It was probably this Balacrus who married
Phila, the daughter of
Antipater, and subsequently the wife of
Craterus.[4]
He was probably supervised by
Menes from 331 BC, who held the position of Hyparch or Strategoi for the area from
Babylon to the satrapies of Syria, Phoenicia, and Cilicia.
He fell in battle against the
Pisidians in the lifetime of Alexander.[5] His death is variously placed circa 328 BC or 323 BC.[6][7]
Coinage
Balacrus is among several Hellenistic satraps who continued to use an Achaemenid type for their coinage, complete with the local deity of Tarsus,
Baal.[8] His coinage bore his name, and later only his initial "B".[3] This coinage is said to have influenced Alexander's imperial coinage, which was initially minted in the same mints.[8] The Imperial coinage of Alexander is often said to have been started in Tarsos circa 333–327, under the rule of either Balacrus or
Menes.[9]
Coin of Balacrus, as Satrap of
Cilicia.
Tarsos, 333-323 BC. Baaltars in Aramaic to right on the obverse, letter "B" on the reverse.
Coin of Balacrus, as Satrap of
Cilicia.
Issus, 333-323 BC. Overstruck on a coin of Achaemenid satrap
Tiribazus minted in Tarsos. Letter "B" on the obverse.
Coin of Balakros, Satrap of Cilicia, with letter "B". Tarsos. 333-323 BC
Possible coinage of Balakros, with the letters "B-A".