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Mandrocles of Samos

Greek engineer from Samos who bridged the Bosporus for Darius, about 513 BCE

In the game: Level 6: The Bridge of Boats

Mandrocles was a Samian engineer who built the bridge of boats on which Darius led his army from Asia into Europe for the Scythian campaign, probably about 513. Almost all that is known of him comes from Herodotus. His bridge is the earliest crossing of the Bosporus recorded in Greek sources, and it shows how the Persian kings drew on the skills of their Greek subjects.

In the game: The chronicle presents Mandrocles as the Samian who bridged the Bosporus with boats for Darius and dedicated a painting of the crossing on Samos, following Herodotus.

Bridging the Bosporus

Ancient account

Herodotus says Darius came from Susa to Chalcedon and crossed into Europe on a bridge of boats made by Mandrocles, by his guess midway between Byzantium and the temple at the mouth of the strait. Darius set up two pillars of white stone there, inscribed in Assyrian and Greek letters with the peoples of his army. The Byzantines later used them for an altar of Artemis, leaving one stone by their temple of Dionysus.

Herodotus 4.85-87

The King's gifts and the painting

Ancient account

Herodotus says Darius was so pleased with the bridge that he gave Mandrocles ten of every kind of gift. Mandrocles spent part of the reward on a painting of the whole crossing, with Darius seated on a throne watching his army pass, and dedicated it in the temple of Hera on Samos. Its verse inscription, which Herodotus quotes, claims a crown for Mandrocles and glory for Samos for carrying out the King's wish. The painting is lost.

Herodotus 4.88

A Samian tradition of building

Ancient account

Herodotus says the Samians made the three greatest works in the Greek world: a water tunnel cut through a mountain by Eupalinus of Megara, a great harbour mole, and the largest temple he knew, begun by Rhoecus. Samos had been under Persian rule since Otanes installed Syloson as tyrant early in Darius's reign. At the Ister Herodotus lists Syloson's son Aeaces among the Greek tyrants, so Mandrocles served Darius as a subject.

Herodotus 3.60; Herodotus 3.139-149; Herodotus 4.138

Date and size of the crossing

Disputed

Herodotus gives no year for the Scythian campaign. Historians usually place it about 513, but some argue for a date several years earlier, and the campaign's aims are also debated. Herodotus says Darius led 700,000 men and 600 ships. Modern historians regard these figures as greatly exaggerated, though a large army clearly crossed.

Herodotus 4.87; P. Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander, 2002