1. A distinguished Greek, a native of Rhodes. The date of his birth is not accurately known,
but Demosthenes (c. Aristocr. p. 672) speaks of him as a young man in
B. C. 352. His sister was the wife of Artabazus, satrap of Lower
Phrygia, and he joined the latter in his revolt against Dareius Ochus. When fortune deserted
the insurgents they fled to the court of Philip. Mentor, the brother of Memnon [MENTOR], being high in favour with Dareius on account of his services
in Egypt, interceded on behalf of Artabazus and Memnon, who were pardoned and again received
into flavour. On the death of Mentor, Memnon, who possessed great military skill and
experience, succeeded him in his authority, which extended over all the western coast of Asia
Minor (about B. C. 336). When Alexander invaded Asia, Meninon, with the satraps
Spithridates and Arsites, collected an army, with which they encamped on the banks of the
Granicus. Memnon, thinking their forces insufficient to oppose Alexander, recommended that they should retire and
lay waste the country behind them; but his advice was overruled. After the defeat of the
Persian troops, Memrlon sent his wife and children to Dareius as tokens and pledges of his
fidelity. As he had hoped, he was invested by the king with the supreme command in the west of
Asia. He defended Halicarnassus against Alexander with great skill and bravery, until it was no longer possible to bold out.
Having set fire to the place, lie and Orontobates made their escape, and crossed over to Cos.
Memnon now formed the design of carrying the war into Greece, and attacking Macedonia. Dareius
had furnished him with large supplies of money. He collected a large force of mercenaries, and
a fleet of 300 ships. At the head of this force he attacked and took Chios, and thence
proceeded to Lesbos. Here he captured several towns without difficulty, but was
delayed for a considerable time in the reduction of Mytilene. At this place he was taken ill
and died, B. C. 333. His death was an irreparable loss to the
Persian cause; for several Greek states, and in particular the Spartans, hearing of his
success and intentions, were prepared to join him, had he carried the war into Greece.
According to Polyaenus (5.44.1) he was some time or other
engaged in hostilities with Leucon, king of Bosporus, who died B. C.
353. (Arrian, 1.12, 20-23, 2.1; Diod. 16.34, 52, 17.7, 18,
23, 24, 29, 31; Clinton, F. H. vol. ii. p.
284.)