Heracleides ( grc, Ἡρακλείδης) was an officer appointed by

Demetrius I of Macedon Demetrius I (; grc, Δημήτριος; 337–283 BC), also called Poliorcetes (; el, Πολιορκητής, "The Besieger"), was a Macedonian nobleman, military leader, and king of Macedon (294–288 BC). He belonged to the Antigonid dynast ...

to command the garrison which he left at

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, apparently in 290 BC. An attempt was made by the Athenians to possess themselves of the fortress in his charge (whether this was the Museum or the

Peiraeeus Piraeus ( ; el, Πειραιάς ; grc, Πειραιεύς ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens' city centre, along the east coast of the Saronic ...

does not appear, but probably the former) by a secret negotiation with Hierocles, a

Caria Caria (; from Greek: Καρία, ''Karia''; tr, Karya) was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia (Mycale) south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionians, Ionian and Dorians, Dorian Greeks colonized the west of i ...

n leader of mercenaries; but the plan was betrayed by Hierocles to his commanding officer, and Heracleides caused the Athenians to be admitted into the fort, to the number of 420 men, when they were surrounded by his troops, and cut to pieces.

Polyaenus Polyaenus or Polyenus ( ; see ae (æ) vs. e; grc-gre, Πoλύαινoς, Polyainos, "much-praised") was a 2nd-century CE Greek author, known best for his ''Stratagems in War'' ( grc-gre, Στρατηγήματα, Strategemata), which has been pr ...

, ''Strategems'' 5.17.1

Notes

{{Authority control Hellenistic generals 3rd-century BC Greek people 3rd-century BC Macedonians Ancient Macedonians in Athens