Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 22 - Chapter 18

<head lang="la">E. Olymp. 148, 4. I. Res Macedoniae Et Graeciae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5Cn">φησὶν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbios">Πολύβιος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ei%29kostw%3D%7C">εἰκοστῷ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Frw%7C:">δευτέρῳ·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fa%7C">Μακεδονίᾳ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29fu%2Feto">ἐφύετο</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nhke%2Fstwn">ἀνηκέστων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2F">ἀρχή</w>.

<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="g%27">γ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnow%3D">ἀγνοῶ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafo%2Fntwn">συγγραφόντων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fntos">συστάντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pideiknu%2Fnai">ἐπιδεικνύναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="diafora%3Ds">διαφορᾶς</w>, <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pofai%2Fnousi">ἀποφαίνουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29abroupo%2Flios">Ἀβρουπόλιος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkptwsin">ἔκπτωσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="katadramo%2Fntos">καταδραμόντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fggaion">Πάγγαιον</w> <w lemma="me%2Ftalla">μέταλλα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fnaton:">θάνατον·</w>

<w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parabohqh%2Fsas">παραβοηθήσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="treya%2Fmenos">τρεψάμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbale">ἐξέβαλε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds:">ἀρχῆς·</w>

<w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Adolopi%2Fan">Δολοπίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%5Cn">εἰσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Adelfou%5Cs">Δελφοὺς</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w>,

<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="e%29piboulh%5Cn">ἐπιβουλὴν</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhn">γενομένην</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Adelfoi%3Ds">Δελφοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Aboiwti%2Fas">Βοιωτίας</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29panai%2Fresin">ἐπαναίρεσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi%2F">ἔνιοί</w> <w lemma="fasi">φασι</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dnai">φῦναι</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>.

<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="fhmi">φημι</w> <w lemma="kuriw%2Ftaton">κυριώτατον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="suggra%2Ffousi">συγγράφουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsi">φιλομαθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="genna%3Dtai">γεννᾶται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fetai">φύεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn:">πραγμάτων·</w> <w lemma="sugke%2Fxutai">συγκέχυται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dsqai">κρατεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fni">τίνι</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frei">διαφέρει</w> <w lemma="pro%2Ffasis">πρόφασις</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fsews">προφάσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5C">ἀρχὴ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="prosupomimnhsko%2Fntwn">προσυπομιμνησκόντων</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasmai">ἠνάγκασμαι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nanew%2Fsasqai">ἀνανεώσασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="r%28hqe%2Fntwn">ῥηθέντων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dta">πρῶτα</w> <w lemma="profa%2Fseis">προφάσεις</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%2F">εἰσί</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Da">τελευταῖα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29piboulh%5Cn">ἐπιβουλὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="presbeutw%3Dn">πρεσβευτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nai%2Fresin">ἀναίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Ftera">ἕτερα</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsia">παραπλήσια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%5C">ἀρχαὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fdhloi">πρόδηλοι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fntos">συστάντος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kataluqh%3Dnai">καταλυθῆναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn:">ἀρχήν·</w>

<w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fa">αἰτία</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fa">οὐδεμία</w>. <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="r%28hqhsome%2Fnwn">ῥηθησομένων</w>.

<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpomen">εἴπομεν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amu%2Fntou">Ἀμύντου</w> <w lemma="dianohqh%3Dnai">διανοηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsqai">προθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="suntelei%3Dn">συντελεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsas">Πέρσας</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandron">Ἀλέξανδρον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="kekrime%2Fnois">κεκριμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pigene%2Fsqai">ἐπιγενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="xeiristh%5Cn">χειριστὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippon">Φίλιππον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fou">Δημητρίου</w> <w lemma="fame%5Cn">φαμὲν</w> <w lemma="dianohqh%3Dnai">διανοηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmas">ἑτοίμας</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrh%2Fsantos">ἐκχωρήσαντος</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fa">Περσέα</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="xeiristh%5Cn">χειριστὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn:">πράξεων·</w>

<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqe%2Fs">ἀληθές</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dno">κἀκεῖνο</w> <w lemma="safe%2Fs:">σαφές·</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fsteron">ὕστερον</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="teleuth%3Ds">τελευτῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnantos">κρίναντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqeme%2Fnou">προθεμένου</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn:">πολεμεῖν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnois:">εἰρημένοις·</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmena">λεγόμενα</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fstera">ὕστερα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="teleuth%3Ds">τελευτῆς</w>. —

<head>VIII. Affairs of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> and Greece</head>From this time forward dates the commencement of the catastrophes that were fatal to the royal house of Macedon.

I am not indeed unaware that some of the authors who have written about the war of the Romans with Perseus, wishing to indicate the causes of the quarrel, attribute it first to the expulsion of Abrupolis from his principality on the pretext that he had overrun the mines on Mount Pangaeus after the death of Philip,

upon which Perseus, coming to protect them and having utterly routed him, expelled him, as I said, from his principality.

The next cause they give is the invasion of Dolopia by Perseus and his coming to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a>, and further the plot formed at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> against King Eumenes, and the killing of the envoys from Boeotia, these latter events being asserted by some to have been the causes of the war.

Now I maintain that it is most essential both for writers and for students to know the causes from which all events spring and grow. But most writers are guilty of confusion in this matter, owing to their not observing the difference between a pretext and a cause, and between the beginning of a war and pretext for it.

I am therefore, as the circumstances themselves recall to my mind what I said on a previous occasion, compelled to repeat myself.

For of the events I just mentioned the first are pretexts, but the last — the plot against Eumenes and the murder of the envoys and other similar things that took place at the same time — constitute indeed evidently the actual beginning of the war between the Romans and Perseus and the consequent fall of the Macedonian power,

but not a single one of them was its cause. This will be evident from what I am about to say.

For just as I said that Philip, son of Amyntas, conceived and meant to carry out the war against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>, but that it was Alexander who put his decision into execution; so now I maintain that Philip, son of Demetrius, first conceived the notion of entering on the last war against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, and had prepared everything for the purpose, but on his decease Perseus was the executor of the design.

Now if one of these things is true, the other error also is evident. It is not surely possible that the causes of a war can be subsequent to the death of the man who decided on it and purposed to make it; and this is what other writers maintain; for all the things they mention are subsequent to the death of Philip.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

22.18.1 - 22.18.11

should stand between 6. 7 and 7. 1, forming part of the res Macedoniae of Ol. 148. 3 = 186/5; see pp. 10–13. <milestone unit="page" n="186">[186]</milestone>

22.18.1 - 22.18.11

[ Perscus' war against <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> really planned by Philip This fragment from the exc. de sent., corresponding to Livy, xxxix. 23. 5, should stand between 6. 7 and 7. 1, as part of the res Macedoniae of Ol. 148, 3 = 186/5; see pp. 10–13.

Specifics

22.18.1 - 22.18.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀπὸ τούτων τῶν καιρῶν</w>:</emph> Ol. 148, 3 = 186/5; it is under this date that Livy, xxxix. 24. 1 ff., based on P., describes how Philip began building up his resources to meet the eventual war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κακῶν ἀνηκέστων ἀρχή</w>:</emph> including perhaps the quarrel between Perseus and Demetrius, leading to the latter's execution (cf. xxiii. 3. 5, 10. 1 ff.), but primarily the Third Macedonian War and the consequent destruction of the Antigonid monarchy.

22.18.2 - 22.18.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τινὲς τῶν συγγραφόντων κτλ</w>.:</emph> unidentifiable. Two historians of Perseus are known, Straton (FGH, 168; Diog. Laert. v. 61) and Poseidonius (FGH, 189; Plut. Aem. Paul. 19. 3); see Vol. I, p. 30; iii. 32. 8 n.; Pdech, Mthode, 79 n. 121; but P. may also be referring to Roman historians. <milestone unit="page" n="205">[205]</milestone> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν Ἀβρουπόλιος ἔκπτωσιν</w>:</emph> Abrupolis was king of the Sapaei, a Thracian people who lived on the left bank of the Nestus, some distance from the coast (cf. Strabo, xii. 3. 20, C. 549–50; Ptol. Geog. iii. 11. 6, for a later period). The invasion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, mentioned here, which resulted in his dethronement, was perhaps incited by Eumenes (so A. J. Reinach, BCH, 1910, 273 ff.); in it he got as far as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Amphipolis&groupId=320&placeId=623">Amphipolis</a> (see Livy, xlii. 13. 5, 40. 5, 41. 11 ff.; App. Mac. 11. 2, 11. 6; Diod. xxix. 33; Paus. vii. 10. 6; Syll. 643 = Sherk, 40). The sources agree that Abrupolis was socius et amicus of the Roman people, but what this signifieshad he for instance a foedus?is unclear; there is a lacuna at the vital point in Sherk, 40 (ll. 15–17). Nor is it known whether he had the title at the time of his attack on Perseus, or was granted it later. De Sanctis, iv. 1. 273, and Geyer, RE, 'Perseus', col. 1000, both assume that he was made socius et amicus in order to hem in the Macedonians; cf. Meloni, Perseo, 61–65. One of the alleged offences included in the declaration of war on Perseus (171) was that 'aduersus foedus cum patre Philippo ictum et secum post mortem eius renouatum sociis populi Romani arma intulisset' (Livy, xlii. 30. 10). See Tubler, 233. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ περὶ τὸ Πάγγαιον μέταλλα</w>:</emph> the massif of Mt. Pangaeum lies east of the Strymon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Amphipolis&groupId=320&placeId=623">Amphipolis</a>; it is c. 25 km. from south-west to north-east and its highest point is 1956 m. On its gold and silver mines see Strabo, vii. fg. 34, xiv. 5. 28, C. 680; Herod. vii. 112; Pliny, Nat. hist. vii. 197; Davies, 234–7. It had been Macedonian since the time of Philip II. See generally Casson, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, 63 ff., 88 ff., pls. 18–21; P. Collart, Philippes (Paris, 1937), 48–55 (with 180 for a decree from the time of Philip V mentioning <w lang="el-GR">Π] άνγαιον)</w>; Oberhummer, RE, 'Pangaion', cols. 589–92. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ τὸν τοῦ Φιλίππου θάνατον</w>:</emph> according to App. Mac. 11. 6 the incident preceded Perseus' renewal of friendship with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (cf. De Sanctis, iv. 1. 273 n. 100).

22.18.4 - 22.18.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν εἰς Δολοπίαν εἰσβολήν</w>:</emph> on Dolopia see xviii. 47. 6 n. Philip had seized it from Aetolia, along with Aperantia, in 191 (cf. xx. 11. 12 n., xxi. 25. 5 n.); Nicander recovered it in 189 (xxi. 25. 6), but the same year Perseus got it back, advancing into Amphilochia (cf. xxi. 31. 4 n.), and it was placed under a Macedonian general (cf. Bengtson, Strat. ii. 366, 419 no. 9). For its revolt and Perseus' campaign to suppress this, in early summer 174, see Livy, xli. 22. 4; cf. Livy, xli. 23. 13, xlii. 40. 7, 41. 13 ff.; App. Mac. 11. 6. The Dolopians had appealed for Roman arbitration (Livy, xli. 22. 4, 23. 13) but Perseus' case seems irrefutable (Meloni, Perseo, 131–3, 187 n. 3; contra Bikerman, REG, 1953, 489–90), and the reference to their reduction only a propaganda point, omitted from the war-motion (Livy, xlii. 30. 10; Tabler, 235). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ τὴν ἐς Δελφοὺς παρουσίαν</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xli. 22. 5 (174, following the <milestone unit="page" n="206">[206]</milestone> reduction of Dolopia), 'inde per Octacos montes transgressus (sc. Perseus), religionibus quibusdam animo obiectis, oraclum aditurus Delphos escendit . . . triduum non plus Delphis moratus per Pthiotidem Achaiam Thessaliamque sine damno iniuriaque eorum per quorum 〈fines〉 iter fecit, in regnum rediit'; 23. 14; later his march through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> and Malis was held to have broken the treaty with Philip (Livy, xlii. 40. 6; 42. 2). Livy, following P., reports the alarm caused by this journey, and later (xlii. 13. 8) at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> Eumenes alleged that it was designed to win over the more revolutionary elements, 'deterior pars', to Perseus' side. It coincided with the Pythian festival, Aug.–Sept. 184 (cf. Syll. 643 = Sherk, 40 ll. 7 ff.; the reading is uncertain, but not the reference to the Pythia), and Perseus evidently stayed with Praxias, the archon of 178/7, whose wife Praxo is called his hospita (Livy, xlii. 15. 3); Meloni, Perseo, 133–5. The Amphictyons probably voted the dedication of a statue to Perseus at this time; cf. xxx. 10. 2 n.

22.18.5 - 22.18.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν κατ᾿ Εὐμένους . . . ἐπιβουλὴν γενομένην ἐ</w>?v <w lang="el-GR">Δελφοῖς</w>:</emph> cf. xxvii. 6. 2; on <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιβουλή</w>, 'murder plot', see Roussel, BCH, 1952, 27 n. 5 (on Syll. 613). Eumenes visited <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in winter 173/2 and, after making allegations against Perseus before the Senate, returned to Greece. Early in March, while ascending from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cirrha&groupId=469&placeId=876">Cirrha</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a>, accompanied by the Aetolian Pantaleon, he was struck unconscious by two rocks allegedly hurled on to him by four of Philip's henchmen, a Cretan mercenary captain Evander and three Macedonians, who had laid an ambush at a narrow and precipitous spot. Eumenes was taken to Aegina, where he recovered; but for a time he was reported dead. See Livy, xlii. 15. 3–16. 9, xlv. 5. 5; App. Mac. 11. 4; Syll. 643 = Sherk, 40 ll. 29–30; Plut. Mor. 184B, 489 E–F; below xxx. 2. 6 n. (on the improbable story that Attalus seized the occasion to woo, marry, and even father a child, the future Attalus III, on the supposed widow Stratonice). Evander's death (by suicide or murdered by Perseus) in 168 prevented the incident from being cleared up, and Perseus' guilt (or innocence) from being established. Praxo (see the previous note) was sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> by the Roman legatus, C. Valerius (Livy, xlii. 17. 2), but she was back in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> in spring 167 (cf. GDI, 1779). See Daux, 317–18; Meloni, Perseo, 162–6; Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 110 (who follows E. Bourguet, Les Ruines de Delphes (Paris, 1914), 289, in locating the incident 'at a bend in the ancient road a short distance south-west of the Synedrion, now occupied by the church of H. Elias'). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τῶν ἐκ Βοιωτίας πρεσβευτῶν ἐπαναίρεσι</w>v:</emph> cf. Livy, xlii. 13. 7, 'Euersam et Callicritum Thebanos, principes ciuitatis, quia liberius aduersus eum in concilio Boeotorum locuti fuerant delaturosque ad uos [sc. Romanos] quae agerentur professi erant, tollendos curauit'; cf. 40. 7, 41. 5 (where Perseus says they perished in a shipwreck). At an unspecified date, perhaps in 173, Perseus had made an alliance <milestone unit="page" n="207">[207]</milestone> with Boeotia (xxvii. 1. 8 n.; Livy, xlii. 12. 5, 40. 6, 43. 5), and the two Thebans (Thebes had not supported the alliance: Livy, xlii. 43. 6) were sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to speak against it, but died en route. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔνιοί φασι</w>:</emph> cf. § 2 n.

22.18.6 - 22.18.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς αἰτίας</w>:</emph> see iii. 6. 3 n. on the distinction between <w lang="el-GR">πρόφασις, αἰτία</w>, and <w lang="el-GR">ἀρχή</w>; Pdech, Mthode, 78–93, 123–40, with criticism by Petzold, Gnomon, 1973, 370 f. and 383 f.; and by Lehmann, Entretiens sur Polybe, 168. P.'s causal scheme applies primarily to wars.

22.18.7 - 22.18.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀνανεώσασθαι τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον</w>:</emph> the argument of iii. 6. 1–7. 7.

22.18.8 - 22.18.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ μὲν πρῶτα</w>:</emph> the expulsion of Abrupolis, Perseus' reduction of Dolopia and visit to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a>. P. knew of other similar <w lang="el-GR">προφάσεις</w> (cf. Pdech, Mthode, 134–6): Perseus was accused of assassinating the Illyrian prince Arthetaurus, who had sent letters, embarrassing to Perseus, to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (Livy, xlii. 13. 6, 40. 5; App. Mac. 11. 1, 11. 2), of making a disloyal alliance with Boeotia (above, § 5 n.), of intervening in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Perrhaebia&groupId=870&placeId=1569">Perrhaebia</a>, and Aetolia to promote civil war (Livy, xli. 25. 1–6, xlii. 5. 7–12, 13. 9, 40. 7; Diod. xxix. 33; above § 4 n.), and of sending military aid to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> against the Thracians (Livy, xlii. 13. 8, 40. 6). But here, where he is merely concerned to distinguish between <w lang="el-GR">προφάσεις</w> and <w lang="el-GR">ἀρχαί</w>, it is enough to mention three of the more important. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τούτοις ἕτερα παραπλήσια τῶν κατὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς καιροὺς γεγονότων</w>:</emph> besides the plot against Eumenes and the murder of the envoys P. probably refers here to the alleged plot to have Roman generals and envoys poisoned by Rammius (perhaps really Rennius: cf. GDI, 1339; Meloni, Perseo, 165 n. 5), a prominent citizen of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Brundisium&groupId=411&placeId=762">Brundisium</a>, who however laid information to the Senate (Livy, xlii. 17. 2–9, 40. 9, 41. 4; App. Mac. 11. 7); cf. Pdech, Mthode, 138, arguing that to P. these acts were tantamount to the opening of hostilities by Perseus, but in a characteristically mean and underhand fashion. Whether all or any of these allegations were true is no longer ascertainable.

22.18.10 - 22.18.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καθάπερ . . . εἴπομεν</w>:</emph> cf. iii. 6. 9–14 nn.

22.18.11 - 22.18.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς αἰτίας ὕστερον . . . τῆς τελευτῆς τοῦ κρίναντος κτλ</w>.:</emph> there is a fallacy, for unless he willed the war Perseus was not obliged to take over this 'inherited' plan from Philip. But in fact P.'s reasoning rests on a dubious thesis of aggressive planning and action by Philip and Perseus; see Walbank, 'The causes of the Third Macedonian War: recent views', Ancient <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> II, 81–94. According to Livy (xxxix. 23. 6–29. 3) the res Macedoniae of 186/5 continued with a list of Philip's grievances (Livy, xxxix. 23. 6–13) and the steps he took to build up <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> (Livy, xxxix. 24. 1–4). But the account of the embassies sent to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in winter 186/5 which Livy inserts here (Livy, xxxix. 24. 5–12) had probably been related by P. in his res Italiae of this year (see pp. 8–9 and 6. 1–6 n.). The res Macedoniae <milestone unit="page" n="208">[208]</milestone> continued with the dispatch of Q. Caecilius Metellus, M. Baebius Tamphilus, and Ti. Sempronius Gracchus to Greece and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> in 185 (Livy, xxxix. 24. 13). On the conferences they held at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tempe&groupId=1015&placeId=1786">Tempe</a> and Thessalonica see 10. 1 n. P. then continued with the res Graeciae represented by 7. 1–10. 15. On the causes of the Third Macedonian War see R. Werner, Grazer Beitrge, 1977, 149–216.

Addenda & corrigenda

22.18.11 - 22.18.11

<emph rend="bold">18. 11. <w lang="el-GR">τὰς αἰτίας</w>:</emph> on the causes of the Third Macedonian War see R. Werner, Grazer Beitrge, 1977, 149–216.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

Archaeology

Places

Walbank Commentary

Commentary