Zopyrion’s Scythian Campaign: Historical and Historiographical Problems

Abstract

As related by Quintus Curtius and Macrobius, Zopyrion, who was appointed by Alexander as episkopos of Thrace, attacked Olbia in c. 326 BC. He was annihilated along with his army by the resistance of the city and a storm. The defeat provoked an uprising in Thrace, which had to be subdued. The event, however, occurs in Justin’s Epitome earlier than it had taken place, and coincides with Antipater’s campaign against Agis III of Sparta. This mistaken chronology can be blamed on Justin’s manipulation of Trogus’ Philippic Histories. Justin, who was a native of the Western Black Sea coast, aimed to highlight this debacle of Alexander’s army and to extol the bravery of the Scythians. Therefore, this author makes no reference to the Thracians and the Olbiopolitans. This interest in the deeds of the Western Scythians appears in other passages of Justin’s Epitome. Trogus’ source might have also been influenced by local traditions from the Black Sea area which would explain why the Zopyrion affair occurred at the conclusion of the Book XII of the Philippic Histories.