Peucestas
(
Πευκέστας). A Macedonian, who was a distinguished officer
of Alexander the Great. He had the chief share in saving the life of Alexander in the assault
on the city of the Malli in India, and was afterwards appointed by the king to the satrapy of
Persia. In the division of the provinces after the death of Alexander (B.C. 323), he obtained
the renewal of his government of Persia. He fought on the side of Eumenes against Antigonus
(317-316), but displayed both arrogance and insubordination in these campaigns. Upon the
surrender of Eumenes by the Argyraspids, Peucestas fell into the hands of Antigonus, who
deprived him of his satrapy (Arrian,
Anab. vi. 9-30; vii. 23).