Coin of Mazakes as Satrap of Mesopotamia in the Alexandrine Empire. 331-323-2 BC. Obverse:
Athena. Reverse: Athenian owl, MZDK (š”š”š”š” in
Aramaic).[1]
Mazaces succeeded
Sabaces after the latter's death at the
battle of Issus (333 BCE).[2] His office lasted less than a year: when
Alexander the Great invaded Egypt in late 332 BCE, Mazaces did not have enough military force to put up a resistance. Counselled by
Amminapes, who knew Alexander well, Mazaces handed the country to the Macedonian without a fight, along with a treasure of 800
talents of gold. This event marked the end of the shortālived second Egyptian satrapy (343ā332 BCE).[3][4]
It is unknown what happened to Mazaces after this event, but Alexander assigned the role of satrap of Egypt to the
GreekCleomenes of Naucratis before leaving for the East.[5]
Mazakes may have been nominated as satrap of
Mesopotamia in reward for his submission, as coins in his name and in a style similar to his Egyptian predecessor
Sabakes, are found in this region, and the satrap of Mesopotamia at that time is otherwise unknown.[6][7][8][9]