322-313 BCE
18.58mm 7.26 grams
Obverse: Youth on horseback right
Reverse: Wheel with four spokes and hub, silphium plant between left spokes
SNG Copenhagen 1221
Ex Marc Breitsprecher
The major undoing with Ophellas was trust. Likely born with a strict honor code in Pella, Macedonia, he joined Alexander‘s expedition into uncharted lands. He wasn’t a major player, but did survive.
After Alexander‘s death, he joined in with Ptolemy I Soter, who sent him to Kyrene with the goal of controlling it. Kyrene was rich in a plant called silphium, which I discuss more under Magas, who controlled Kyrene later.
Things took a wrong turn with Ophellas when he received a call from Agathokles of Syracuse for some help taking down Carthage. Agathokles was considered the least trustworthy guy of the times. When enemies surrendered, he massacred them. Yet for some ridiculous reason, people kept falling for it. Ophellas was one of them.
Carthage was a powerful kingdom back then, but together Ophellas felt they stood a chance, and the rich rewards were more than worth the risk. The first challenge, though, was the little thing called the Sahara. It tended to get very hot even back then, and Ophellas lost a fair number of soldiers just trekking over the Carthage.
When he got there, Agathokles was waiting for him, all friendly and talkative. The two armies camped near each other and were about to bring out the marshmallows when Agathokles suddenly attacked Ophellas’ camp and killed him. His army then defected to Agathokles, and with just a few easy strokes he’d significantly increased his number of troops.
So, Ophellas was brave and most certainly a strong fighter, but his naivete ended him.