Polybius, Histories
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Book 21 - Chapter 3b

1
<head lang="la">II. Res Graeciae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w>, <w lemma="presbei%2Fas">πρεσβείας</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnhs">παραγενομένης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axai+%2Fan">Ἀχαΐαν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>,
2
<w lemma="a%28qroisqe%2Fntes">ἁθροισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kklhsi%2Fan">ἐκκλησίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fan">συμμαχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29peku%2Frwsan">ἐπεκύρωσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskous">νεανίσκους</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w>, <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%2Fn">ἑκατόν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="%2Adiofa%2Fnhs">Διοφάνης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Fths">Μεγαλοπολίτης</w>. —
<head>II. Affairs of Greece</head><head>Eumenes and Achaea</head>In Greece, too, when an embassy reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> from King Eumenes proposing an alliance,
the Achaean people meeting in a general assembly voted the alliance and sent off soldiers — a thousand foot and a hundred horse under the command of Diophanes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
21.3.1 - 21.3.4
<p rend="Plain Text">Embassy to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> from Philip (191/0)</p> <p rend="Plain Text">Livy, xxxvi. 35. 12–13 records this embassy as a pendant to his account of the previous autumn's events in Greece. After Acilius and Flamininus had visited the Achaean meeting at Aegium (Livy, xxxvi. 35. 7; above 2. 3 n.), Epirote envoys came to defend their state before the consul, who referred them to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (Livy, xxxvi. 35. 8–10). This is all from P.; but the account of the hearing of Philip's envoys at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (following the Epirotes), is so different from that here, that Nissen (KU, 185) seems right in assigning to it an annalistic origin (Livy, xxxvi. 35. 12–13). According to Livy, the Macedonian envoys were granted permission to dedicate centum pondo coronam auream on the Capitol.</p>
21.3.1 - 21.3.2
<p rend="Plain Text">Achaean alliance with Eumenes (191/0)</p> <p rend="Plain Text"> Eumenes' embassy was evidently later than his return home after Corycus (Livy, xxxvi. 45. 6), i.e. autumn 191; and Diophanes' strategia (autumn 192/autumn 191) had expired, since he was sent in command of the Achaean troops. Livy omits the embassy, but <milestone unit="page" n="91">[91]</milestone> (after P.) records the arrival of the troops at Elaea in spring 190 (Livy, xxxvii. 20. 1); so the embassy was a little before then (cf. Bttner-Wobst, Phil. 1900, 570–2; Aymard, PR, 373–4 n. 8). For the theory that P. was among the Achaean contingent, first propounded by Mommsen (RG, ii. 449; Röm. Forsch. ii. 538 f.) see Pdech, Mthode, 359 n. 27; for an argument against it see above, Vol. I, p. 1 n. 1; Aymard, PR, 374–5 n. 14. </p>
Specifics
21.3.2 - 21.3.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀπολογιζόμενοι τὴν εὔνοιαν κτλ</w>.:</emph> stereotyped chancellery phrases; cf. iv. 3. 2; Holleaux, tudes, iii. 119 n. 3. </p>
21.3.3 - 21.3.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ημήτριον ἀπέλυσε</w>:</emph> cf. xviii. 39. 5 n.; Walbank, Philip, 176. Demetrius, now about fifteen (Livy, xl. 6. 41), had been sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> as a hostage under the agreement made in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tempe&groupId=1015&placeId=1786">Tempe</a> in 197, when Philip was permitted to send envoys to the Senate to sue for peace. The remaining hostages were also released now (11. 9). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διαφυλάξαντος . . . τὴν πίστιν</w>:</emph> especially, no doubt, by helping in the forthcoming Roman march through Macedon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a>. </p>
21.3.4 - 21.3.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων ὁμήρους ἀφῆκε</w>:</emph> cf. 1. 3 n. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μεταλλά?ξαι τὸν βίον</w>:</emph> thus depriving the Senate of the advantages of retaining him. </p>
21.3.1 - 21.3.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα</w>:</emph> <w lang="el-GR">καί</w> is probably added by the excerptor; cf. Bttner-Wobst, Phil. 1900, 570. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὑπὲρ συμμαχίας</w>:</emph> that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> already had an alliance (with Attalus) is suggested by Eumenes' sending ambassadors in 187 to renew <w lang="el-GR">τὴν συμμαχίαν τὴν πατρικήν</w> (xxii. 7. 8); and Livy, xxxii. 23. 1 (198) confirms this, if one accepts the usual text 'societatem cum 〈Attalo〉 ac Rhodiis [MSS. read cum Romanis ac Rhodiis (B)which must be wrongor cum Rhodiis] praesenti decreto confirmarunt'. In that case, was this Eumenes' first renewal? (He could have overlooked the matter until it became relevant: Aymard, PR, 374 n. 9.) Moreover, the word used here (§ 2) is not <w lang="el-GR">ἀνανεοῦσθαι</w>, P.'s normal word for a renewal (cf. Daux, Mlanges Desrousseaux, 119–22), but <w lang="el-GR">ἐπικυροῦν</w> 'ratify'. Errington, 280–1, has therefore suggested that, assuming the renewal of 187 to be of a treaty sworn for ten years upon Eumenes' accession, the present embassy was concerned merely to recall its terms and to inquire tactfully whether the Achaeans were willing to honour it by sending troops (as they did). Against this, P. certainly seems to be recording something more formal: <w lang="el-GR">τὴν . . . συμμαχίαν ἐπεκύρωσαν</w>. Perhaps then Eumenes had not renewed the alliance with Attalus, and now, since he wanted help, found it less embarrassing to ignore it and ask for a new one; or, by presenting his proposal as one for a new alliance, he was able to have a special meeting called to consider it, whereas a mere renewal might have been postponed till a synodos (Larsen, 174)and Eumenes wanted the troops. In 187, when only courtesies and a gift to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> were involved, it may have suited Eumenes to recall the earlier treaty, probably made in 198. Achaean meetings were not always clear about the previous history of treaties up for renewal; cf. xxii. 9. 5 ff. for Lycortas' confusion about an Egyptian alliance. If the above solution is accepted, <w lang="el-GR">ὑπὲρ συμμαχίας</w> has its normal meaning, 'about an alliance'. </p>
21.3.2 - 21.3.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἁθροισθέντες εἰς ἐκκλησίαν οἱ πολλοί</w>:</emph> a specially convened syncletos of the Achaean assembly to hear proposals (involving the sending of troops overseas) from a foreign ambassador; see Larsen, 174; Giovannini, Mus. Helv. 1969, 10; below, pp. 413–14 (appendix to book xxix). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">νεανίσκους ἐξαπέστειλαν</w>:</emph> Livy, xxxvii. 20. 2 (following P.) calls them <milestone unit="page" n="92">[92]</milestone> 'ueterani omnes et periti belli'; and App. Syr. 26 (also going back to P.; cf. Aymard, PR, 374 n. 11) uses <w lang="el-GR">ἐπίλεκτοι. νεανίσκοι</w> is in fact a general word for soldiers (cf. i. 36. 12 n.). These troops later give Eumenes effective help near Pergamum (Livy, xxxvii. 20. 2–21. 4), and they fought at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magnesia&groupId=729&placeId=1336">Magnesia</a> (Livy, xxxvii. 39. 9, 'Achaeorum caetratis immixtos auxiliares Eumenis'; App. Syr. 31 (confused over the numbers); Syll. 606 (a dedication at Pergamum to Athena Nicephoros on behalf of Attalus, Eumenes' brother, by <w lang="el-GR">Ἀχαιῶν οἱ διαβάντες κατὰ? συμμαχίαν πρὸς βασιλέα Εὐμένη</w>, who fought beside Attalus <w lang="el-GR">τὴν ἐν Λυδίαι παρὰ τὸν Φρύγιον ποταμὸν μάχην)</w>). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πεζοὺς μὲν χιλίους ἱππεῖς δ᾽ ἑκατόν</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxxvii. 20. 1. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Διοφάνης ὁ Μεγαλοπολίτης</w>:</emph> son of Diaeus of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> (Paus. viii. 30. 5, 51. 1; Insch. Olymp. 46 l. 5); see 9. 1 for his experience under Philopoemen. His election as general in autumn 192 suggests that he was still a supporter of Philopoemen: cf. Errington, 112 f.; Lehmann, 266; contra De Sanctis, iv. 1. 169 (Philopoemen's adversary) and Aymard, PR, 323 f. (midway, politically, between Aristaenus and Philopoemen); but hostility soon arose between them. Philopoemen may have been critical of his policy by winter 192/1 (Plut. Philop. 17. 1, if authentic); and a clash occurred in spring 191, when Philopoemen excluded Diophanes and Flamininus from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and settled the troubles himself (xx. 12. 1–7 n.). In summer, under Roman pressure, Diophanes withdrew from Messene (Livy, xxxvi. 31. 1–10; Aymard, PR, 341 f.) and yielded to Flamininus' demand that Zacynthus should be surrendered (Livy, xxxvi. 31. 10– 32. 9; Errington, 127–8). Some time after his year of office he led an Achaean embassy to Acilius to request the return to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elatea&groupId=558&placeId=1045">Elatea</a> of its citizens now in Stymphalus; cf. SEG, xi. 1107; Moretti, no. 55; Klaffenbach, BCH, 1968, 257–9, with important new readings. (On the expulsion of the Elateans see xviii. 43. 1 n. Passerini's view that it was the Aetolians who expelled them is defended by Larsen (CP, 1969, 46; GFS, 406), by Lehmann, 120–5 (whose arguments converted J. and L. Robert, Bull. pig. 1968, no. 267; cf. 1969, no. 265), and by Errington, 132 n. 1; but Klaffenbach, loc. cit., and Briscoe (Latomus, 1972, 34 n. 5; Commentary, on Livy, xxxii. 24. 7) both follow Accame's view that Flamininus was responsible.) There is also an inscription relating to Diophanes' strategia: IG. iv <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> . 1. 60. See further Lehmann, 266–84; Deininger, RE, Suppl.-B. xi, 'Diophanes', cols. 534–8. Errington, 136, suggests plausibly that he was sent to Pergamum to get him out of the way, through Philopoemen's influence. </p>

Commentary