Nicocles (Salamis)

Nicocles (Greek: Νικοκλῆς, Nikoklēs) was an Ancient Greek Cypriot king of Salamis, Cyprus. He became in 374/3 BC the successor of his (presumed) father Evagoras I. Nicocles continued the philhellenic politics of his father. Nicocles died probably together with Straton of Sidon during the revolt of satraps (362 to 360 v. Chr.). He was followed as the king by his son Evagoras II.

Some authors have supposed that he had participated in the conspiracy to which his father Evagoras fell a victim; but there is no authority for this supposition, which has indeed been adopted only by way of explaining the strange error into which Diodorus has fallen, who represents Nicocles himself as the eunuch by whom Evagoras was assassinated.^[1]

Scarcely any particulars are known of the reign of Nicocles, but it appears to have been one of peace and prosperity. If we may trust the statement of his panegyrist Isocrates (who addressed to him two of his orations, and has made him the subject of another), he raised the cities under his rule to the most flourishing condition, replenished the treasury, which had been exhausted by his father's wars, without oppressing his subjects by exorbitant taxes, and exhibited in all respects the model of a mild and equitable ruler.^[2] The same author extols him also for his attachment to literature and philosophy,^[3] of which he afforded an additional proof by rewarding Isocrates himself for his panegyric with the magnificent present of twenty talents (Vit. X. Orat. p. 838, a.). The orator also praises him for the purity of his domestic relations; but we learn from Theopompus and Anaximenes of Lampsacus (ap. Athen. xii. p. 531), that he was a person of luxurious habits, and used to vie with Straton, king of Sidon, in the splendour and refinement of his feasts and other sensual indulgences. According to the same authorities he ultimately perished by a violent death, but neither the period nor circumstances of this event are recorded.

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