3689d AM, 4399 JP, 315 BC

2526. Antigonus put Aspisus, a native of the country, as the new governor of the province of Susa. He planned to carry away all this money to the sea coast in Asia. He had wagons made for this purpose and journeyed toward Babylon. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116.)

2527. After 22 days, he arrived at Babylon and Seleucus, the governor of that province, received him with all royal presents and feasted his whole army. Antigonus wanted him to give an account of all the money in the public treasury which he had received there since he was appointed to his position. Seleucus replied that he was not bound to give an account for that which was given him by the Macedonians for the service which he had done for Alexander in his lifetime. When hostilities grew daily between them, Seleucus knew he was too weak to tackle Antigonus and feared lest he be killed like Pithon. He stole away with only 50 cavalry in his company and fled to Ptolemy in Egypt. All the world spoke of how good Ptolemy was to all those that fled to him for refuge. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116. and Appia. in his Syriaca. p. 121.)

2528. Antigonus was quite happy that he had been able to take over Babylon without having to kill his old friend. The Chaldeans told him, that if he let Seleucus go, all Asia would be his and he would one day lose his life in a battle against him. He repented that he had let him go and sent men after him to take and bring him back again. After they had pursued him for awhile, they gave up and returned to Antigonus. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116.) Thereupon, he removed Blirores, the governor of Mesopotamia for allowing Seleucus to pass that way. (Appia. in his Syriaca. p. 121.)

2529. When Seleucus was safely in Egypt, Ptolemy entertained him very graciously. When he told Ptolemy all the things Antigonus had done against him, he persuaded Ptolemy to fight against Antigonus. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116. with Pausanias in his Attica, p. 5.)

3690 AM, 4400 JP, 314 BC

2530. From there Seleucus with some his closest friends went to Europe, to persuade Cassander, who then commanded all in Macedonia and Lysimachus, who was over Thracia, to wage war on Antigonus. Antigonus suspected his intentions and sent his agents to Ptolemy, Cassander and Lysimachus, to request their love and friendship to him as in former times. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116.) However, Seleucus carried the day so that they all joined together with him in a firm league against Antigonus. (Appia. in his Syriaca. p. 121.)

2531. Antigonus had made Pithon, who came from India, governor of Babylon. Then he marched toward Cilicia and came to Mallos, a city in Cilicia. There he distributed his army into their winter quarters since it was the time when Orion arose in our month of November. He received 10,000 talents in the city of Quindi of the same province. He received 11,000 talents more from the yearly revenue of the place. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116.)

2532. When Antigonus had gone into upper Syria, ambassadors came to him from Ptolemy, Cassander and Lysimachus. They came to him as he sat in council and made their demands according to their instructions. Antigonus was to surrender all Cappadocia and Lycia to Cassander. Phrygia that bordered on Hellespont was to be turned over to Lysimachus. All Syria was to be given to Ptolemy and the province of Babylon to Seleucus. All the public money which he had taken since the death of Eumenes was to be shared equally among them. Antigonus replied roughly that he was now making war on Ptolemy and that his purpose was not to have any partners in either the peril or the profit. (Diod. and Appia. ut sup. Justin, l. 15. c. 1.)

2533. When the ambassadors returned with this answer, Ptolemy, Cassander and Lysimachus prepared immediately to fight against Antigonus by sea and land. (Id.) When Antigonus knew what a gathering storm was about to break over his head, he sought the alliances of other cities and countries and princes to help him is this war. To this end, he sent Agesilaus to the king of Cyprus, Idomeneus and Moschion to Rhodes and Ptolemy, his own brother's son, in Cappadocia, with an army and Aristodemus into Laconia with 1000 talents to hire soldiers there. He placed couriers and watchmen throughout all Asia which was wholly at his command to quickly send him news of anything that happened.

2534. When this was done he marched into Phoenicia and camped near Tyre. He ordered them to provide him with a fleet. He sent for the petty kings and governors of those parts to come to him. When they came, he asked them to join with him in supplying a fleet and in building more ships. All the ships that belonged to Phoenicia were at that time with Ptolemy in Egypt. He ordered them to bring him 4,500,000 bushels of wheat. This was the annual expense of keeping his army. He then had men fell timber and build ships. He used 8000 men and 1000 beasts of burden to move the materials for the ships from Mount Lebanon to the sea side. (Diod. and Appia. ut sup. Justin, l. 15. c. 1.)

2535. While Antigonus was busy building a fleet and had his camp by the seaside, Seleucus sailed past with 100 well outfitted ships. He sailed along in a scornful manner under their very noses. Antigonus' new associates where greatly troubled by this. Antigonus encouraged them and said that by the end of summer, they would see him put to sea with a fleet of 500 ships as good as those. Meanwhile Agesilaus returned with his embassy from Cyprus and brought word that Nicocreon and the most powerful kings of that island had already confederated with Ptolemy. However, Citticus, Lapithus, Marrius and Cirenytes would join with him. Thereupon Antigonus left 3000 men under the command of Andronicus, to maintain the siege against Tyre. With the rest of the army he marched against Gaza and Joppa which held out against him and took them by force. Any of Ptolemy's men he found there, he distributed among his own companies to serve him in his wars. He placed garrisons in both places to keep them in obedience. He returned to his standing camp before Tyre, and prepared all necessaries for a siege against it. (Diod. Sic. Appia. his Syriaca p. 121. Justin, l. 15. c. 1.)

2536. At the same time Aristo, who was entrusted to carry Craterus' bones, delivered them to Phila, the daughter of Antipater, who was married first to Craterus and later to Demetrius. Antigonus had persuaded her father to have his son Demetrius marry her. (??) He was not happy with the match because she was so much older than he. He would always toast him in the feast with that saying from Eurypedes.

``In marriage look to thy gain, Though nature sometimes doth restrain.''

2537. He changed the saying by replacing "to serve" by "to marry". He meant that a man must do anything to serve his own ambitions. (??) Phila was a woman who was reputed to excel both in wit and wisdom. Thereby she often repressed the tumultuous spirits of the most turbulent soldiers in the army. She preferred in marriage at her own cost, the sisters and daughters of the poorer sort among them. (Id. with Plut. in the life of Demetrius.)

2538. Aristodemus was sent with other captains into Laconia. He got permission from the Spartans, to raise soldiers and got 8000 troops from Peloponesus. In a conference with Polysperchon and his son Alexander they made a firm alliance with Antigonus and made Polysperchon their general. Aristodemus made Polysperchon commander over the forces which he had raised in Peloponesus and had Alexander cross over into Asia to Antigonus. (Diod. Sic.)

2539. Ptolemy, another of Antigonus' captains, went with an army into Cappadocia. He found the city Amisus besieged by Asclepiodorus, a captain of Cassander. He raised the siege and secured the place and sent Asclepiodorus running. Subject to certain conditions, he recovered that whole province for Antigonus. He marched through Bithynia and came up on the back of Zibytes, king of Bithynia while he was busy in the siege of two cities at once. One city belonged to the Assacenians and the other to the Chalcedonians. Ptolemy forced him to raise his siege from both cities. Both cities surrendered to Ptolemy and gave him hostages as a pledge of their loyalty. Ptolemy then moved toward Ionia and Lydia because Antigonus had written to him to secure that coast as quickly as possible. He had intelligence that Seleucus was going into those parts with his fleet. Seleucus had indeed already come and besieged the city Erythrae. When he heard that Ptolemy, the nephew of Antigonus was coming, he left it and went away as he came. (Diod. Sic.)

2540. Meanwhile Alexander, the son Polysperchon, came to Antigonus. Before the whole army including the strangers that were in it, Antigonus publicly declared to them what Cassander had done. He said he would avenge the murder of Olympias by Cassander and deliver Alexander his king's son with his mother Roxane from the prison in Amphipolis. He would break off that yoke which Cassander had laid upon all the cities of Greece by putting his garrisons into them. Antigonus sent back Alexander, Polysperchon's son, with 500 more talents into Peloponesius. (Diod. Sic. with Justin l. 15. c. 1.)

2541. When Antigonus had received a fleet from Rhodes along with his other recently built ships, he sailed for Tyre. Since he was master of the sea, he blockaded them by sea and starved them. Thereby that city was in great distress. (Diod. Sic.)

2542. When Ptolemy of Egypt, heard the declaration Antigonus had made with the Macedonians concerning the delivery of all Greeks from the rule of Cassander, Ptolemy did the same. He was desirous that all the world know that he was no less zealous for the liberty of all Greeks than Antigonus was. Asander the governor of Caria who was a man of great power and had many large cities under his command joined with Ptolemy. Although Ptolemy had formerly sent 3000 soldiers to the kings of Cyprus, yet he now sent them 10,000 more under the command of Myrmidon an Athenian born and 100 ships commanded by Polyclitus. He made his brother Menelaus general over the whole force. (Diod. Sic.)

2543. When these came to Cyprus, Seleucus and his fleet met them. In a council of war they determined their plan of action. They decided that Polyclitus with 50 ships would pass into Peloponesus and there make war on Aristodemus, Polysperchon and Polysperchon's son, Alexander. Myrmidon with an army of foreigners would go into Caria, there to help Asander the governor of that province against Ptolemy, a captain of Antigonus who warred with Asander. Seleucus and Menelaus would stay in Cyprus to support Nicocreon the king and the rest of their confederates against their enemies who warred against them. When they divided their forces, Seleucus went and took Cerynia and Lapithus. When he persuaded Stasiaecus, king of the Malenses, to join his side, he forced the prince of the Amathusians to give him hostages for his safety in time to come. The city of Citium would not come to an agreement with him, therefore he besieged it with his whole army. (Diod. Sic.)

2544. About the same time, 40 ships sailed to Antigonus from the Hellespont and Rhodes under the command of one Themison their admiral. After this Dioscorides came with 80 more ships. Antigonus already had a navy of 120 ships of his own recently built in Phoenicia. Now counting the ones besieging Tyre he had a navy of 240 ships: 90 of four tiers of oars, 10 of five, 3 of nine, 10 of ten and 130 were open galleys. He divided this navy and sent 50 of them into Peloponesus and the rest he committed to help his friends as required. He wanted to have the islands which still held out against him, join his side. (Diod. Sic.)

2545. Polyclitus, Seleucus' lieutenant, sailed from Cyprus and came to Cenchrea which was a port of Corinth. When he found that Alexander, Polysperchon's son, had defected from Antigonus to Cassander and was no longer an enemy he sailed for Pamphylia. From there he sailed to Aphrodisiades in Cilicia. Here he learned that Theodotus, a captain of Antigonus' navy, had passed by from Patara a port of Lycia. He had the Rhodian fleet that was manned by sailors from Caria. He also learned that Perilaus with a land army, followed along by the shore for the defence of the fleet if required. In this case he used his wits to defeat him. He landed his men and placed them near a suitable place where the land army must pass. He with the fleet went and anchored behind a cape near the place and awaited the coming of the enemy. It happened that when Perilaus' army came, he fell into the ambush that was laid for him. He was taken prisoner. Some of his men were slain and the rest were captured alive. When the fleet at sea saw the land army engaged, they hurried to their relief. Polyclitus, attacked them in this confusion, with his ships in good formation and easily routed them. So Polyclitus captured all their ships and most of the men in them. Theodorus, their Admiral, died shortly after this from his wounds. (Diod. Sic.)

2546. When Polyclitus had such good success, first he sailed back to Cyprus and later to Pelusium in Egypt. Ptolemy richly rewarded him for so great a service. He promoted him to a far higher dignity and place of honour than he was in before because he was the author of so great a victory. He released Perilaus and some other of the prisoners whom Antigonus desired through a messenger he sent to him. Ptolemy went to Ecregma to a parley with Antigonus. When Antigonus refusing to grant him what he demanded, he left and returned to Egypt. (Diod. Sic.)

3691 AM, 4401 JP, 313 BC

2547. Cassander marched with an army from Macedonia into Caria. He wanted to help the cities which had allied themselves with Ptolemy and Seleucus. He also wanted to hinder Antigonus from coming into Europe. The commanders of this army, Asander the governor of Caria and Prepelaus heard that Ptolemy the general of Antigonus in those parts had his winter quarters for his army there. Also he was now busy in the burying of his father who had recently died. They sent Eupolemus with 8000 foot soldiers and 2000 cavalry Caprima in Caria to lie in ambush for him. Ptolemy found out about it by some that defected to him. He got together 8300 foot soldiers and 600 cavalry. He attacked them in their trenches and found them there all fast asleep. He took Eupolemus prisoner and forced all the rest to submit to his discretion. (Diod. Sic. year 3 Olymp. 116.)

3691 AM, 4401 JP, 313 BC

2548. When Antigonus saw that Cassander wanted to be master of Asia, he left his son Demetrius in Syria with instructions to intercept Ptolemy's men. He suspected they were coming with an army further up into Syria. He left his son 10,000 foreign foot soldiers, 2000 Macedonians, 500 from Lycia and Pamphylia, 400 Persian arches and slingers, 5000 cavalry and more than 40 elephants. He left four men as counsellors, Nearchon, Pithon who came recently from Babylon, Andromicus and Philippus. These were all men of mature age and judgment. They had served Alexander the Great in his exploits. Demetrius was a young man not more than 22 years old. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116.)

2549. Antigonus took the rest of the army and went to cross the Taurus Mountains. There was a heavy snow storm and he lost many of his men. Thereupon he returned back into Cilicia and was told of an easier less dangerous way to cross that mountain. He came to Ceraenae in Phrygia and made his winter quarters for his army. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116.)

2550. After Tyre had withstood a 15 month siege, it conditionally surrendered to Antigonus. The men of Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, were allowed to leave with their belongings. Andronicus was left there to hold the place with a garrison. (Diod. Sic. year 2. Olymp. 116. & year. 1. Olymp. 117. ??)

2551. Antigonus sent for Medius to come to him with his fleet which he had in Phoenicia. On his way he met with the fleet of the city Pydna. He captured it and brought both it and all the men in it to Antigonus. (Diod. Sic. year. 3. Olympiad. 116.)

2552. Asander, the governor of Caria, being overwhelmed by the enemy, came to this agreement with Antigonus. He would give all his army to Antigonus. All the Greek cities there could live according to their own laws. Asander would hold the government which he had there, as a grant from Antigonus and would be a loyal friend to Antigonus. As security, he gave his own brother Agathon as a pledge. However, a short time later he changed his mind. He got his brother from them and sent his agents to Ptolemy and Seleucus to come speedily and help him. Antigonus took this rather badly and sent his naval and land forces to attack the free Greek cities. To this end, he made Medius his general of the army and Docimus his admiral of the navy. When they came to Milesum, he challenged the inhabitants to fight for their freedom. They captured the citadel and placed a garrison there. They restored the city to her original freedom again. (??) (Diod. Sic. year 4. Olymp. 116.)

2553. Meanwhile Antigonus took Tralles and attacked the city Caunus. He sent for his fleet and took the city except the citadel. He made a trench around it and made continual assaults on it where it looked like there might be places he could break through. He had sent Ptolemy to the city Iassus. However, he was forced to come back and join with Antigonus. So all these cities came at that time under his control. (Diod. Sic. year 4. Olymp. 116.)

3692 AM, 4402 JP, 312 BC

2554. The Cyrenians defected from Ptolemy and fiercely besieged the citadel there. They had almost taken it when messengers from Alexandria came and persuaded them to stop. They decapitated them and worked harder than ever to take the citadel. Ptolemy was rather upset by this and sent his captain, Agis, with an army there. He sent a navy under the command of Epaenetus to help Agis. Agis pursued the war against these rebels vigorously and took the city of Cyrene. He imprisoned the authors of this sedition and then sent them bound to Alexandria. He disarmed the rest. when he had set things in order there, he returned into Egypt. (Diod. Sic. year. 1. Olymp. 117.)

2555. After this success in Cyrene, Ptolemy sailed with his fleet to Cyprus to fight against those who rebelled there against their kings. He captured and executed Pygmalion, who worked with Antigonus. He imprisoned Praxippus king of the Lapithi and the prince of Cerynnia, who was suspected of a revolt. Likewise he imprisoned Stasiaecus, a petty king of the Malians and destroyed their city. He relocated the inhabitants from there to Paphos. After this, he made Nicocreon commander over all Cyprus and gave him the cities together with the revenues of all the kings which he had expelled from their dominions. Then he went with his army into the upper Syria and sacked the cities of Possideum and Potamos in Caria. Then he went quickly with a light army and took Mallus in Cilicia. He sold all the inhabitants into slavery and wasted all the region around there. When he had made his army rich from plunder, he sailed back again to Cyprus. (Diod. Sic. year. 1. Olymp. 117.)

2556. Meanwhile, Demetrius, the son of Antigonus, stayed in Coelosyria awaiting the coming of the Egyptians. When he heard what damage Ptolemy had done to so many cities in Syria, he left Pithon to command in those parts. He left his heavily armed soldiers and elephants with Pithon and he with his cavalry and companies of lightly armed soldiers rushed toward Cilicia to help save them from Ptolemy. He came too late and found the enemies had already gone. He speedily returned to his camp again and ruined many of his horses on the way. In 6 days, he marched from Mallus which is normally a 24 day journey by their ordinary marches. So that through rapid travel, none of the servants of cavalry were able to keep up to them. (Diod. Sic. year. 1. Olymp. 117.)

2557. When Ptolemy saw everything going as he wanted it, he returned to Egypt. Not long after Seleucus urged him to attack Antigonus because Seleucus hated Antigonus. Therefore Ptolemy planned to march into Coelosyria and attack Demetrius. He gathered all his army together, he marched from Alexandria to Pelusium. He had 18,000 foot soldiers and 4000 cavalry of which some were Macedonians and some were mercenaries. Some Egyptians helped carry their darts, weapons and other baggage of the army and some went as soldiers. When they crossed the desert from Pelusium, Ptolemy camped near the old city of Gaza and awaited the enemy's arrival. (Diod. Sic. year. 1. Olymp. 117.)

2558. In the 117th olympiad, Ptolemy defeated Demetrius, the son of Antigonus in a main battle near Gaza. Ptolemy was called after this, Poliorcetes, that is "the city taker" according to Castor the Historian reports as cited by Josephus. (l. 1. cont. Apion. p. 1048.) Diodorus gives the details of the battle in his history of that olympiad. He says that 8000 were taken prisoners and about 500 killed. This should be amended from Plutarch who says 5000 were killed. Among the nobles who were killed was Pithon, who was at that time joint commander with Demetrius and Boeotus who had lived a long time with Antigonus the father and was ever knowledgable about his plans and affairs.

2559. Ptolemy and Seleucus took Gaza. However Demetrius, by the help of a good pair of spurs came to Azotus about the next midnight after riding about 34 miles. From there he sent messengers to beg the bodies of his dead for burial. Ptolemy and Seleucus immediately granted this and also sent back his own pavilion with all its furniture gratis and without ransom. They added a generous message that they fought not for pay but for honour and to see who should wear the garland. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 117. Plutarch. in Demetrio, and Justin. l. 15. c. 1.)

2560. Demetrius was no longer able to hold out in the position he was in. He sent a messenger with his letters to his father who was in Phrygia. He asked for help and to come quickly. Demetrius said he was coming to Tripoli in Phoenicia. He sent for the soldiers that were in Cilicia and elsewhere in remote garrisons from the enemies quarters, to come to him. (Diod. Sic.)

2561. When Antigonus heard the news, he said that Ptolemy had now gotten the victory over a company of beardless boys. Next time he would fight with men. So not to discourage his son and because his son wanted another fight with Ptolemy, Antigonus said he could fight with him alone if he wanted to. (Plutarch. in Demetrio.)

2562. Ptolemy sent the prisoners whom he had taken to Egypt. They were distributed among the various regiments of his fleet. When he had honourably interred his dead troops, he marched on and attacked the cities and strong places of Phoenicia. Some he besieged and he persuaded others to yield to him. When he captured Sidon he went and camped before Tyre. He sent to Andronicus, the captain of the garrison, to surrender the city to him. He gave him generous promises of wealth and honour. He replied that he would never betray the trust which Antigonus and his son Demetrius had put in him and said many harsh things against Ptolemy. However a little later his soldiers rebelled and he was taken by Ptolemy. He overlooked the harsh words he had spoken against him and highly rewarded him. He took Andronicus into the number of his friends and regarded him highly. (Diod. Sic.)

2563. Seleucus took with him 1000 foot soldiers from Ptolemy's (as Appianus has it, for Diodorus says only 800.) and 200 cavalry. With so small a force he went to recover his government of the province of Babylon. When he came with them into Mesopotamia, he there dealt with the Macedonians he found living in Carran. He persuaded some to follow him, others he forced to go along with him in his journey. No sooner had he set foot within the territory of Babylon, then the inhabitants came flocking to him and offered him their service in the recovering of his government. Polyarchus also, who held some kind of office among them, came to him to receive his commands and brought 1000 armed troops to him. When those who sided with Antigonus knew of his popularity with the people, they all fled to the citadel which was commanded by Diphilus. Seleucus besieged it and took it by force. He released from there the children and friends of his that Antigonus had imprisoned when Seleucus had fled to Egypt for fear. When this was done, he started raising soldiers in the country. He bought horses and distributed them among those who were able to ride them. With all of them be behaved fairly and friendly. He secured their loyalty so they were all ready to risk any hazard with him. So for the third time he again recovered all his government of Babylon. (Diod. Sic. with Appian. in his Syriaca, p. 121.)

2564. Nicanor, whom Antigonus had made governor of the province of Media, marched against Seleucus with 10,000 foot soldiers and 7000 cavalry. Seleucus immediately went to meet him with a little more than 3000 foot soldiers and 400 cavalry. When he had crossed the Tigris River, he heard that the enemy was not far off. He hid his men in the marshes around there and planned to ambush Nicanor. When Nicanor came to the bank of the Tigris River, he could not find the enemy and camped near to a post house of the kings. Little did he think that the enemy was so near. The next night he was not even thinking about the enemy and did not post a proper military watch. Seleucus attacked him and raised a great tumult in his army. When the Persians started to fight back, Euager their general along with other commanders were killed. After this fight most of Nicanor's army abandoned him and defected to Seleucus. They did not like the fix they were in nor did they care for Antigonus. Thereupon Nicanor feared what would happen next lest his soldiers turn him over to Seleucus. He stole away with some few of his friends, and fled home through the desert into Media again. (Diod. Sic.)

2565. When Seleucus had gotten this powerful army, he still behaved well toward all men and easily subdued the provinces of Media, Susa and the other bordering countries. He quickly sent Ptolemy word how he had regained his full regal power and majesty. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 117.) Based on this, Eusebius counts this as the first year of Seleucus' reign. All note that the Edesseni begin their epoch here. The story of the Maccabees' account of the Greek reign begins here. Without a doubt this is from the autumn of this very year, that is, from September or October of the year 4402 JP. Starting at that time, the writer of the second book of Maccabees calculates his Greek years, and the Jews there, "eram Contractium", i.e. "their account of Contracts", and those of Edessa, and other Syrians, in their "Epoch of the Seleucian Kingdom", and the Arabians, "the years of Alexander Dehiplarnain", as they call them. Yet the writer of the first book of Maccabees begins his account of the Greek year, from the previous spring to this autumn and Ptolemy of Alexandria, in his great Syntaxis begins his Chaldean account, from the next spring.

3693a AM, 4402 JP, 312 BC

2566. While Ptolemy of Egypt remained still in Coelosyria, he sent one of his friends, called Cilles, a Macedonian, with a large army against Demetrius. He was camped in upper Syria and Ptolemy wanted Cilles to fight with him and either drive him out of Syria or confine him there and destroy him. Demetrius was told this by his spies that Cilles with his army camped at Myus carelessly without keeping a proper watch. He left his baggage behind him, marched away with a company of light-footed troops. They travelled all night and a little before daybreak they attacked Cilles' camp. They turned it into chaos and captured Cilles with 7000 soldiers and much booty besides. Since he thought Ptolemy was coming later with all his army, he pitched his camp in a place where he had a bog on the one hand and a large lake on the other side to protect him. (Diod. Sic. year. 1. Olymp. 117. & Plut. in Demetrio.)

2567. Demetrius sent news of this good success to his father Antigonus at Celenae in Phrygia. He asked him to quickly send an army or to come himself in person into Syria. When Antigonus read the letter, he was overjoyed by the news of the victory and his son's conduct in managing the battle. He showed himself a man worthy to wear the crown after Antigonus. (Diodor.) Demetrius, with his father's permission, sent back Cilles and all his friends to Ptolemy again. Thereby, he was no longer indebted to Ptolemy for his former kindness to him. (Plut.)

2568. Antigonus with his army moved from Phrygia and in a few days crossed the Taurus Mountains and came to his son Demetrius. Ptolemy followed the advice of his council and decided to leave Syria. Before he left, he laid waste and destroyed the main cities which he had captured. These included, Acon in Syrophoenicia, Joppa, Samaria and Gaza of Syria. He took whatever he could carry from there and returned to Egypt loaded with wealth. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 117.)

2569. A great number of men who lived there noticed his good disposition and clemency of nature. They wanted to return with him to Egypt. Among those was Ezechias, a high priest of the Jews. (Perhaps a secondary one, for the chief high priest at that time was Onias the first) Ezechias was about 66 years old and highly respected among his people, very eloquent and had much experience in the affairs of the world. This and much more concerning this Ezechias is told by Hecaraeus the historian (who conversed with him in Ptolemy's army) in a peculiar Treatise which he wrote about the Jews. He tells a long story about another Jew, whom he became acquainted with, named Mosollamo. or Meshullamo. His story is:

``When I went toward the Red Sea, there was one among the rest, of a troop of cavalry of the Jews who escorted us, a man called Mosollamus. He was a high-spirited man and the best archer of all the company. He saw a certain wizard in the company who stood still. He desired all the company to do the same while he observed a certain bird that flew so he could divine by it. Mosollamus asked him why he stood still. When the wizard showed him the bird which he was watching and said that it would be best for the company to stay there if the bird would stay where she was. If she arose and flew before them then they should go forward too. If she flew back, then all the company ought also to return. Mosollamus said nothing but drew his bow and shot and killed the bird. The wizard and others there present were angry about this and shamed him for his actions. He replied that why were they angry with him and why do you pick up this unlucky bird? How could the bird that did not know what was about to happen to it, predict what would happen to them on their journey? If she had any knowledge of things to come, she would never have come there to be shot to death by Mossollamus a Jew.''

2570. Many things besides this are told by Josephus, (in his book, contra. Apion.) from the same book concerning the Jews. He says that at that time there were 1500 priests who received tithes and governed all things belonging to the commonwealth. Demetrius Phalareus, in his Epistle to Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, (found in Aristeas his book of the 70 Interpreters and in the same Josephus, l. 12. Antiquit. c. 2.) from the same author tells us the reason why no heathen poet or historian mentions either of those sacred books or of those men who lived according to the rules set down in them. These books contain a sacred and a venerable rule which was not to be uttered by unhallowed mouths.

3693 AM, 4403 JP, 311 BC

2571. Antigonus had recovered all Syria and Phoenicia without fighting a battle. He journeyed to the country of the Arabians, called the Nabathaeans. He thought they never really favoured his actions. Therefore he appointed one of his friends called Athenaeus, with 4000 foot soldiers and 600 light cavalry to attack them and get as much spoil as he could. About that time of the year, all the neighbouring countries came together to a common market to sell their wares. The Nabathaeans went to this market according to their custom. They left their wealth and the old men with their wives and children on the top of a rock. Athenaeus waited for this opportunity and quickly marched to this rock. He left the province of Edom and marched 275 miles in 3 days and 3 nights time. Late in the night he surprised the Arabians and captured the rock. He killed some of the soldiers there and took some prisoners. He left their wounded behind. He took a large quantity of their myrrh and frankincense with 500 talents of silver. He did not stay there more than 3 hours lest the neighbouring countries attack him. He returned immediately again. They had gone only 25 miles and could go no further because they were so tired. Therefore they rested and did not set a watch for they thought the people could not reach them for 2 or 3 days. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 117.)

2572. When the Arabians knew what had happened by those who had seen the enemy army, they left the market and returned to the rock. The wounded told them which way the army had gone and the Arabs followed them. Athenaeus' men kept no watch and after their long journey were weary and fast asleep. Some of their prisoners stole away from them. They told the Arabs where the enemy camp was. They hurried to the place and arrived about 3 in the morning. They attacked their trenches and killed 8000 of them as they lay sleeping in their tents. Any that resisted were killed. They utterly destroyed all their foot soldiers and only 50 of their cavalry escaped and most of them were wounded too. So the Nabathaeans recovered their goods and returned to the rock. They sent a letter to Antigonus written in Syriac. They complained of Athenaeus and his wrong doing and excused themselves. Antigonus wrote back again cunningly telling them that Athenaeus was well enough treated by them. He blamed Athanaeus for his actions and assured them that he had issued no such order to do that. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 117.) When Antigonus had appeased and deceived these poor Nabathaeans, a little later he selected from all his army, 4000 foot soldiers. They were lightly armed and the swiftest on their feet that he could find. He added 4000 cavalry to the troops and wanted them to take in their knapsacks, a supply of food for the journey that would not need to be cooked. He had Demetrius, his son, to command them. He sent them away early in the night with orders to avenge his loss. Demetrius travelled 3 day's journey through the desert and hurried to attack them by surprise. However, the scouts saw them coming and made fires to signal their coming into that country. Thereupon the Arabs presently climbed to the top of their rock. There was only one way to get up and that was by climbing by hand. They left their belongings there with a sufficient guard to keep it. The rest went and drove away their cattle, some to one place, some to another in the desert. When Demetrius came to the rock and saw all the cattle were driven away he started to besiege the rock. They manfully defended it and by the advantage of the place and that day had the upper hand. At last Demetrius was forced to withdraw. Since he saw that he could not defeat them, he made a peace with them. They gave him hostages and such gifts as were agreed upon between them. He moved with his army about 40 miles and camped near the Lake Asphaltis or Dead Sea. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 116) Plutarch says that he went there with a huge booty and 700 camels.

2573. When Demetrius returned to Antigonus, he told his father what happened. Antigonus blamed him for making peace with the Nabathaeans and said that those barbarous people would become more insolent since they had escaped. However, he commended him for discovering the Lake Asphaltis since from there he might raise some yearly revenue for himself. He made Hieronymus Cardianus the historian, his treasurer for that revenue. Josephus (l. 1. cont. Apion.) notes that he was made governor of Syria by Antigonus. Josephus very deservedly blames Heironymus that in his writings, he makes no mention of the Jews since he lived near to them and almost among them. Hieronymus was commanded to build ships and to gather together in one place all the bitumen or liquid brimstone that could be extracted from that lake. The 6000 Arabians attacked them as they were in their ships gathering this brimstone and killed almost all of them with arrows. Hence, Antigonus lost all hope of making any regular revenue that way. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 116)

2574. Antigonus, learned from letters by Nicanor the governor of Media and others, how Seleucus prospered in those parts. He sent his son Demetrius with 5000 Macedonian foot soldiers, 10,000 mercenaries and 4000 cavalry. He was ordered to march to the very walls of Babylon. When he had recovered that province, he was to march down to the sea. Demetrius left Damascus in Syria and went to execute his father's commands. As soon as Patrocles, whom Seleucus had left as governor of Babylon, heard that Demetrius was coming into Mesopotamia, he dared not to check his coming because he had only a small force with him. He ordered the rest to leave the city and when they had crossed the Euphrates, they should flee. Some should go into the desert, while others over the Tigris River into the province of Susa and to the Persian Sea: He with the forces he had would trust in the sandbars of the rivers and dikes of the country for defences instead of so many fortresses and bulwarks. He stayed within the bounds of his own government and thought how to entrap his enemy. He kept Seleucus in Media informed how things went with him and desired help to be speedily sent to him. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 116)

2575. When Demetrius came to Babylon and found the city itself devoid of inhabitants, he started to besiege the forts and citadels that were there. When he had taken one, he gave its spoil to the soldiers. He turned out Seleucus' men, put his garrison of 7000 soldiers in their place. He was not able to take any others and after a long seige he departed and left Archelaus, one of his loyal friends to maintain the siege with 5000 foot soldiers and 1000 cavalry. When Demetrius had run out of time that his father had allowed for this expedition, he ordered his soldiers to steal for themselves whatever they could from that province. Then he journeyed back to Asia. By this action, he left Seleucus more grounded and better settled in his government than before. Men said why would Demetrius waste and spoil the country if he planned to take it over? (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 116 with Plut. in Demetrio.) Thereupon the Chaldeans reckon the beginning of the Seleucian reign in Babylon from this time rather than an earlier time.

2576. Demetrius returned to Asia and quickly raised the siege which Ptolemy had laid to Halicarnasius. (Plut. in Demetrio.)

2577. Cassander, Ptolemy and Lysimachus, made peace with Antigonus, upon these conditions. Cassander would command all in Europe until Alexander the son of Roxane came of age. Lysimachus would hold Thrace and Ptolemy Egypt along with the bordering countries of Libya and Arabia. Antigonus would have the command of all Asia to himself. This agreement did not last long for everyone used any occasion to encroach on one another's territory. (Diod. Sic. year. 2. Olymp. 117.)

2578. Cassander saw that Alexander the son of Roxane was growing up and heard a rumour among the Macedonians. They thought it was about time that the young king should now be freed from his prison and rule the kingdom. He was alarmed by this and ordered Glaucia the keeper, to murder Roxane and her son, the king. He was to bury their bodies in some secret place and should by all means possible conceal their deaths. This he did. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 116)

2579. Parysades the king of Bosphorus Cimerius died after ruling for 38 years. He left his kingdom to his oldest son Satyrus. He held the kingdom for only nine months. (Diod. Sic. year. 3. Olymp. 117.)

3694 AM, 4404 JP, 310 BC

2580. In Peloponesus, Ptolemy, a captain of Antigonus, defected from him to Cassander's side. He sent soldiers to a most loyal friend of his, called Phoenix and one to whom he had committed the management of the government of Hellespont. He advised him to man his forts and cities and to stand guard and no longer serve Antigonus. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 117.)

2581. On the other side, Ptolemy of Egypt cried out against Antigonus. He, contrary to agreement, had put his garrisons into various Greek cities on the Asian side. Thereupon he sent Leonides, his captain, to Cilicia Aspara. He took over some cities and places that belonged to Antigonus. Moreover he sent his agent to some cities held by Cassander and Lysimachus, that they should follow his advise and not allow Antigonus to become too powerful. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2582. Antgonus sent his younger son Philippus, to fight against Phoenix, and others who had revolted from him in the Hellespont. His son Demetrius, was sent into Cilicia against Ptolemy of Egypt. He routed the captains of Ptolemy and recovered the cities which he had taken. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2583. Polysperchon in Peloponesus cried out against Cassander and concerning his government of Macedonia. He sent for Hercules, a son of Alexander the Great by Barsine, who was now 17 years old. He sent to those who were enemies of Cassander to help establish this young man in his father's kingdom. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2584. when Ptolemy of Egypt had all Cyprus under his command, he learned that Nicocles the king of Paphos, had negotiated secretly with Antigonus. Ptolemy sent two confidants of his, Argaus and Callicrates, with orders to get rid of Nicocles. They crossed over into Cyprus and took with them a certain number of soldiers from Menalaus, who commanded the army there. They surrounded the house of Nicocles and then told him what Ptolemy wanted him to do and advised him to find another kingdom. First, he tried to clear himself of the charges. When he saw that no man listened to him, he drew his sword and killed himself. When Axiothea his wife heard of her husband's death, she took her daughters who were all young virgins and killed them. She tried to make the wives of Nicocles' brothers, die with her. Ptolemy had not requested this but ordered that they be spared. The brothers also of Nicocles, shut themselves in their houses and set fire to them and they died. The whole family of the kings of Phaphos came to a tragic and lamentable end. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116) & Polya. Stratag. l. 8.)

2585. Agathocles king of Sicily, was sailing about this time into Africa to make war upon the Carthaginians. A total eclipse of the sun happened and it was so dark that the stars appeared in the sky and the day was turned into night. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 117. Justin. l. 22. c. 6.) This happened on August 15, 310 BC according to the astronomical tables.

2586. When Epicurus was 32 years old, he taught publicly for 5 years in both Mitylene and Lampsacus. (Diod. Sic. Lacterus, in the Life of Epicurus.)

2587. In Bosphorus Cimmerius, Eumelus, the younger brother to Satyrus allied with some of the neighbouring natives and laid claim to the kingdom of his elder brother. When Satyrus knew of this, he went against him with a large army and crossed the Thapsus River. When Satyrus came near Eumelus' quarters, Satyrus surrounded Eumelus' camp with his carts and wagons in which he had brought a large quantity of provisions. He arranged his army in the field for battle. As was the custom of the Scythian kings, he led the main battle line in his army. He had less than 2000 Greeks or 1000 and as many Thracians. All the rest were Scythians who came to help him. They numbered 20,000 and at least 1000 cavalry. Eumelus was helped by Ariopharnes, king of Thracia, with 20,000 cavalry and 22,000 foot soldiers. Satyrus routed Ariopharnes and then defeated his brother Eumelus with his foot soldiers. He forced them all to retreat to Arioparnes' palace, which was surrounded by a river with steep rocks and a thick woods. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2588. At first, Satyrus went and wasted the enemy's country and set fire to their villages. He gathered much spoil from them. Then he made his way through their marshy country and came to their wooden citadels and took them. He crossed the river and cut down a large forest that he had to pass through to get to the king's palace. He had his whole army work at this for 3 days until they came to the walls of the citadel. Meniscus, who led the mercenary companies, got through a passage in the wall. Although he fought very courageously, he was outnumbered and forced to retreat. When Satyrus came to his relief, he was wounded in the arm with a spear. He was forced to retire to his camp and the next night, died from the wound. Meniscus broke off the siege and withdrew the army to a city called Gargaza. From there he carried the king's body down the river to a city called Panticapaeum to his brother Prytanis. He gave it a magnificent burial and laid up the relics in the king's sepulchre. He went to Gargaza and took over the army and the kingdom. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2589. Agents from Eumelus came to Prytanis to purpose that the kingdom be divided between them. Prytanis would have none of it and left a strong garrison at Gargaza. He returned to Pantacapaeum to settle the affairs of his kingdom. After a while Eumelus with the help of some barbarians captured Gargaza and various other towns and citadels. Later he defeated Prytanis in a battle and trapped him in a neck of land near Lake Maeotis. He forced Prytanis to surrender on condition that he give up all his army and leave the kingdom. Nevertheless, when Prytanis returned to Pantacapaeum which was the place where the kings of Bosphorus keep their standing court, he endeavoured again to recovered his kingdom. He was foiled in this and he fled to a place near there called the Gardens and was killed. His brother Eumelus reigned in his place for 5 years and 5 months. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

3695 AM, 4405 JP, 309 BC

2590. To establish his kingdom, Eumelus killed all the friends, wives and children of both his brothers, Satyrus and Pritanis. Only Parysades, Satyrus' son, who was only a youth escaped. Using a swift horse, he fled to Agarus king of the Scythians. When Eumelus saw that the people repined at the loss of their friends who he had murdered, he called them all together. He excused himself and restored to them their ancient form of government and restored moreover to the citizens of Pantacupaeum their former immunities. He promised to free them from all kinds of tribute. He spared no fair words to reconcile the hearts of the people again to him. By this he got their good will again. He ruled with justice and moderation and was held in admiration among them. (Diod. Sic. year 3. Olymp. 116)

2591. When Ptolemy of Egypt heard that he had lost all again in Cilicia, he sailed over with his fleet to Phaselis and took that city by force. From there he passed into Lycia and took Xanthus by assault and the garrison of Antigonus that was there. Then he attacked Caunus which surrendered to him. Then he attacked the citadels and forts that were in it and took them by assault. He utterly destroyed Heracleum. Persicum was surrendered to him by the soldiers that were to hold it. (Diod. Sic. year 4. Olymp. 117.)

2592. Then he sailed to Cos and sent for Captain Ptolemy to come to him. He was Antigonus' brother's son and had an army committed to him by Antigonus. He defected from his uncle and he sided with Ptolemy in everything. He left there or from Chaleis, and arrived at Cos. At first Ptolemy received him in a very courteous manner. After a while, he saw the indolence of his behaviour and how he tried to secure his officers by gifts and secret meetings with them. He feared the worst and put him in prison. There he poisoned him with a drink of hemlock. Ptolemy secured his soldiers with generous promises and distributed them in small numbers among the rest of his army. (Diod. Sic. year 4. Olymp. 117.)

2593. Cassander feared lest the Macedonians would defect to Hercules, the son of Alexander the Great. He was then 14 years old. (as Justin, or rather 17 according to Diodorus) Cassander befriended Polysperchon and by his means had Hercules and his mother Barsine to be privately murdered and their bodies to be hid deep enough in the ground lest by their solemn funerals the truth might happen to come to light. Now that Alexander's two sons were both dead and there was no heir of his body left to succeed him, every governor made himself a king of the province which he held just as if he had captured it in battle. (Diod. Sic. year 4. Olymp. 117. & Justin, l. 15. c. 2.)

3696 AM, 4406 JP, 308 BC

2594. Ptolemy sailed from Myndus along the islands which lay by his way and came to Andros. He expelled the garrison that was there and restored it to her former liberty. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 118.)

2595. Cleopatra, the daughter of Philip and sister to Alexander the Great, was incensed against Antigonus. Of her own accord she planned to go to Ptolemy and left Sardis. The governor there, to whom Antigonus had given a charge not to hurt her, prevented her from leaving. Later, by Antigonus' command and the help of some of her women about her, Cleopatra was murdered. To alley suspicion, Antigonus had some of those women executed who murdered her and buried her with all the magnificence that he could. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 118.)

2596. Ophellas, who had expelled Thimbron and subdued the Cyrenians for Ptolemy, now claimed Cyrene with the cities and adjoining regions as his own. Still not content, he began to look for greater things. While he was thinking about this, Ortho of Syraensa, came to him with a message from Agathocles asking him to join in arms with him against the Carthaginians. He told him that if he subdued them, he would make him sovereign of all Africa. This fuelled his ego and he listened to him. He sent his agent to Athens from where he had married his wife Euridice, the daughter of Miltiades, to ask their help and alliance in this war. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 118.)

3697 AM, 4407 JP, 307 BC

2597. Many Athenians and other Greeks willingly listened to this motion. They hoped by this to have a share of the richest pieces of all Africa with all the wealth of Carthage for themselves. Ophellas was outfitted for this expedition. He had an army of 10,000 foot soldiers, 600 or 700 cavalry, and 100 chariots with more than 300 men drivers and soldiers to manage them. Besides the followers of the camp, he had more than 10,000 with him. They brought along their wives and children with their baggage. This looked more like a colony going to be established than an army marching against an enemy. When they had marched for 18 days and gone 375 miles, they came to a city called Automulus on the western border of Cyrene. They camped here and rested themselves. Then they moved again and travelled through a dry desert country that was full of poisonous snakes. At last after two months of miserable travel they came to Agathocles' camp where they pitched their camp close to his. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 118.)

2598. When Agathocles heard of his coming, he went to meet him. He advised him to rest and relax after so tedious and hard a journey. When they had dined together often, Ophellas adopted Agathocles for his son. Later when most of Ophellas' army was foraging in the country, Agathocles suddenly called an assembly of his own army and before them accused Ophellas who was to help him in this war of betraying him. When he had incensed the multitude, he drew out his whole army in formation against Ophellas and his Cyrenians. Ophellas was shocked at this unexpected turn of affairs and had his men defend themselves. The enemy was too quick for him and he too weak for them. He was killed. After his death, Agathocles persuaded the rest that were left to lay down their arms and then told them what great things he would do for them. He persuaded them to take his pay and thus took over Ophellas' army. Those that he found not fit for the war, he sent to Syracuse. Some arrived there but most perished in a fierce storm on the way. (Diod. Sic. year 1. Olymp. 118. with Justin, l. 22. c. 2.)

2599. After Ophellas' death, Cyrene and all Libya returned in Ptolemy's government again. (Suid. in Dhmhtr.)