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The battle of Andros is one of the more obscure naval battles of the
Hellenistic era. It was fought between a Macedonian fleet under Antigonus
“the old man”, and an Egyptian fleet, close to the important Egyptian
naval base on Andros. The date of 246 BC is not certain, and is partly based on
the establishment of two vase festivals at Delos in 245 BC by
Antigonus II Gonatas
to celebrate an unknown victory. This date would place the battle as taking
place during the Third
Syrian War (246-241 BC), between Ptolemaic Egypt and the Seleucid Empire.
Although Macedonia is not known to have taken part directly in that war, that
does not preclude this date. The result of the battle is known. The Macedonian
fleet, under the command of Antigonus, defeated a larger Egyptian fleet, under
a commander called Sophron. The defeat seems to have ended serious Egyptian
interest in the Aegean, although she still possessed a powerful fleet, which
played a part in the Third Syrian War, as well as limited possessions in the
area, including the island of Thera.
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