Nicarchus

• a Roman surname, Inscr. Grut. 650, 4.

(Νίκαρχος), historical.

1. An Arcadian officer among the Greek forces who went to assist the younger Cyrus. When the Greek generals were treacherously assassinated by Tissaphernes, Nicarchus was severely wounded, but not killed, and came and informed the Greeks of what had taken place. He was subsequently induced to go over to the Persians, taking about twenty men with him (Xen. Anab. 2.5.33, 3.3.5).

2. One of the generals of Antiochus. We find him serving in Coelesyria in the war between Antiochus and Ptolemaeus. Together with Theodotus he superintended the siege of Rabbatamana, and with the same general headed the phalanx at the battle of Raphia [Antiochus, Vol. I. p. 196]. (Polvb. 5.69, 71, 79, 83, 85.) [C.P.M]

(Νίκαρχος), literary.

1. A person introduced by Aristophanes Aristoph. Ach. 856), whom Suidas mentions as a sycophant s. vv. μίκρος ρε μῆκος and Φανῶν).

2. An epigrammatist. Reiske It. Notit. p. 249), on insufficient grounds, conjectures he was a native of Samos. From the use of a Latin word in one of his epigrams (Jacobs, Anth. Graec. vol. iii. p. 66), we conclude that he lived at Rome. The inference that he lived near the beginning of the second century of the Christian era seems well founded. It is drawn not only from the general style of his writings, but from the fact, that in one of his epigrams (xxxi.) he satirizes Zopyrus, an Egyptian physician. From Plutarch Symnp. 3.6) we learn that a physician of this name was his contemporary, and Celsus (5.23) mentions Zopyrus in connection with king Ptolemy. (Jacobs, Anthol. Graec. vol. xiii. p. 922.) Works Epigrams

Thirty-eight epigrams are given under his name in the Greek Anthology. (Jacobs, vol. iii. p. 58, &c.) But the authorship of seven of these is doubtful. On the other hand, the third of Lollius Bassus, and four others of uncertain authorship, are assigned to him. Assessment

The merit of these epigrams is not great. They are mostly satirical, and are often absurdly extravagant. What is worse, they are sometimes disfigured with grossness and obscenity. Further Information

Jacobs, Anthol. Graec. II. cc. and vol. x. p. 17, &c.; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. iv. p. 484. [W.M.G]

(Νίκαρχος). A writer to whom are ascribed thirty-eight epigrams in the Greek Anthology. Of his personality nothing is known.