
Achillas (died 47 BC) was one of the guardians of Ptolemy XIII and the commander of the king's troops at the time of Julius Caesar's arrival in Egypt in 48 BC.
Biography[]
Achillas was a renowned Egyptian general who was made one of Ptolemy XIII's guardians, alongside Theodotus of Chios and Pothinus. Achillas and Lucius Septimius assassinated Pompey the Great in 48 BC and presented his severed head to Roman leader Julius Caesar upon his arrival in Egypt that year, making Caesar weep and feel angry. Achillas would join Pothinus in resisting Caesar, commanding 20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. Achillas murdered the ambassadors sent by Caesar to negotiate with him during the Siege of Alexandria, and Ptolemy's sister Arsinoe IV of Egypt fled from Roman-held Alexandria to join Achillas. However, the two soon quarrelled, and Arsinoe had the eunuch Ganymedes assassinate Achillas.