Cleomenes (Greek: Kλεoμένης Kleoménes; died 322 BC), a Greek of Naucratis in Ancient Egypt, was appointed by Alexander III of Macedon as nomarch of the Arabian district (νoμoς) of Egypt and receiver of the tributes from all the nomes (districts) of ancient Egypt and the neighbouring part of Africa (331 BC).
Life
Some of the ancient writers say that Alexander made Cleomenes satrap of Egypt. Still, Arrian expressly states that the other nomarchs were independent of him, except that they had to pay him the tributes of their districts. It would, however, appear that he had no difficulty extending his depredations over all of Egypt, and it is possible that he would have taken the title of satrap. It is told that his rapacity knew no bounds, that he exercised his office solely for his advantage.
When the grain was scarce, which was less severe in Egypt than in the neighbouring countries, he first forbade its export from Egypt. But when the nomarchs represented that this measure prevented them from raising the proper amount of tribute, he permitted grain export but placed a heavy export duty on it. On another occasion, when the price of grain was ten drachmas, Cleomenes bought it up and sold it at 32 drachmas; in other ways, he interfered with the markets for his gain.
Alexander had entrusted him to build the new city of Alexandria. Cleomenes informed the people of Canopus, then the chief emporium of Egypt, that he must move them to the new town. They provided him with a large sum of money to avert such evil. But, as the building of Alexandria advanced, he again demanded that the people of Canopus pay him a large sum of money, which they could not pay. So this provided him with the excuse for removing them.
He also made money out of the superstitions of the people. After one of his boys had been killed by a crocodile, he ordered the crocodiles to be destroyed. But, he revoked his order in return for all the money the priests gathered to save their sacred animals. On another occasion, he sent for the priests and informed them that the religious establishment was too expensive and must be reduced. So the priests handed over to him the treasures of their temples. So he then left them undisturbed.
Alexander was informed of Cleomenes’ actions but found it convenient to take no notice of them. But after his return to Babylon in 323 BC, he wrote to Cleomenes, commanding him to erect a splendid monument to Hephaestion at Alexandria. He promised that if this work were zealously performed, he would overlook his misconduct.
In the distribution of Alexander’s empire after his death (323 BC), Cleomenes remained in Egypt as satrap under Ptolemy, who put him to death on suspicion of his favouring Perdiccas. The effect, if not also a cause, of this act was that Ptolemy could take possession of Cleomenes’ accumulated wealth, which amounted to 8000 talents.
