Caranus (hetairos)

Karanos (Greek Κάρανος, † probably 329 BC in Samarkand ) was a Macedonian officer and companion ( Hetairos ) Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

During the Asia campaign Karanos took over in the spring of 331 BC in Egypt in command of the allied Greek infantry ( Corinthian Confederation). In the Battle of Gaugamela in fall of that year, however, he led a stationed on the left wing department of Greek cavalry; the Greek infantry was positioned behind the line of battle as a reserve. All federal troops were dismissed in Ecbatana in 330 BC from the military service and Karanos took over a unit of mercenary cavalry. In the same year he took part in the province of Areia in the fight against Satibarzanes. In the following year he was assigned with 800 cavalry mercenaries commanded by the Pharnuches to combat Spitamenes. From this, they at Polytimetus ( Zeravshan ), however, were attacked and defeated; slightly more than 2,000 men were killed. Whether Karanos was one of the few survivors is unclear, at least he was then no longer mentioned.