Philip, foiled in this attempt, encamped near the river Enipeus, and brought up from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Larisa&groupId=669&placeId=1225">Larisa</a> and the other towns the siege material he had constructed during the winter,
the chief objective of his whole campaign being the capture of Thebes in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phthiotis&groupId=897&placeId=1612">Phthiotis</a>.
This city is situated at no great distance from the sea, about three hundred stades away from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Larisa&groupId=669&placeId=1225">Larisa</a>, and commands both <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magnesia&groupId=729&placeId=1336">Magnesia</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>, especially the territories of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Demetrias&groupId=536&placeId=1006">Demetrias</a> in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magnesia&groupId=729&placeId=1336">Magnesia</a> and of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a> and Pherae in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>.
It was now held by the Aetolians who made constant incursions from it, inflicting serious damage on the people of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Demetrias&groupId=536&placeId=1006">Demetrias</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Larisa&groupId=669&placeId=1225">Larisa</a>;
for they frequently extended their inroads as far as the plain of the Amyrys.
For this reason Philip regarded the matter as of no slight importance, and was most anxious to capture this city.
Having got together a hundred and fifty catapults and twenty-five engines for throwing stones, he approached Thebes, and dividing his army into three parts, occupied the environs of the city,
stationing one division at the Scopium, another at the place called the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heliotropium&groupId=619&placeId=1139">Heliotropium</a>, and the third on the hill which overlooks the town.
He fortified the intervals between the three camps by a trench and a double palisade, as well as by wooden towers, adequately manned at intervals of a hundred feet.
After completing these lines, he collected all his material and began to bring his engines up to the citadel.
Walbank Commentary