Polybius, Histories

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Book 31 - Chapter 18

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Atorkoua%3Dton">Τορκουᾶτον</w> <w lemma="diakomisqe%2Fntes">διακομισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29peirw%3Dnto">ἐπειρῶντο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="parakalei%3Dn">παρακαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="presbu%2Fteron">πρεσβύτερον</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fesqai">διαλύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29delfo%5Cn">ἀδελφὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrei%3Dn">συγχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fpron:">Κύπρον·</w>
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29paggellome%2Fnou">ἐπαγγελλομένου</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parakou%2Fontos">παρακούοντος</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="katatri%2Fbontos">κατατρίβοντος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w>,
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<w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fwn">στρατοπεδεύων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="new%2Fteros">νεώτερος</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akrhtw%3Dn">Κρητῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh%7C">Λιβύῃ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%3Dapin">Ἆπιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntetagme%2Fnon">συντεταγμένον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29sxa%2Fllwn">ἀσχάλλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsasqai">διασαφήσασθαι</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Atorkoua%3Dton">Τορκουᾶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnous">ἐπιγενομένους</w>.
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<w lemma="sunecomoiwqe%2Fntos">συνεξομοιωθέντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnou">χρόνου</w> <w lemma="dielkome%2Fnou">διελκομένου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="dielqousw%3Dn">διελθουσῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhdeno%5Cs">μηδενὸς</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontos">προσπίπτοντος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpipte">ἐνέπιπτε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="presbu%2Fteros">πρεσβύτερος</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="a%29reskei%2Fas">ἀρεσκείας</w> <w lemma="prosfero%2Fmenos">προσφερόμενος</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29cidia%2Fsato">ἐξιδιάσατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakate%2Fsxe">παρακατέσχε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="e%28ko%2Fntas">ἑκόντας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkontas">ἄκοντας</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fpese">προσέπεσε</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="newte%2Frw%7C">νεωτέρῳ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fw%7C">Πτολεμαίῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Fs">τούς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Akurhnai%2Fous">Κυρηναίους</w> <w lemma="a%29festa%2Fnai">ἀφεστάναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="sumfronei%3Dn">συμφρονεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w>, <w lemma="kekoinwnhke%2Fnai">κεκοινωνηκέναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fsews">ἀποστάσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asumpeth%3Dsin">Συμπετῆσιν</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gu%2Fptios">Αἰγύπτιος</w>, <w lemma="e%29pisteu%2Fqh">ἐπιστεύθη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgon">ὀλίγον</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fousin">στρατοπεδεύουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Akurhnai%3Doi">Κυρηναῖοι</w>, <w lemma="dei%2Fsas">δείσας</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="proslabei%3Dn">προσλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fpron">Κύπρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akurh%2Fnhn">Κυρήνην</w> <w lemma="a%29pole%2Fsh%7C">ἀπολέσῃ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frerga">πάρεργα</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fmenos">θέμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fzeucen">ἀνέζευξεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akurh%2Fnhs">Κυρήνης</w>.
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<w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgan">μέγαν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Akatabaqmo%5Cn">Καταβαθμὸν</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flabe">κατέλαβε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbuas">Λίβυας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akurhnai%2Fwn">Κυρηναίων</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Dos">Πτολεμαῖος</w> <w lemma="a%29porou%2Fmenos">ἀπορούμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnonti">συμβαίνοντι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mbiba%2Fsas">ἐμβιβάσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="ploi%3Da">πλοῖα</w> <w lemma="periplei%3Dn">περιπλεῖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dusxwri%2Fas">δυσχωρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftace">ἐπέταξε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="nw%2Ftou">νώτου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pifai%2Fnesqai">ἐπιφαίνεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29bia%2Fzeto">ἐβιάζετο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fwn">Λιβύων</w> <w lemma="kataplage%2Fntwn">καταπλαγέντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="leipo%2Fntwn">λειπόντων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29naba%2Fsews">ἀναβάσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="%2Atetrapurgi%2Fas">Τετραπυργίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffqonon">ἄφθονον</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdatos">ὕδατος</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%2Fsas">ἀφορμήσας</w> <w lemma="e%28bdomai%3Dos">ἑβδομαῖος</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w>.
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<w lemma="parapleo%2Fntwn">παραπλεόντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amoxuri%2Fnou">Μοχυρίνου</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akurhnai%2Fous">Κυρηναίους</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fein">στρατοπεδεύειν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fous">ὀκτακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Akurhnai%3Doi">Κυρηναῖοι</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dran">πεῖραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfo%2Ftes">εἰληφότες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qewrou%3Dntes">θεωροῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="basilikh%2Fn">βασιλικήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="turannikh%5Cn">τυραννικὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29qelonth%5Cn">ἐθελοντὴν</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pota%2Fttein">ὑποτάττειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flmwn">ἐτόλμων</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntexo%2Fmenoi">ἀντεχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsantos">συνεγγίσαντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="pareta%2Fcanto:">παρετάξαντο·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="h%28tth%2Fqh">ἡττήθη</w>. —
<head>The Murder of Octavius</head>After the Ptolemies had made their partition of the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note40">B. C. 162. Euergetes II. (Ptolemy Physcon), who had <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a> as his share, asks for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a>.</note>kingdom, the younger brother arrived in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> desiring to set aside the division made between himself and his brother, on the ground that he had not acceded to the arrangement voluntarily, but under compulsion, and yielding to the force of circumstances. He therefore begged the Senate to assign <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> to his portion; for, even if that were done, he should still have a much poorer share than his brother.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note41">The members of the Commission</note>Canuleius and Quintus supported<pb n="438" />Menyllus, the ambassador of the elder Ptolemy, by protesting that "the younger Ptolemy owed his possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a> and his very life to them, so deep was the anger and hatred of the common people to him<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note42">The anger of the Alexandrians had been excited against Ptolemy Physcon by his having, for some unknown reason, caused the death of Timotheus, who had been Ptolemy Philometor's legate at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. See<ref target="b28c1" targOrder="U">28, 1</ref>. Diodor.<title>Sic.</title>fr. xi.</note>; and that, accordingly, he had been only too glad to receive the government of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a>, which he had not hoped for or expected; and had exchanged oaths with his brother with the customary sacrifices."<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note43">who had been in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> support the elder brother.</note>To this Ptolemy gave a positive denial: and the Senate, seeing that the division was clearly an unequal one, and at the same time wishing that, as the brothers themselves were the authors of the division being made at all, it should be effected in a manner advantageous to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, granted the petition of the younger Ptolemy with a view to their own interest.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note44">The Senate decide in favour of Physcon.</note>Measures of this class are very frequent among the Romans, by which they avail themselves with profound policy of the mistakes of others to augment and strengthen their own empire, under the guise of granting favours and benefiting those who commit the errors. On this principle they acted now.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note45">The object of the Senate is to divide and weaken <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>.</note>They saw how great the power of the Egyptian kingdom was; and fearing lest, if it ever chanced to obtain a competent head, he would grow too proud, they appointed Titus Torquatus and Gnaeus Merula to establish Ptolemy Physcon in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a>, and thus to carry out their own policy while satisfying his. These commissioners were accordingly at once despatched with instructions to reconcile the brothers to each other, and to secure <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> to the younger. . . .<note anchored="yes" type="summary" place="inline" resp="ess" id="note46">When the Roman commissioners (see<ref target="b31c12" targOrder="U">ch. 12</ref>) arrived in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a>, and began carrying out their orders, by burning the ships and killing the elephants, the popular fury could not be restrained; and Gnaeus Octavius was assassinated in the gymnasium at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laodicea&groupId=664&placeId=1215">Laodicea</a> by a man named Leptines. Lysias did his best to appease the anger of the Romans, by giving Octavius honourable<pb n="439" />burial, and by sending an embassy to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> to protest his innocence.<bibl n="App. Syr. 46" default="NO" valid="yes">Appian, Syr. 46</bibl>.</note>