Somatophylakes

Somatophylakes (Greek: Σωματοφύλακες; singular: somatophylax, σωματοφύλαξ) were the bodyguards of high-ranking people in ancient Greece.

They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedonian nobility, who also acted as high-ranking military officers, holding command positions such as general or chiliarch.

The only complete list of Alexander's bodyguard in the original sources is found in Arrian (6.28.4), upon the extraordinary appointment of Peucestas in Carmania.)

The term somatophylakes is also used to refer to a member of the Royal Hypaspists, the agema, who acted as the King's bodyguard in battle.

The Royal Pages would expect to begin their military service in this unit: thus Pausanias, Philip II's assassin was a member of this corps, not one of the Seven Bodyguards.

Coin of Balacrus , somatophylax of Alexander the Great, as satrap of Cilicia , with letter "B" next to the shield, standing for B[AΛAKPOI]. [ 1 ] Tarsos. 333–323 BC.