Miletos was passed among the various Diadochi. It first came under Ptolemy, who was the governor of Caria, and who ruled it through his satrap Asandros. Later, Antigonos Monophthalmos seized the city, and after he died in battle it was under Seleukos Nikator.
In 295 BCE, Miletos was allied with Demetrios Poliorketes and Ptolemy Soter (who had joined in a marriage alliance), but was threatened by Lysimachos. Demetrios‘ good fortune ended there when in 286 BCE he was forced to surrender the city and imprisoned, after which Miletos fell to Lysimachos. Of course, Lysimachos didn’t hold it for long, as it was taken back by Seleukos Nikator in 281 BCE.
When Seleukos was murdered by Ptolemy Keraunos, the city went to his son, Antiochos I. Finally, it was seized from the Seleukids by Ptolemy II Philadelphos, where it remained until roughly the Roman ascendancy.
Therefore, Miletos is easily the most symbolic city of my Philip II, Alexander III, and the Era of the Diadochi collection, since it was touched by nearly all of them.
750 BCE
Amisos founded by settlers from Miletos.
Abydos founded by settlers from Miletos.
Kardia founded by settlers from Miletos and Klazomenai.
Istros founded by settlers from Miletos.
Histaios of Miletos founds the city of Myrkinos, on the site of what later would be Amphipolis. Aristagoras, also of Miletos, would later occupy the city and perish in the siege of a nearby town.
The Battle of Lade is fought between the Ionians under Dionysos of Phokaia and the Persians. Chios has the largest contingent, followed by Miletos, Lesbos (probably Mytilene), Samos, Teos, Priene, Erythrai, Myos, and Phokaia. Most fled during the battle, but the Chians put up a bold resistance before defeat.