Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 2 - Chapter 54

<w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apelopo%2Fnnhson">Πελοπόννησον</w> <w lemma="ei%29selqw%5Cn">εἰσελθὼν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroko%2Frinqon">Ἀκροκόρινθον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fnas">μείνας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fxeto">εἴχετο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fargos">Ἄργος</w>.

<w lemma="e%29paine%2Fsas">ἐπαινέσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fous">Ἀργείους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasthsa%2Fmenos">καταστησάμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="podo%5Cs">ποδὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29ki%2Fnei">ἐκίνει</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arkadi%2Fas">Ἀρκαδίας</w>.

<w lemma="e%29kbalw%5Cn">ἐκβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="froura%5Cs">φρουρὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29poikodomhqe%2Fntwn">ἐποικοδομηθέντων</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fwn">χωρίων</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnous">Κλεομένους</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gu%3Dtin">Αἰγῦτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Abelmina%3Dtin">Βελμινᾶτιν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paradou%5Cs">παραδοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="frou%2Fria">φρούρια</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Ftais">Μεγαλοπολίταις</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnodon">σύνοδον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgion">Αἴγιον</w>.

<w lemma="a%29pologisa%2Fmenos">ἀπολογισάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhmati%2Fsas">χρηματίσας</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katastaqei%5Cs">κατασταθεὶς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemw%5Cn">ἡγεμὼν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fntwn">ἁπάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w>,

<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="paraxeima%2Fzwn">παραχειμάζων</w> <w lemma="die%2Ftribe">διέτριβε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuw%3Dna">Σικυῶνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ako%2Frinqon">Κόρινθον</w>. <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29arinh%3Ds">ἐαρινῆς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fras">ὥρας</w> <w lemma="e%29nistame%2Fnhs">ἐνισταμένης</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="tritai%3Dos">τριταῖος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Ategeatw%3Dn">Τεγεατῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29phnthko%2Ftwn">ἀπηντηκότων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w>, <w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsas">περιστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcato">ἤρξατο</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnwn">χρωμένων</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="loiph%3D%7C">λοιπῇ</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fa%7C">πολιορκίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29ru%2Fgmasi">ὀρύγμασι</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="a%29pelpi%2Fsantes">ἀπελπίσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Ategea%3Dtai">Τεγεᾶται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fan">σωτηρίαν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs">αὑτούς</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalisa%2Fmenos">ἀσφαλισάμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fxeto">εἴχετο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%2Fn">Λακωνικήν</w>.

<w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsas">ἐγγίσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnei">Κλεομένει</w> <w lemma="prokaqhme%2Fnw%7C">προκαθημένῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="katepei%2Fraze">κατεπείραζε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstato%2F">συνίστατό</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolismou%2Fs">ἀκροβολισμούς</w>.

<w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katasko%2Fpwn">κατασκόπων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29orxomenou%3D">Ὀρχομενοῦ</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="parabebohqhke%2Fnai">παραβεβοηθηκέναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnh">Κλεομένη</w>, <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29nazugh%5Cn">ἀναζυγὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29pei%2Fgeto">ἠπείγετο</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29orxomeno%5Cn">Ὀρχομενὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Dle:">εἷλε·</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsas">περιστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amantine%2Fwn">Μαντινέων</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkei">ἐπολιόρκει</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.

<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="kataplhcame%2Fnwn">καταπληξαμένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fntwn">λαβόντων</w> <w lemma="u%28poxei%2Frion">ὑποχείριον</w>, <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hrai%2Fas">Ἡραίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atelfou%2Fshs">Τελφούσης</w>.

<w lemma="paralabw%5Cn">παραλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>, <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="prosxwrhsa%2Fntwn">προσχωρησάντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptontos">συνάπτοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgion">Αἴγιον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnodon">σύνοδον</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkou">οἴκου</w> <w lemma="diafh%3Dke">διαφῆκε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xeimasi%2Fan">χειμασίαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="diele%2Fgeto">διελέγετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sundienoei%3Dto">συνδιενοεῖτο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w>.

Antigonus now safely entered the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> and took possession of the Acrocorinthus and, without wasting any time there, pushed on and reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>.

Having thanked the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argives&groupId=361&placeId=688">Argives</a> and put matters in the city on a proper footing, he moved on again at once, making for Arcadia.

After having ejected the garrisons from the forts that Cleomenes had built there to command the country in the territory of Aegys and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Belbina&groupId=396&placeId=739">Belbina</a>, and handed over these forts to the Megalopolitans, he returned to Aegium where the Council of the Achaean League was in session.

He gave them an account of the measures he had taken and arranged with them for the future conduct of the war. They thereupon appointed him commander-in-chief of all the allied forces,

and after this he retired for a short time to his winter quarters near Sicyon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a>. Early in spring he advanced with his army

and reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> in three days. Here the Achaeans joined him, and the siege of the city was opened.

The Macedonians conducted the siege energetically, especially by mining, and the Tegeans soon gave up all hope of holding out and surrendered.

Antigonus, after securing the city, continued to pursue his plan of campaign and advanced rapidly on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>.

He encountered Cleomenes posted on the frontier to defend <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a> and began to harass him, a few skirmishes taking place;

but on learning from his scouts that the troops from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a> had left to come to the aid of Cleomenes, he at once hastily broke up his camp and hurried thither.

He surprised <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a>, and captured it by assault, and after this he laid siege to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a>

which likewise the Macedonians soon frightened into submission and then he advanced on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Telphusa&groupId=1013&placeId=1783">Telphusa</a>

which the inhabitants surrendered to him of their own accord. The winter was now approaching. Antigonus came to Aegium to be present at the meeting of the Achaean Synod,

and dismissing all his Macedonians to their homes for the winter, occupied himself in discussing the present situation with the Achaeans and making joint plans for the future.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

2.36.0 - 2.70.0

Events in Greece: rise of the Achaean League; theCleomenean War P. closes his <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w> with this survey of the earlier history of Macedon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>. He is clearly influenced by his own interests as an Achaean statesman, and his reason for not dealing similarly with events in Asia and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> (37. 6) is not wholly convincing. Nevertheless, his decision can be justified. Under Philip V Macedon played a prominent part in the rise of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to world dominion; and to an Achaean the growth of the League to embrace the whole <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> no doubt seemed an integral part of the story of the unification of the oecumene. Laqueur (10–11) and Gelzer (Hermes, 1940, 27–37) have argued that P. inserted the Achaean <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w> in his history only towards the end of his life, and after 146. Two passages (iii. 32. 2–3, xxxix. 8. 4–5) speak of the recording of western events from the First Punic War, but of Greek events only from the end of Aratus' Memoirs, i.e. 220; and Gelzer assumes that when P. wrote these the second half of book ii was not envisaged. Such passages as i. 13. 1–5 and iv. 1. 4–9 will also, he suggests, be later insertions; and the obvious difficulty created by references in these chapters to the Achaean League as still existent (38. 4, 42. 2 ff., 62. 4), which clearly date to before 146, he surmounts by the hypothesis of an earlier work composed to further the propaganda conducted for the return of the exiles after 166, and later incorporated in the main history. However, this thesis fails to account for 37. 8 ff., which forms an essential part of the introductory chapters, and must therefore, on Gelzer's hypothesis, have been written when the earlier work was grafted upon the main history, yet clearly implies the continued existence of the League. It is therefore to be rejected. M. Treu (Historia, 1954/5, 219–28) has valid criticism of Gelzer's hypothesis; but his own argument attributing this part of P.'s work to an excursus in his Life of Philopoemen is equally unconvincing. Granted P.'s Achaean upbringing, there is nothing in ii. 37–70 which does not spring naturally from his original scheme; and indeed the chapters have more relevance if composed before than after 146, when the contribution made by the League to oecumenical unity must have been much less apparent. On the use of the synoptic <milestone unit="page" n="215">[215]</milestone> method in these chapters see Lorenz, 31; but the argument of Sieg- fried (102 ff.) that P. regards the union of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> under <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> as the realization of A Stoic ideal (ein verkleinertes Abbild der stoischen Kosmopolis) is unconvincing. On the Achaean <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w> Gelzer, Kl. Schr. iii. 206, now believes with Ziegler (RE, 'Polybios', col. 1476) that in 168 the Achaica was more or less complete; he suggests that P.'s work on the Philopoemen led him to conceive the idea of continuing Aratus. See now xxxix. 8. 1–8 n., arguing that Gelzer's hypothesis that the Achaean section of book ii was composed before 168 but not included in the Histories until very late, indeed after the composition of the epilogue, is to be accepted as the most reasonable solution of the problems raised here and by iii. 32. 2.

Specifics

2.54.2 - 2.54.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καταστησάμενος τὰ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν</w>:</emph> cf. Plut. Arat. 44. 5, <w lang="el-GR">Ἄρατος δὲ στρατηγὸς αἱρεθεὶς ὑπ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">Ἀργείων</w> (on this phrase see Aymard, ACA, 113–14, n. 2) <w lang="el-GR">ἔπεισεν αὐτοὺς Ἀντιγόνῳ τά τε τῶν τυράννων καὶ τὰ τῶν προδοτῶν χρήματα δωρεὰν δοῦναι</w>. On Aristomachus' execution see 59. 1 ff.; and for the massacre which followed cf. v. 16. 6.

2.54.3 - 2.54.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν Αἰγῦτιν καὶ Βελμινᾶτιν χώραν</w>:</emph> Aegytis in north-west <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, a district lying around various tributaries of the Alpheius, rising in the north of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Taygetus&groupId=1009&placeId=1775">Taygetus</a>, took its name from an ancient town Aegys, destroyed, tradition reported, by the Spartan kings Archelaus and Charillus, who suspected it of Arcadian sympathies (Paus. iii. 2. 5, viii. 27. 4, 34. 5; Strabo, viii. 364, x. 446; Bölte, RE, '<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>', cols. 1310–12). On the Belminatis (Belbinatis) see 46. 5 n.; among the forts handed over to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> will be the Athenaeum, and, in the Aegytis, Leuctra (Plut. Cleom. 6. 3; cf. Thuc. v. 54; the exact site is disputed). Doson must have marched near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> to reach <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, but postponed its capture till the next year (54. 6 ff.). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἧκε πρὸς τὴν τῶν Ἀχαιῶν σύνοδον</w>:</emph> probably September 224, since Antigonus goes on to winter quarters. That there are so few events in this campaigning season is possibly due to Antigonus' having been held up at the Isthmus longer than P. suggests; in which case the <milestone unit="page" n="255">[255]</milestone> revolt of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> may have been as late as midsummer 224. Ferrabino (262–8) compresses Doson's Arcadian campaign into the early months of 224 and dates this <w lang="el-GR">σύνοδος</w> to February–March 224; but this chronology is only likely in conjunction with his date of 223 for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a>, and on other grounds this cannot stand (65–69 n.). See Aymard, ACA, 269 n., 'on concluera . . . que l'automne est probable, mais non certain'.

2.54.4 - 2.54.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατασταθεὶς ἡγεμὼν ἁπάντων τῶν συμμάχων</w>:</emph> cf. 37. 1 n. Besides the Achaeans there were evidently present representatives of the various states which now united to form the Symmachy under the presidency of the king of Macedon. The Symmachy was a League of Confederacies, following in other respects the example of the Leagues of Alexander and Demetrius Poliorcetes. The original members were the Achaeans, Macedonians (but see below), Thessalians, Epirotes, Acarnanians, Boeotians, Phocians (cf. iv. 9. 4, 15. 1), Euboeans (xi. 5. 4; perhaps directly subject to Macedon) and possibly Opuntian Locris (xi. 5. 4; unless it was subject to Boeotia (Walbank, Philip, 16 n. 3) or Macedon (Feyel, 172 n. 2)). For the relations of these states to Macedon immediately before 224 see Fine, AJP, 1940, 151 n. 92 (with the note to 49. 6 above on Boeotia and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phocis&groupId=892&placeId=1606">Phocis</a>). The form of Doson's dedication at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delos&groupId=533&placeId=1004">Delos</a> after <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a> (Syll. 518 = IG, xi. 4. 1097, <w lang="el-GR">Βασιλεὺς Ἀντίγον[ος βασιλέ?ως] | Δημητρίου κα[ὶ Μακεδόνες] | καὶ οἱ σύμμαχοι [ἀπὸ τῆς περὶ] | Σελλασίαν μά[χης Ἀπόλλωνι]</w>.) suggests that the Macedonians were not members of the Symmachy except through their king (as one might expect) (cf. Treves, Athen., 1935, 52–53). 'The Council or Synedrion of the Symmachy could be summoned by the king of Macedon in his capacity of president, and had the power to decide questions of war and peace, the voting of supplies and the co-opting of new members; moreover, the king of Macedon was ex officio commander-in-chief. But the Symmachy possessed no treasury, and all decisions were subject to ratification by the legislative bodies of the separate leagues, which thus maintained a considerable measure of independence. Eventually the Symmachy was to prove a failure; but what should have been immediately clear was that, so long as the king of Macedon was prepared to abide by its terms, the domination which it offered him was largely illusory; on the other hand, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> and the other small federal states would profit by Macedonian military protection, without sustaining any appreciable loss of autonomy' (Walbank, Philip, 15–16; bibliography there). At this meeting Antigonus was probably elected hegemon of the Achaean League, a position formerly held by Ptolemy (Plut. Arat. 38. 9, cf. 24. 4), and a law was passed enjoining the Achaean magistrates to summon an assembly whenever the king of Macedon required them (cf. iv. 85. 3, v. 1. 6). On the Symmachy see Schmitt, SV A, iii. no. 507.

2.54.5 - 2.54.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">χρόνον μέν τινα παραχειμάζων</w>:</emph> i.e. winter 224/3. <w lang="el-GR">χρόνον τινά</w> need not imply an abnormally short stay in winter quarters. <milestone unit="page" n="256">[256]</milestone>

2.54.7 - 2.54.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ Τεγεᾶται . . . παρέδοσαν αὑτούς</w>:</emph> cf. Plut. Cleom. 23. 1. Doson may have installed a garrison; cf. § 8, <w lang="el-GR">ἀσφαλισάμενος τὰ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν</w>. See, further, 70. 4 n.

2.54.11 - 2.54.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸν μὲν Ὀρχομενὸν . . . εἷλε</w>:</emph> in 226 (for the date see Walbank, Aratos, 194–5), after defeating Megistonous and the Spartans near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a> (Plut. Arat. 38. 1), Aratus had failed to recover the town; and Phylarchus (Plut. Arat. 45. 1) retails the complaint that he now allowed Antigonus to plunder <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a> and to garrison it (cf. iv. 6. 5). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τῶν Μαντινέων . . . πόλιν</w>:</emph> cf. 46. 2. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> was taken by Cleomenes from the Aetolians in 229, captured by Aratus in 227 (Plut. Arat. 36. 2–3; Cleom. 5. 1), recaptured with the connivance of the pro-Spartan party in 226 (Plut. Cleom. 14. 1), and now (223) taken by Doson and the Achaeans. For Phylarchus' sympathy for its fate, and P.'s reply, see 56. 6 ff.; cf. Plut. Arat. 45. 6–9; Cleom. 23. 1; Fougres, 500 ff.

2.54.12 - 2.54.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν ἐφ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">Ἡραίας καὶ Τελφούσης</w>:</emph> <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a> lay on the right bank of the Alpheius, 15 stades east of the Ladon (Paus. viii. 26. 1–3); cf. Frazer, Pausanias, iv. 295–6; Ziegler, RE, 'Heraia (1)', cols. 407 ff. (with map). <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Telphusa&groupId=1013&placeId=1783">Telphusa</a> was about 10 miles north of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a> on the left bank of the Ladon; cf. Frazer, op. cit. iv. 286 f.; E. Meyer, Pel. Wand. 86. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a> had been taken by the Achaean general Dioetas in 236, and this presupposes the Achaean possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Telphusa&groupId=1013&placeId=1783">Telphusa</a>; cf. Beloch, iv. 1. 632 n. 2; Walbank, JHS, 1936, 66. Cleomenes had seized <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a> prior to his coup in 227 (Plut. Cleom. 7. 5), and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Telphusa&groupId=1013&placeId=1783">Telphusa</a> either then or in 225.

2.54.13 - 2.54.13

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παραλαβὼν δὲ καὶ ταύτας</w>:</emph> Doson put a Macedonian garrison into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraea&groupId=626&placeId=1151">Heraea</a>, as he had done at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a>; for Philip held it in 208, when he offered to restore it to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> (Livy, xxviii. 8. 6, cf. xxxii. 5. 4 for the actual restoration in 199/8). Aymard's suggestion (PR, 25–27 n. 5), that the Macedonian garrison dated only from a postulated recovery by Philip from the Aetolians in 208, seems over- complicated; cf. Walbank, Philip, 17 n. 2. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">συνάπτοντος τοῦ χειμῶνος</w>:</emph> 'since winter was now at hand'. In fact P. uses no word for autumn, and this phrase indicates a time around the autumnal equinox, the beginning of the bad season. Cf. Holleaux, REA, 1923, 354 (= tudes, iv. 286); REG, 1924, 314 n. 1 (=tudes, ii. 161 n. 1); BCH, 1932, 534–6 (=tudes, iv. 338–40); Aymard, Mlanges Glotz (Paris, 1932), i. 53 n. 1. (For the period from early October to early December P. uses the phrase <w lang="el-GR">χειμὼν καταρχόμενος</w>; cf. xvi. 24. 1.) The synodos was the regular meeting of autumn 223. Pdech Mthode, 462 ff., argues that for P. <w lang="el-GR">χειμών</w> begins at the traditional date, the morning setting of the Pleiades, c. 7 November (cf. iii. 54. 1 n.). Hence <w lang="el-GR">ἤδη συνάπτοντος τοῦ χειμῶνος</w> will be the first third of November, and <w lang="el-GR">χειμὼν καταρχόμενος</w> will cover about 20 November–20 December (cf. xvi. 24. 1).

Addenda & corrigenda

2.37.0 - 2.70.0

on the Achaean <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w>? Gelzer, Kl. Schr. iii. 206, now believes with Ziegler (RE, 'Polybios', col. 1476) that in 168 the Achaica was more or less complete; he suggests that P.'s work on the Philopoemen led him to conceive the idea of continuing Aratus.

2.54.13 - 2.54.13

Pdech Mthode, 462 ff., argues that for P. <w lang="el-GR">χειμών</w> begins at the traditional date, the morning setting of the Pleiades, c. 7 November (cf. iii. 54. 1 n.). Hence <w lang="el-GR">ἤδη συνάπτοντος τοῦ χειμῶνος</w> will be the first third of November, and <w lang="el-GR">χειμὼν καταρχόμενος</w> will cover about 20 November–20 December (cf. xvi. 24. 1).

2.37.0 - 2.70.0

see now xxxix. 8. 1–8 n., arguing that Gelzer's hypothesis that the Achaean section of book ii was composed before 168 but not included in the Histories until very late, indeed after the composition of the epilogue, is to be accepted as the most reasonable solution of the problems raised here and by iii. 32. 2.

2.54.4 - 2.54.4

on the Symmachy see Schmitt, SV A, iii. no. 507.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

Commentary