Nicānor
（
Νικάνωρ).
1.
A Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great, who, on the death of Perdiccas, received the
government of Cappadocia. Antigonus made him governor of Media and its adjacent provinces,
but in 312 he was deposed by Seleucus.
2.
A Macedonian officer under Cassander, by whom he was secretly despatched, immediately on
the death of Antipater in B.C. 319, to take the command of the Macedonian garrison at
Munychia. Nicanor arrived at Athens before the news of Antipater's death, and thus readily
obtained possession of the fortress. Soon afterwards he surprised the Piraeus also, and
placed both fortresses in the hands of Cassander on the arrival of the latter in Attica in
318. Nicanor was afterwards despatched by Cassander with a fleet to the Hellespont, where he
gained a victory over the admiral of Polysperchon. On his return to Athens he incurred the
suspicion of Cassander, and was put to death (
Diod.xviii. 64
foll.;
Plut. Phoc. 33).
