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Book 22 - Chapter 20

1
<head lang="la">II. Res Asiae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apollwni%2Fs">Ἀπολλωνίς</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29atta%2Flou">Ἀττάλου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="patro%5Cs">πατρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="gameth%2F">γαμετή</w>, <w lemma="%2Akuzikhnh%5C">Κυζικηνὴ</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="gunh%5C">γυνὴ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fa">ἀξία</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parashmasi%2Fas">παρασημασίας</w>.
2
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="dhmo%2Ftis">δημότις</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousa">ὑπάρχουσα</w> <w lemma="basi%2Flissa">βασίλισσα</w> <w lemma="e%29gego%2Fnei">ἐγεγόνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="diefu%2Flace">διεφύλαξε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%5Cn">ὑπεροχὴν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="teleutai%2Fas">τελευταίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="e%28tairikh%5Cn">ἑταιρικὴν</w> <w lemma="prosferome%2Fnh">προσφερομένη</w> <w lemma="piqano%2Fthta">πιθανότητα</w>, <w lemma="swfronikh%5Cn">σωφρονικὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politikh%5Cn">πολιτικὴν</w> <w lemma="semno%2Fthta">σεμνότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalokagaqi%2Fan">καλοκαγαθίαν</w>, <w lemma="dikai%2Fa">δικαία</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnein">τυγχάνειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3D%7C">ἀγαθῷ</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhs">μνήμης</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%2Fn">ἐστίν</w>,
3
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Fti">καθότι</w> <w lemma="te%2Fttaras">τέτταρας</w> <w lemma="ui%28ou%5Cs">υἱοὺς</w> <w lemma="gennh%2Fsasa">γεννήσασα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="a%29nupe%2Frblhton">ἀνυπέρβλητον</w> <w lemma="diefu%2Flace">διεφύλαξε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoian">εὔνοιαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filostorgi%2Fan">φιλοστοργίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="katastrofh%3Ds">καταστροφῆς</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="u%28perbiw%2Fsasa">ὑπερβιώσασα</w> <w lemma="ta%29ndro%2Fs">τἀνδρός</w>.
4
<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%2Fge">οἵγε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fattalon">Ἄτταλον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parepidhmi%2Fa%7C">παρεπιδημίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kalh%5Cn">καλὴν</w> <w lemma="periepoih%2Fsanto">περιεποιήσαντο</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmhn">φήμην</w>, <w lemma="a%29podido%2Fntes">ἀποδιδόντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="mhtri%5C">μητρὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkousan">καθήκουσαν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frita">χάριτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="timh%2Fn">τιμήν</w>.
5
<w lemma="a%29%2Fgontes">ἄγοντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Dn">τοῖν</w> <w lemma="xeroi%3Dn">χεροῖν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fshn">μέσην</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="mhte%2Fra">μητέρα</w> <w lemma="perih%2F%7Cesan">περιῄεσαν</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="q%27">θ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28era%5C">ἱερὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qerapei%2Fas">θεραπείας</w>.
6
<w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="qew%2Fmenoi">θεώμενοι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flws">μεγάλως</w>
7
<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskous">νεανίσκους</w> <w lemma="a%29pede%2Fxonto">ἀπεδέχοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kathci%2Foun">κατηξίουν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fontes">μνημονεύοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akle%2Fobin">Κλέοβιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Abi%2Ftwna">Βίτωνα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fkrinon">συνέκρινον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%28re%2Fseis">αἱρέσεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proqumi%2Fas">προθυμίας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="lampro%5Cn">λαμπρὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28peroxh%3Ds">ὑπεροχῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="a%29ciw%2Fmati">ἀξιώματι</w> <w lemma="sunanaplhrou%3Dntes">συναναπληροῦντες</w>.
8
<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29tele%2Fsqh">ἐτελέσθη</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Akuzi%2Fkw%7C">Κυζίκῳ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Flusin">διάλυσιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aprousi%2Fan">Προυσίαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w>. —
<head>IX. Affairs of Asia</head>Apollonis, the wife of Attalus, father of King Eumenes, was a native of Cyzicus, and for several reasons a very remarkable and praiseworthy woman.
For the fact that being a simple citizen she became a queen and preserved this dignity until the end without employing any seductive and meretricious art, but always exhibiting the gravity and excellence of a woman strict in her life and courteous in her demeanour, makes her worthy of honourable mention.
Add to this that having given birth to four sons, she cherished for all of them up to her dying day and unsurpassed regard and affection, although she survived her husband for a considerable time.
And the sons of Attalus on their visit to the town showed due gratitude and respect to their mother.
For, placing her between them and taking both her hands, they went round the temples and the city accompanied by their suites.
All who witnessed it applauded and honoured the young men for this,
and, mindful of the story of Cleobis and Biton, compared their conduct to this, additional splendour falling on this act of devotion owing to the exalted and regal station of the two princes.
This all happened in Cyzicus after the peace with King Prusias.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
22.20.1 - 22.21.4
<p rend="Plain Text">Apollonis, wife of Attalus; Ortiagon</p> <p rend="Plain Text">That these two fragments (from the exc. de uirt. et uit. and from Suidas) are from the res Asiae of Ol. 148, 4 = 185/4 seems assured (see p. 13).</p>
22.20.1 - 22.20.8
<p rend="Plain Text"> Eulogy of Apollonis. In what context this appears is unknown, but her sons' visit to Cyzicus is mentioned in advance of the year when it occurred (cf. § 8 n.). Apollonis (the form Apollonias found in the manuscript P and Suidas can be corrected from inscriptions; the correct form is found in Strabo, xiii. 4. 2, C. 624; Plut. Mor. 480 C, and Anth. Pal. iii. init.) was a private citizen of Cyzicus (§ 2 <w lang="el-GR">δημότις)</w>; she was born not later than 238 (cf. Insch. Perg. i, p. 88). Her affectionate relations with her family were renowned and were celebrated by the erection of a temple in her honour featuring scenes of mother-love (Anth. Pal. iii); on this temple see Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 289 n. 142 and works there quoted. The same theme appears in an inscription from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hierapolis&groupId=1074&placeId=1889">Hierapolis</a> (OGIS, 308); and Judeich (Altertmer von <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hierapolis&groupId=1074&placeId=1889">Hierapolis</a> (Berlin, 1898), 78–80 no. 30) suggested that this or something like it may be behind P.'s remarks here. Apollonis received the cult title <w lang="el-GR">Εὐσεβής</w> while still alive (OGIS, 308 l. 3) and after her death she had a cult at Teos (OGIS, 309; cf. Robert, t. anat. 18–19) as <w lang="el-GR">θεὰ Ἀπολλωνὶς Εὐσεβὴς Ἀποβατηρία</w>. Other inscriptions referring to her are OGIS, 248 ll. 31 and 44–45, 292, 307, 318; Syll. 629 l. 12, 641. The city of Apollonis, west of Thyateira, was named after her; cf. Robert, Villes <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 24–27, 260 n. 1; Habicht, JRS, 1975, 78. An Athenian deme of the tribe Attalis was called Apollonieis after her (Steph. Byz. s.v.); and a tribe at Bithynium was named Apollonis, after the war with Prusias (IGR, iii. 72 = CIG, 3802). The date of Apollonis' death is uncertain; it fell before 159 and after Eumenes took the title of Soterwhich was at the latest in December 184 (cf. Segre, Riv. fil. 1932, 446 ff.; Habicht, Hermes, 1956, 99, for a decree of Telmessus celebrating Eumenes' victory over Prusias, Ortiagon, and the Galatians; cf. iii. 3. 6 n.). See generally Wilcken, RE, 'Apollonis (4)', cols. 163–4; Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 44–45, 100, 455–6; Vitucci, 57. </p>
Specifics
22.20.1 - 22.20.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἀττάλου τοῦ πατρὸς Εὐμένους . . . γαμετή</w>:</emph> Attalus I, father of Eumenes II (cf. iv. 48. 1 n., xviii. 41). </p>
22.20.2 - 22.20.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἑταιρικὴν . . . πιθανότητα</w>:</emph> 'any seductive or meretricious act' (Paton). </p>
22.20.3 - 22.20.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τέτταρας υἱούς</w>:</emph> cf. xviii. 41. 10 n. on these. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀνυπέρβλητον διεφύλαξε τὴν εὔνοιαν καὶ φιλοστοργίαν</w>:</emph> cf. OGIS, 308 ll. 7–9, <w lang="el-GR">προσενηνέχθαι δὲ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις μετὰ πάσης ὁ?μονοίας γνησίως [κ]αλλιτεκνήσασά τε μεγάλους ἐπαίνους πρὸς εὐδοξίαν ὑπελ[ίπ]ετο</w> </p> <p rend="Plain Text"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς παρὰ τῶν τέκνων ἐπιφανεῖς ἐκομισαμένη</w> (sic) <w lang="el-GR">χάριτ[ας]</w>; 307. <w lang="el-GR">Ἄτταλος βασίλισσαν Ἀπολλωνίδα τὴμ μητέρα φιλοστοργίας ἕνεκα τῆς</w></p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="italics" /> <w lang="el-GR">πρὸς αὑτόν</w>. <milestone unit="page" n="211">[211]</milestone> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">χρόνον οὐκ ὀλίγον ὑπερβιώσασα τἀνδρός</w>:</emph> Attalus' death was in 197 (cf. xviii. 41 n.); on that of Apollonis see §§ 1–8 n. </p>
22.20.4 - 22.20.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἵ γε περὶ τὸν Ἄτταλον</w>:</emph> 'Attalus and his brother', as the context makes clear; this is the later Attalus II. (Paton, 'the sons of Attalus' is impossible as a translation of <w lang="el-GR">οἱ περὶ? τὸν Ἄτταλον</w>.) Whether the other brother was Philetaerus or Athenaeus is unknown: but had it been Eumenes, P. would have written <w lang="el-GR">οἱ περὶ? τὸν Εὐμένη</w>. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐν τῇ παρεπιδημίᾳ</w>:</emph> it is generally assumed that Apollonis and her sons were visiting Cyzicus (Niese, iii. 72; Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 100; Habicht, Hermes, 1956, 98); but Apollonis could equally well have returned to live in Cyzicus and have been visited there by her sons (so Schweighaeuser, ad loc.). </p>
22.20.6 - 22.20.6
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς νεανίσκους</w>:</emph> cf. xxiv. 5. 5, Attalus and his two younger brothers (not merely Attalus and Philetaerus, as incorrectly stated in xviii. 41. 10 n.) are called <w lang="el-GR">νεανίσκοι</w> (in 181); the meaning is 'men of military age' (cf. iv. 16. 6 n.). On their ages see xviii. 41. 10 n. </p>
22.20.7 - 22.20.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν περὶ τὸν Κλέοβιν καὶ Βίτωνα</w>:</emph> the two Argive brothers who, in the absence of the usual oxen, themselves drew the carriage of their mother, the priestess of Hera, the 45 stades to the Heraeum (Cic. Tusc. i. 47). Their mother asked the goddess to grant them the greatest boon possible for mortals, and she caused them to die as they slept. Solon quoted them to Croesus as among the happiest of mortals (Herod. i. 31). For statues honouring them at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> cf. SEG, iii. 395, xiv. 423; cf. Toepffer, RE, 'Biton (1)', cols. 544–5. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ τῆς προθυμίας τῆς ἐκείνων λαμπρὸν . . . συναναπληροῦντες</w>:</emph> 'if in any degree they fell short of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argives&groupId=361&placeId=688">Argives</a>' art of devotion, they were thought to have made up for this by their own exalted and regal station.' Paton has missed the sense; he translates: 'additional splendour falling on this act of devotion owing to the exalted and regal status of the two princes'. But <w lang="el-GR">συναναπληροῦν</w> means 'to compensate one thing by another'; and <w lang="el-GR">ἐκεί?νων</w> must refer to Cleobis and Biton. </p>
22.20.8 - 22.20.8
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐτελέσθη . . . μετὰ τὴν διάλυσιν τὴν πρὸς Προυσίαν</w>:</emph> i.e. at a later period than is being dealt with in these res Asiae; the peace between Eumenes and Prusias followed Flamininus' embassy to Prusias in spring 183 (xxiii. 5. 1; cf. p. 13). See further, iii. 3. 6 n.; Habicht, Hermes, 1956, 96–100. </p>

Commentary