Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I.
Babylon, circa 323-317 BCE
Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; BAΣIΛEΩΣ below, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, M in left field, ΛY below throne. Price 3692; Müller 1272; Hersh 244. 17.18g, 25mm, 12h.
graffito to rev.
Ex Roma
Like a number of Alexander the Great‘s companions, we don’t know a lot about Archon. We do know that he died in battle. When Dokimos was given the satrapy of Babylon by Perdikkas, Archon refused to yield. A battle took place between the two and Archon was killed.
Before that, Archon helped navigate the fleet during the Battle of Hydraspes. He also is commemorated for winning several horse races in the Pythian Games and Isthmian Games in 332 and 331 BCE. This is intriguing because Alexander was campaigning in Asia Minor during this time, so you would think Archon wouldn’t have received leave to go play in some games.
Alternatively, Archon only joined Alexander‘s expedition until after he’d won fame. This also seems odd, as Archon was from Pella in Macedonia, so presumably Alexander would have wanted one of his best horsemen in the field. Perhaps we was too young when the expedition left?
Regardless when he joined Alexander, a stele still exists in Delphi that commemorates the life of Archon.
Archon is honored at Delphi because his horses were victorious at the Pythian and Isthmian Games.
Archon serves as tirerarch of the Hydaspes fleet.
Ptolemy diverts the funeral carriage of Alexander the Great to Alexandria. Archon may have colluded with him on this.