Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 5 - Chapter 34

<w lemma="%2A%28ws">Ὡς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qa%3Dtton">θᾶττον</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Dos">Πτολεμαῖος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="klhqei%5Cs">κληθεὶς</w> <w lemma="%2Afilopa%2Ftwr">Φιλοπάτωρ</w>, <w lemma="metalla%2Fcantos">μεταλλάξαντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="patro%2Fs">πατρός</w>, <w lemma="e%29panelo%2Fmenos">ἐπανελόμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29delfo%5Cn">ἀδελφὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fgan">Μάγαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="sunergou%3Dntas">συνεργοῦντας</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gu%2Fptou">Αἰγύπτου</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>,

<w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fwn">οἰκείων</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbwn">φόβων</w> <w lemma="a%29polelu%2Fsqai">ἀπολελύσθαι</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnwn">κινδύνων</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fxqai">ἀπηλλάχθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhn">τύχην</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkou">Σελεύκου</w> <w lemma="methllaxo%2Ftwn">μετηλλαχότων</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="diadedegme%2Fnwn">διαδεδεγμένων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="panta%2Fpasi">παντάπασι</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fwn">νέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pai%2Fdwn">παίδων</w> <w lemma="u%28parxo%2Fntwn">ὑπαρχόντων</w>,

<w lemma="katapisteu%2Fsas">καταπιστεύσας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsi">παροῦσι</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w>, <w lemma="panhgurikw%2Fteron">πανηγυρικώτερον</w> <w lemma="dih%3Dge">διῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>,

<w lemma="a%29nepi%2Fstaton">ἀνεπίστατον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duse%2Fnteukton">δυσέντευκτον</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzwn">παρασκευάζων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29lh%5Cn">αὐλὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzousin">χειρίζουσιν</w>, <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwron">ὀλίγωρον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cqumon">ῥᾴθυμον</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknu%2Fwn">ὑποδεικνύων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="diatetagme%2Fnois">διατεταγμένοις</w>,

<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w>, <w lemma="mei%2Fzw">μείζω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>.

<w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fkeinto">ἐπέκειντο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w> <w lemma="basileu%3Dsi">βασιλεῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhs">Κοίλης</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fprou">Κύπρου</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fontes:">κυριεύοντες·</w>

<w lemma="pare%2Fkeinto">παρέκειντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fstais">δυνάσταις</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="nh%2Fsois">νήσοις</w>, <w lemma="despo%2Fzontes">δεσπόζοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftwn">ἐπιφανεστάτων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnwn">λιμένων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Apamfuli%2Fas">Παμφυλίας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhspo%2Fntou">Ἑλλησπόντου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alusima%2Fxeian">Λυσιμάχειαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn:">τόπων·</w>

<w lemma="e%29fh%2Fdreuon">ἐφήδρευον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%2F%7Ckh%7C">Θρᾴκῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fa%7C">Μακεδονίᾳ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%3Dnon">Αἶνον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amarw%2Fneian">Μαρώνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porrw%2Fteron">πορρώτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fontes">κυριεύοντες</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktetako%2Ftes">ἐκτετακότες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="probeblhme%2Fnoi">προβεβλημένοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="h%29gwni%2Fwn">ἠγωνίων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29ligw%2Frws">ὀλιγώρως</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkasta">ἕκαστα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="xeiri%2Fzwn">χειρίζων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29prepei%3Ds">ἀπρεπεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frwtas">ἔρωτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgous">ἀλόγους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fqas">μέθας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnu">πάνυ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3D">βραχεῖ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds">ψυχῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibou%2Flous">ἐπιβούλους</w> <w lemma="eu%28%3Dre">εὗρε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w>,

<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartia%2Fths">Σπαρτιάτης</w>.

When Ptolemy surnamed Philopator, at the death of his father, after making away with his brother Magas and his partisans, succeeded to the throne of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>,

he considered that he had freed himself from domestic perils by his own action in thus destroying his rivals, but that chance had freed him from danger abroad, Antigonus and Seleucus having just died and their successors, Antiochus and Philip, being quite young, in fact almost boys.

Secure therefore in his present good fortune, he began to conduct himself as if his chief concern were the idle pomp of royalty, showing himself as regards the members of his court and the officials who administered <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> inattentive to business and difficult of approach,

and treating with entire negligence and indifference the agents charged with the conduct of affairs outside <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>,

to which the former kings had paid much more attention than to the government of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> itself.

As a consequence they had been always able to menace the kings of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a> both by sea and land, masters as they were of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a>, and their sphere of control also extended over the lesser kingdoms of Asia Minor and the islands, since they had the chief cities, strong places and harbours in their hands all along the coast from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pamphylia&groupId=833&placeId=1505">Pamphylia</a> to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> and the neighbourhood of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lysimachia&groupId=719&placeId=1319">Lysimachia</a>;

while by their command of Aenus, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Maronea&groupId=734&placeId=1345">Maronea</a> and other cities even more distant, they exercised a supervision over the affairs of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.

With so long an arm and such a far advanced fence of client states they were never in any alarm about the safety of their Egyptian dominions, and for this reason they naturally paid serious attention to foreign affairs.

But this new king, neglecting to control all these matters owing to his shameful amours and senseless and constant drunkenness, found, as was to be expected, in a very short time both his life and his throne threatened by more than one conspiracy,

the first being that of Cleomenes the Spartan.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

5.30.8 - 5.57.8

Revolts in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>; Molon's rebellion against Antiochus(222–220) P. introduces his account of events in Asia and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> with a digression on the construction of his history, containing polemic against unnamed writers who would palm off epitomes as universal history (30. 8–33. 8).

5.34.7 - 5.34.8

Asia Minor. Ptolemaic possessions here included <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lycia&groupId=711&placeId=1304">Lycia</a>, Caria, and parts of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ionia&groupId=171&placeId=413">Ionia</a>, especially Miletus, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samos&groupId=944&placeId=1680">Samos</a>, and Ephesus; see Beloch, iv. 2. 333–46; Rostovtzeff, CAH, vii. 126 ff.; SEHHW, i. 332 ff. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pamphylia&groupId=833&placeId=1505">Pamphylia</a> (cf. 72 ff.) was never really controlled by either Ptolemies or Seleucids; cf. Meyer, Grenzen, 137; Magie, ii. 1156 n. 1. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>: cf. xviii. 51. 5; OGIS, 54. Aenus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Maronea&groupId=734&placeId=1345">Maronea</a>, the Thracian Chersonese with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lysimacheia&groupId=719&placeId=1320">Lysimacheia</a> and Sestus, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cypsela&groupId=520&placeId=983">Cypsela</a> on the Hebrus fell to Ptolemy III between 245 and 241 (details in Beloch, iv. 2. 346–7; cf. Klaffenbach, Abh. Berlin. Akad. 1952, no. 1, pp. 19–20); but the 'effective watch over <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a> and Macedon' is an exaggeration designed to denigrate Ptolemy IV. For an important discussion of this passage as evidence for a Ptolemaic policy of 'defensive imperialism' see Will, i. 139–41; criticism by J. Seibert, Untersuchungen zur Geschichte Ptolemaios' I, (Munich, 1969), 84–88, who excludes Ptolemy I from <w lang="el-GR">οἱ πρότερον</w> (§ 5). On Ptolemy IV's foreign policy see Huss, Untersuchungen.

5.34.0 - 5.39.0

The end of Cleomenes. P.'s account invites comparison with Plutarch (Cleom. 33 ff.); and Schulz (Quibus ex fontibus fluxerint Ag. Cleom. Arat. uitae Plutarcheae, Berlin, 1886) has argued that the <milestone unit="page" n="565">[565]</milestone> source both of P.'s narrative and of the fuller account in Plutarch was Phylarchus (ii. 55–63 n.). Previously Michaelis (Jahresbericht d. phil. Ver., Berlin, 1877, 246 ff.) had suggested that Plutarch used P., supplemented from some earlier author; and clearly the possibility that Plutarch used both P. and P.'s source cannot be excluded (cf. Momigliano, Boll. fil. class., 1928–9, 257). There is, however, a marked discrepancy between P.'s account of why Nicagoras hated Cleomenes and that in Plutarch; the former is much more hostile to the Spartan king and implies that he had murdered Archidamus. Now it is certain from Plutarch (Cleom. 5) that Phylarchus did not attribute Archidamus' death to Cleomenes (cf. 37. 1 n.); hence this part of P. cannot derive from Phylarchus (cf. Ferrabino, 304). The version attributing Archidamus' death to Cleomenes Ferrabino regards as part of a popular Spartan account of Cleomenes' death, used as propaganda during the revolution of spring 219 (iv. 35). But how could such a version, assuming its existence, reach P.? If via Phylarchus (as Ferrabino seems inclined to admit), that historian retailed two contradictory accounts. A separate source seems the more likely explanation. Again there is a discrepancy between P. and Plutarch on Cleomenes' attitude towards the murder of Magas. In Plutarch (Cleom. 33. 3 ff., evidently following Phylarchus) Cleomenes opposes the murder, arguing that Magas' influence over the mercenaries need cause no alarm, since he (Cleomenes) had only to nod to bring over 3,000 of the Peloponnesians to his aid <w lang="el-GR">(προθύμως μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων παρεσομένους</w>?)a speech which won Cleomenes influence at the time, though later it led the court to distrust him. According to P. (36. 3), however, Cleomenes encouraged Sosibius in his project, advancing his own influence over the mercenaries as a reason, and Sosibius felt justified in going ahead. Here again P. follows a source more discreditable to Cleomenes. In several other places there are minor differences between the two versions (cf. 36. 4–5 n., 38. 5 n., 39. 3 n.), and frequently Plutarch is fuller and more precise (though occasionally, as in 36. 4–5, the reverse is true). These differences can be explained on the assumption that both writers followed Phylarchus, that Plutarch also consulted P., and that P. 'corrected' his Phylarchean version at various points from some other source. A plausible suggestion as to the identity of this other source is made by Momigliano (Boll. fil. class., 1928–9, 257–8) following von Scala (263–4), viz. Ptolemy of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, the son of Agesarchus, who wrote <w lang="el-GR">περὶ τὸν Φιλοπάτορα ἱστορίαι</w> (Athen. vi. 246 C) of a scandalous nature (FGH, 161); cf. xviii. 55. 6–9. A Megalopolitan, even living abroad, might well be hostile to Cleomenes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>. The complicated character of P.'s sources at this point, where a parallel narrative (in Plutarch) enables some control to be exercised, <milestone unit="page" n="566">[566]</milestone> is a warning against rash hopes of identifying or even separating the sources used for the parts for which no second narrative exists (e.g. the war between Ptolemy and Antiochus, and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Raphia&groupId=925&placeId=1656">Raphia</a> campaign).

Specifics

5.34.1 - 5.34.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Πτολεμαῖος . . . Φιλοπάτωρ</w>:</emph> his accession fell between 5 and 16 February 221 (cf. ii. 65–69 n., 71. 3–6, iv. 2. 8). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸν ἀδελφὸν Μάγαν</w>:</emph> Magas was one of the four sons of Ptolemy III Euergetes and Berenice, the daughter of Magas of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a>; the precise date and circumstances of his murder are not known, but its instigator was Sosibius (36. 1, xv. 25. 2; Plut. Cleom. 33; Iustin. xxx. 1. 2; cf. Holleaux, tudes, iii. 51, with n. 2 by Robert), and Ps.-Plutarch's statement (De prou. Alex. 13 Crusius) that he was stabbed in a hot bath appears to be confirmed by P. Graec. Haun. 6, 11. 28 ff., if M. Segre (Rend. Pontif. Acc. Rom. Arch., 1942–3, 269–80) is right in restoring <w lang="el-GR">[ἀνεῖ]λεν αὐ[τὸν ὁ] Αἰτωλὸς Θεόδοτος ἐν βαλανε[ίωι]</w>in which case, as Segre notes, <w lang="el-GR">Θέογος</w> in the Plutarchean version should probably be altered to <w lang="el-GR">Θεόδοτος</w>. On Theodotus see 40. 1–3 n.; and on Cleomenes' attitude towards Magas' murder see 35–39 n. The phrase <w lang="el-GR">τοὺς τούτῳ συνεργοῦντας</w> includes Berenice, the queen-mother (36. 1). It should be noted that its editor, T. Larsen, interprets P. Graec. Haun. 61. 32 as referring to the campaign of 221 (cf. v. 45. 5– 46. 6); he reads <w lang="el-GR">ἐν Βαλανα[ίο][ς]</w>, Balanaia (or Balaneia) being a town on the Syrian coast between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laodiceia&groupId=664&placeId=1214">Laodiceia</a> and Aradus. Cf. Bengtson, S.-B. Mnchen, 1971, 3, 11–13 and, against Larsen, Huss, Untersuchungen, 33–35. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἀντιγόνου καὶ Σελεύκου μετηλλαχότων</w>:</emph> Antigonus died about July 221 (ii. 70. 6 n.), Seleucus in late summer 223 (ii. 71. 3–6 n.). Philip was 17 on his accession (iv. 5. 3), Antiochus about 19 (for he was over 50 in 192 (cf. xx. 8. 1) and so born about 242).

5.34.3 - 5.34.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πανηγυρικώ?τερον διῆγε τὰ κατὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν κτλ</w>:</emph> 'he ruled somewhat ostentatiously.' From P. onwards, tradition is hostile to Philopator; cf. 87. 3, xiv. 12. 3; Plut. Cleom. 33 ff. On the source problem see 35–39 n.; and for some considerations on the other side see Perdrizet, REA, 1910, 234 ff.; Holleaux, REA, 1912, 371 n. 5 = tudes, iii. 48 n. 5.

5.34.4 - 5.34.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς περὶ τὴν αὐλήν</w>:</emph> cf. 41. 3, 50. 14; App. Syr. 45; Iosephus, AI, xii. 215. On this term, which indicated the court dignitaries comprehensively, see Corradi, 260; Bikerman, Sleucides, 36. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν ἔξω πραγμάτων διατεταγμένοις</w>:</emph> cf. the apocryphal letter of Philopator in 3 Macc. iii. 1, <w lang="el-GR">τοῖς τεταγμένοις ἐπὶ πραγμάτων</w>: OGIS, 231 l. 26 (= Welles, 31). This elastic phrase (Corradi, 266) here includes the strategoi and hipparchs of the provinces.

5.34.6 - 5.34.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Κοίλης Συρίας καὶ Κύπρου κυριεύοντες</w>:</emph> by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a> the Greeks originally meant the long depression running south from between the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lebanon&groupId=179&placeId=424">Lebanon</a> and the Antilebanon, and marked in succession by the valley of the Litani, the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Jordan&groupId=1080&placeId=418">Jordan</a> valley, the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dead Sea&groupId=124&placeId=361">Dead Sea</a>, and the southward continuation to 'Aqaba and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Red Sea&groupId=223&placeId=474">Red Sea</a>; but the term was extended to cover vaguely, and in conjuction with the name '<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phoenicia&groupId=894&placeId=464">Phoenicia</a>', the whole area between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cilicia&groupId=467&placeId=350">Cilicia</a>. 'On peut dire que dans l'usage gnral de l'poque hellnistique les vocables <milestone unit="page" n="564">[564]</milestone> "Coel-Syrie" et "Coel-Syriens" servent distinguer les contres et les populations en Syrie pour lesquelles on ne trouve pas de noms mieux appropris' (Bikerman, Rev. bibl., 1947, 259). See also W. Otto, Beitrge zur Seleukidengeschichte (Abh. Bay. Ak., 1928), 37 n. 1; Corradi, 31–50. Ptolemy Soter seized southern <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a> as far north as the neighbourhood of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sidon&groupId=977&placeId=491">Sidon</a> just before the battle of Ipsus in 301 (Diod. xx. 113); on Seleucus' claim see 67. 6–10 n. Soter may also have acquired the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Galilee&groupId=1072&placeId=1883">Galilee</a>; but the Plain of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Marsyas&groupId=738&placeId=1350">Marsyas</a> between the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lebanon&groupId=179&placeId=424">Lebanon</a> and the Antilebanon, which remained the northern limit of Ptolemaic expansion (cf. 45. 8, 46. 2), was more likely won by Ptolemy Philadelphus in the Second Syrian War (Beloch, iv. 2. 322–3). <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> changed hands several times before Soter finally recovered it in 295 (Plut. Demetr. 35; Beloch, iv. 2. 331–2).

5.34.7 - 5.34.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παρέκειντο δὲ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν δυνὰσταις</w>:</emph> 'their sphere of control included . . .'. Among the dynasts of Asia were the Attalids and also, perhaps, such rulers in south-west Asia Minor as are mentioned in 90. 1 (q.v.). Pdech, Mthode, 551, followed by C. Praux, Chron. d'gypte, 1965, 366, translates 'were in contact with'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ τοῖς νήσοις</w>:</emph> after the fall of Demetrius Poliorcetes in 285, Ptolemy I acquired most of his fleet and control over the Aegean. Philadelphus consolidated Egyptian power here, exercising it through the nominally independent Island League, originally an Antigonid creation; for detailed discussion of particular islands see Beloch (iv. 2. 347–9). This power was broken in three naval battles of uncertain date, Cos, Andros, and Ephesus, the first two Macedonian, the last a Rhodian victory. For bibliography and recent discussion see Launey, ii. 935; A. Momigliano (with P. Fraser), CQ, 1950, 107–18 (dating Cos 262, Andros c. 258, and Ephesus c. 256); Treves, Euforione, 75–83, 124–8 (with notes). Ptolemaic decline in this area seems to have begun at least thirty years before Philopator's accession. On the overseas possessions of the Lagids see W. Peremans and E. van't Dack, Mededelingen van de Koninklijke Vlaamse Akademie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en schone Kunsten van Belgie, Klasse der Letteren, 18, 1956, no. 5.

Addenda & corrigenda

5.34.3 - 5.34.3

l. 4 of note, for '45–49 n.' read '35–39 n.'

5.34.6 - 5.34.8

on the overseas possessions of the Lagids see W. Peremans and E. van't Dack, Mededelingen van de Koninklijke Vlaamse Akademie voor Wetenschappen, Letteren en schone Kunsten van Belgie, Klasse der Letteren, 18, 1956, no. 5.

5.34.7 - 5.34.7

<emph rend="bold">34. 7. <w lang="el-GR">παρέκειντο κτλ</w>.:</emph> Pdech, Mthode, 551, followed by C. Praux, Chron. d'gypte, 1965, 366, translates 'were in contact with'.

5.34.1 - 5.34.1

it should be noted that its editor, T. Larsen, interprets P. Graec. Haun. 61. 32 as referring to the campaign of 221 (cf. v. 45. 5– 46. 6); he reads <w lang="el-GR">ἐν Βαλανα[ίο][ς]</w>, Balanaia (or Balaneia) being a town on the Syrian coast between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laodiceia&groupId=664&placeId=1214">Laodiceia</a> and Aradus. Cf. Bengtson, S.-B. Mnchen, 1971, 3, 11–13 and, against Larsen, Huss, Untersuchungen, 33–35.

5.34.2 - 5.34.9

for an important discussion of this passage as evidence for a Ptolemaic policy of 'defensive imperialism' see Will, i. 139–41; criticism by J. Seibert, Untersuchungen zur Geschichte Ptolemaios' I, (Munich, 1969), 84–88, who excludes Ptolemy I from <w lang="el-GR">οἱ πρό?τερον</w> (§ 5). On Ptolemy IV's foreign policy see Huss, Untersuchungen.

Polybius, Histories

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Walbank Commentary

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