Apollodorus (general)

Apollodorus was the name of several individuals in the ancient world, but the most prominent Apollodorus to hold the position of a general was a military commander who served under Cleopatra VII of Egypt. He is primarily known for his role in the Egyptian dynastic struggles during the time of Julius Caesar's intervention.

Apollodorus, a Sicilian by birth, was a loyal follower of Cleopatra. He played a crucial part in Cleopatra's return to Egypt and her subsequent efforts to secure her throne after being ousted by her brother, Ptolemy XIII.

His most notable action was aiding Cleopatra in gaining access to Julius Caesar. According to accounts, when Ptolemy XIII's forces controlled Alexandria and prevented Cleopatra from reaching Caesar, Apollodorus smuggled her into the palace disguised in a carpet. This dramatic entry allowed Cleopatra to plead her case directly to Caesar, ultimately leading to his support for her claim to the Egyptian throne.

Following Caesar's intervention and the defeat of Ptolemy XIII, Cleopatra was restored to power, ruling jointly with her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Apollodorus continued to serve Cleopatra, and his loyalty was presumably rewarded with positions of influence. Details about his later life and ultimate fate are scarce, but his role in facilitating Cleopatra's crucial meeting with Caesar cemented his place in historical accounts of the period.