2800. The ambassadors returned who Pyrrhus had sent to the kings of Asia and to Antigonus Gonatas for help with men and money. They returned without either. Pyrrhus called the princes of the Epirotes and Tarentines together and concealed the contents of the letters and told them that supplies would come very speedily. When news of this came to the Roman camp and that there were great supplies coming to him from Macedonia and Asia both, the Romans did not attempt any more actions against him. (Pausan. in Attic. p. 11.) Pyrrhus acted as if he would move with his army from Tarentum. He never said why. Meanwhile, he wanted his confederates to continue the war and committed the keeping of the citadel at Tarentum to his son Helenus and to Milo, one of his friends. (Instin. l. 25. c. 3.) When he had spent 6 whole years in the war in Italy and Sicily, he had lost many of his men. With no hope left of doing any good, he returned to Epirus with the 8000 foot soldiers and 500 cavalry whom he had left. (Plut. in Pyrr.)

2801. Curius when he was consul, held a triumph for the defeat of Pyrrhus. He was the first that brought elephants (4 in total) to Rome. (Eusrop. l. 2.) The people were eager in that triumph to get a look at those beasts with turrets on their backs of them and of which they were very afraid. The very beasts seemed to have sensed their captivity by holding down their heads as they followed the victorious horses in the triumph. (Florus, Rer. Rom. l. 1. c. 18.) This triumph happened in the month of January or February as gathered from the marble fragments of the record of their triumphs.

2802. Pyrrhus with the help of some of the Gauls made some inroads upon Macedonia where Antigonus Gonatas reigned. He captured many cities and 2000 of Antigonus' soldiers revolted from him. This raised Pyrrhus' hopes still more and he marched directly against Antigonus himself to force a battle with all his forces, Macedonians and Gauls. The Gauls who brought up the rear, fought that day very bravely. Many were cut to pieces and died in the place. The captains of the elephants were vexed by the enemy and surrendered with their elephants to Pyrrhus. The Macedonian foot soldiers were shocked at this defeat and heard Pyrrhus calling them all in general, on their captains and on chief officers by name to surrender to him. They left Antigonus and defected to Pyrrhus. Antigonus saved himself by fleeing but Pyrrhus pursued him to the seaside. (Plut. in Pyrrho. Pansan. in Attic. p. 11, 12.)

2803. After this victory, Pyrrhus took the richest and best spoils from Gauls and hung them in the temple of Pallas in Itonia. It is between Phera and Larissa. He subdued all upper Macedonia and Thessalie. (Plut. in Lyrrho. Pansan. in Attic. p. 11, 12.) He figured this made up for the loss of Italy and Sicily. He sent for his son Helenus from the citadel of Tarentum where he had left him. (Justin, l. 25. c. 3.)

2804. Pyrrhus had plundered the city of Egeas, which was the royal seat and burial ground of the previous kings of Macedonia. He left the Gauls to keep it, who had followed him in this war. When some told them that in the tombs of the kings much treasure was stored, they acted according to the custom of the times. They broke into the tombs and took away any treasure that was there. They threw the kings' bones about the streets and trampled them under their feet. When Pyrrhus found that their actions caused the Macedonians to murmur against him, he did not rebuke them publicly. He knew he needed them for future wars. (Plut. in Pyrrho. Diod. Sic. l. 22. in the Exerpt. by Vales. p. 266.)

2805. Antigonus, with some few cavalry that followed him came to Thessalonica. He waited to see how events would unfold and what would become of Macedonia now that he had lost it. He planned to capture it again with the help of any mercenary Gauls he could hire. Ptolemy, the young son of Pyrrhus utterly defeated him. He escaped with only 7 in his company. He skulked up and down and did not try to recover his kingdom any longer but only to save his own skin. (Justin, l. 25. c. 3.) Pyrrhus reproached him and called him an impudent fellow. In spite of the condition he was in, he would not ware a cloak as other Greeks did, but still wore his scarlet robe. (Plut. in Pyrrho.)

3731 AM, 4441 JP, 273 BC

2806. In the year when Caius Fabius Licinius and Caius Claudius Caninas were consuls of Rome, Ptolemy Philadelphus heard of the great defeat of Pyrrhus by the Romans and how the Roman power began to grow in the world. He sent his ambassadors with presents from Alexandria to Rome, and made a league with them. (Eutrop. l. 2. Livy l. 14. Dio. in Excerpt. Legatio. published at Rome by Fulio Vursino, and Jo. Zonar. Chron. l. 2.) The Romans were glad to see that so great a king as he was, had sought their friendship. Likewise they sent to him their ambassadors, Q. Fabius Gurges, Cn. Fabius Pictor and Quin. Ogulnius. These received expensive presents from the king. As soon as they came home and before they went to relate what happened to the senate, they went and gave all that they had received from him into the treasury. They rightly knew that from a public service for the commonwealth, they should not reap any benefits except for only praise and honour. All was restored to them again by a decree of the senate and by the general vote of the people. The quaesters were commanded to go and return to each of them what the king had given them. So that in this one thing, the bounty and magnificence of Ptolemy, the sincerity of the ambassadors, the equity of the senate and the whole people of Rome, they had the praise and honour due to them. (Diod. Sic. l. 22. Valer. Max. l. 4. c. 3.)

3732 AM, 4442 JP, 272 BC

2807. In the 13th year, according to Dionysius, on the 25th day of Egon or Capricorn, in the 52nd year from the death of Alexander the Great, the 476th from the beginning of Nabonassar's account, on the 20th day of Athyr, (17th of our January) the planet of Mars was observed to be in the morning under the northerly part of the forehead of Scorpio. (Cl. Ptol. l. 10. c. 9.)

2808. When Pyrrhus had subdued the kingdom of Macedonia, he began now to look for the sovereignty of all Greece and Asia. (Justin l. 25. c. 4.) Before he had entirely subdued all Macedonia, he was sent for by Cleonymus of Sparta to come and help him in his wars at Laconia. (Pausan. in Attic. p. 12.) Areus their king was away in Crete helping the men of Gorryna who were then oppressed with a war. Therefore, Pyrrhus went to help him with 25,000 foot soldiers, 2000 cavalry and 24 elephants. With so large an army Pyrrhus thought that instead of recovering Sparta for Cleonymus, he could take over all of Peloponese. (Plutarch in Pyrrho.)

3733 AM, 4443 JP, 271 BC

2809. In the 13th year of Ptolemy Philadelphus (in some copies it is incorrectly written, "and a half") in the 476th year of Nabonassar, in the 17th day of the month Masor, the 11th of our October 12 hours after the setting of the sun, Timochares observed the planet of Venus in the morning to be completely eclipsed. (Cl. Ptolemy. l. 10. c. 4.)

2810. While Pyrrhus besieged Sparta, a company of women led by Archidamia, defended it against him until the return of Areus from Crete. Acrotatus the son of Areus, valiantly drove Ptolemy the son of Pyrrhus back when he made an assault and would have broken into Sparta with 2000 Gauls and some select companies from Chaonia. Thereupon Pyrrhus, despaired of accomplishing anything and withdrew. He took the spoil of the country and planned to winter there.

2811. Now while the war was going on in Laconia, Antigonus recovered the cities of Macedonia and marched down with his army into Peloponese. He wanted to fight again with Pyrrhus for he knew if Pyrrhus succeeded there, he would return to continue the war in Macedonia. (Pausan. in Attic. p. 12.) When Pyrrhus was on his way to Argos, Areus the king attacked him from the rear. He then cut off some of the Gauls and Molossians which brought up the rear. Orasus of Crete, slew Ptolemy the son of Pyrrhus, who fought valiantly for his father. (Plutarch) When Pyrrhus saw his son's dead body, he said that this death happened to him not as soon as he feared it would or for his much rashness in actions deserved. (Justin. l. 25. c. 4.)

2812. In the very night that Pyrrhus entered into Argos, it is said that a screech owl came and sat on the top of his spear. (Elia. de Histo. Animal, l. 10 c. 37.) The next day Pyrrhus was killed with a brick which a poor old woman threw down on his head. His head was cut off by Zophyrus, a soldier of Antigonus, and carried to Aleyoneus, the son of Antignous. He took it and dashed it on the ground at Antigonus' feet where he sat with his friends about him. Antigonus rebuked him very sharply for so greatly insulting so great a person for he did not consider the weakness of the human condition. He took the head and put his hood over it which he then wore for an attire after the manner of the Macedonians. He buried his body very honourably. When Helenus, the son of Pyrrhus was brought prisoner to him, Antigonus wanted him to take on him both the manner and the spirit of a king. He gave him the bones of his father in a golden urn. He wanted him to carry it into Epirus to his brother Alexander. Antigonus treated Pyrrhus' friends who were captured with all the due respect he could.. (Plut. in the end of his Pyrrhus, l. 25. c. 5. Val. Max. l. 5. c. 1.)

2813. When those of Tarentum heard of the death of Pyrrhus, they sent to Carthage to ask for help against the Romans and against Milo, who held the city with a strong garrison of Epirotes. When Milo was besieged on all sides by the Romans on land and Carthaginians at sea, he surrendered the citadel to Papyrius Curso, the Roman consul. They agreed to let Milo and his soldiers with their money and other baggage leave safely for their own country. The city was also surrendered to Papyrius by its townsmen. They gave up their arms, ships and themselves to him. This was the end of the war of Tarentum against the Romans. (Zonaras from Dionoros. l. 4. c. 3. Fontin. Stratag. l. 3.)

3734 AM, 4444 JP, 270 BC

2814. After the death of Strato, who was the master of the school of the Peripaticks for 18 years, Lycon of Troas, the son of Astyanax, succeeded him. He was an eloquent man and very capable to instruct and bring up youth. (Laert.)

3735 AM, 4445 JP, 269 BC

2815. Attalus the younger, the brother of Philitar had a son born whom he also called Attalus. The son reigned later in Pergamus and lived for 72 years. (Polybius, in Excerpt. Hen. Vales. & Suid. in Attalus, and Livy l. 33.)

3736 AM, 4446 JP, 268 BC

2816. Jubilee 24.

3739 AM, 4449 JP, 265 BC

2817. Mithradates died after reigning in Pontus for 36 years, and his son, Ariobarzanes, succeeded him. (Diod. Sic. l. 30. year 3. Olymp. 119. with Excerpt. Memnon. c. 17, & 25.)

3740 AM, 4450 JP, 264 BC

2818. In the 21st year according to Dionysius on the 22nd and 26th day of the month Scorpion, in the 484th year of Nabonassar, on the 18th and 22nd day of the month Thoth and in the 14th and 18th of November according to the Julian calendar,the planet Mercury was observed in the morning. (Plan. Ptol. l. 9. c. 10, 11.)

3741 AM, 4451 JP, 263 BC

2819. Philetaeus the Teian who was born at Teii in Pontus ruled Pergamus for 20 years and died when he was 80 years old. He was succeeded by Eumenes the First, the son of his older brother. He ruled for 22 years. (Strabo l. 12. p. 543 & l. 13. p. 623, 624. with Lucian, in his Macrobis.)

2820. The first Punic or Sicilian war started this year between the Romans, and the Carthaginians. This was the first time the Romans had left Italy and fought their first naval battle. The Carthaginians had invaded Sicily. This war lasted 24 years without stopping. (Polyb. l. 1.)

2821. In this same year, when Diognetus was archon at Athens, the chronologer of Paros made his canon or order of times. Mr. Selden recently published this in his "Marmora Arundelliana".

3742 AM, 4452 JP, 262 BC

2822. Dionysius the astronomer, observed Mercury 3 times. The first time was in the 23rd year, according to Dionysius, in the 29th (it should be the 19th or 20th according to the point to the sun assigned) of Hydron or Aquarion, in the 486th year of Nabonassar on the 17th of the month Choeac (on the 11th of our February) in the morning. The second time was on the 4th of the month Tauron or 1st of Phamenoth the Egyptian month, (for in Cl. Ptolem. we must here write A for L). This was on the 26th of our April in the first hour of the evening. The third time was in the same year of Nabonassar but the 24th of the Dionysian account on the 24th of Leonion or 30th of Paynus or the 23rd of our August in the evening. Dionysius' observations are noted by Cl. Ptolemy from the writings of Hipparchus, (l. 9. c. 7.) in his book called his Great Work.

2823. Nicomedes king of Bithynia enlarged the city Astacus and renamed Nicomedia, after himself. (Euseb. Chron. with Pausan. in his Ellac. l. 2. p. 159. Trebel. Pollio. in Gallienis. & Ammia. Marcel. l. 22.) Memnon, (Excerpt. c. 21.) says that he built Nicomedia opposite the city Astacus, as do both Strabo and Pliny. They think they were really two distinct cities.

2824. When Eumenes the First had taken many cities and places around Pergamus, he defeated Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, near Sardis. (Strabo. l. 13. p. 624.)

3743 AM, 4453 JP, 261 BC

2825. Antiochus of Syria died after he had killed one of his sons and declared the other, his successor. (Prolog. of Trog. Pompeius, l. 26.) For his great victory over the Gauls who came over to Asia from Europe, Antiochus was surnamed "Soter", that is "their deliverer". (Appian in Syriac. p. 130.) For more detail of this victory over the Gauls, read Lucian, in his book, "of failing in men's speech", and in his "Zeuxis" or "Antiochus". He was succeeded by his son Antiochus, whom he had by Stratonice, the Milesian. The Milesians were the first, who surnamed him "god", because he ridded them of their tyrant, Timarchus. (Appian in Syriac. p. 130.) Tatianus the Assyrian, in his oration against the Gentiles, infers that Gerosus, who was a priest of Belus in Babylon, dedicated his three books of the Chaldean History to this Antiochus. Gerosus (Pliny l. 17. c. 56.) published the observations of the Celestial Motions among the Babylonians for a period of 480 years. This is the number of years from the beginning of the Epoch of Nabonassar's account as other learned men understand this. We also find this to have ended six years before the start of the reign of this Antiochus. Porphyrie, Eusebius, Severus Sulpitius, Johannes Malela of Antioch and all others agree that he reigned 15 years.

2826. Antiochus gave the Jews living in Ionia, equal rights and privileges with the Gentiles and allowed them to live according to their own religion and customs of their nation. (Josephus l. 12. c. 3.) At various times, he made war on Ptolemy Philadelphus and fought with him with all the forces he could raise from Babylon and all the east. Ptolemy wanted to end this bloody war and gave him his daughter, Bernice for a wife, while his former wife Laodice was still living. Laodice had born him two sons, Seleucus Callinicus and Antiochus Heirax that is "Hawk". Ptolemy accompanied his daughter as far as Pelusium and there gave him an enormous quantity of gold and silver for a dowry with her. Hence Ptolemy was called the dowry giver. (Jerome on Da 11 At great expense, he supplied her with water from the Nile River. This was to be carried to her, so that wherever she was, she would only drink that water. (Atheneus, l. 2. c. 2. reports from of Polybies) Appian is wrong where he says that Bernice and Laodice were both daughters of this Ptolemy. (in Syria. p. 130.)

3745 AM, 4455 JP, 259 BC

2827. Josephus, (l. 12. c. 4.) writes that after Eleazar the son of Onias, his uncle Manasseh, the son of Jaddus, succeeded him in the priesthood at Jerusalem. He was the high priest for 26 years. (Scaliger, in Grac. Eusebia. p. 50.)

3746 AM, 4456 JP, 258 BC

2828. Laodice bore to Antiochus Theos, a son called Antiochus, who, as I said before, was called Hierax. For more of him, see note on 3760 AM.

3747 AM, 4457 JP, 257 BC

2829. In the year 28, according to Dionysius' calendar, the 7th day of the month Didymon, in the 491st of Nabonassar, day 5 of the month Parmuth, the 28th of our July, the planet Mercury was seen near the sign of Gemini in the evening toward its southern head. (Cl. Ptol. l. 9. c. 7.)

3750 AM, 4460 JP, 254 BC

2830. The second Period of Calippus began in this year.

3753 AM, 4463 JP, 251 BC

2831. Aratus of Sicyone, at the age of 20 years, delivered his native country from the tyranny and oppression of Nicocles and joined it to the state of Achaia. (Polyb. l. 2. p. 130.) He sent to Ptolemy Philadelphus in Egypt and got from him 150 talents which he bestowed among his poor country men. This was partly used in redeeming those who had been taken prisoners. Those that had been expelled from their country, were now restored. They would give no rest to those who now possessed their lands and estates. Therefore, Aratus made another journey to Ptolemy and asked for money of him to settle all differences among his country men and settle all legal actions between them. On the journey, he sailed through a violent storm and contrary winds. He finally came to Egypt where he obtained a boon of 150 talents more for his country's good. He took 40 talents along with him and returned into Peloponese. (Plut. in Arata.)

3754 AM, 4464 JP, 250 BC

2832. This year Maulins Vulso and Attilius Regulus were consuls in Rome as noted by Polybius. This was the 14th year of this first Carthagainian war. The Parthians, under their captain Arsaces, broke off the Macedonian rule and revolted from them. (Trog. Pomp. l. 41.) This man Arsaces, the later Persian writers call Aski or Askam. Mircondus Chapur says he began his reign there in the 72nd year after the death of Alexander the Great. This was one year before the consulship of Manlius and Attilius in Rome and 3 years before Olymp. 133. At that time Eusebius in his Chron. notes that this Arsaces and his Parthians defected and rebelled against Antiochus Theos. However, the Parthians observe a holiday when Arsaces defeated Seleucus Callinicus, the son and successor of Antiochus, and took Callinicus himself prisoner. This holiday is kept with a great festival and is observed on the aniversary of their liberty. (Justin relates from Trogas, l. 41. c. 4.) Therefore both (Justin, and Appian, in Syriac. p. 130.) thought that the Parthians began their revolt under Seleucus and not under Antiochus his father. The Parthians moreover honoured Arsaces by calling their dynasty of kings after him, by the name of Arsaces. (Justin, l. 41. c. 5. Strabo, l. 15. p. 702.)

2833. Now that the Parthians together with the Persians revolted from the Persian Empire. Arrian, in Perlicis, shows this as we find him in (Photius, his Bibliotheca, cod. 58.) Later Persian writers confound and make the two all one people called the Parthians. (Concerning this we may see more in Schikard, Tarick. p. 101, 102. and our 3rd note upon the acts of Ignatius.) Arrian also shows the reason for this revolt from the Persian Empire. It was that this Arsaces and Tyridates, the sons of Phripites or Priapatius, the son of Arsaces had first killed Pherecles. (or Agathocles, as we find him called by Geor. Syncellus) He was the governor of that country and appointed by Antiochus Theos. The governor and 5 others wanted to have homosexual intercourse with Tirdates. They expelled the Macedonians and took over the kingdom. Their successors later fought with the Romans and contended with them for the empire of the world. (Strabo, l. 11. p. 515.)

2834. At the same time, Theodotus, who had under him 1000 cities of the Bactrians, revolted from the Macedonians. The whole east followed their example and revolted. (Justin. l. 41. c. 4. from Trogus.) Others say, that the two kings of Syria and Media, defected. Euthydemus persuaded the Greeks who inhabited Bactria to revolt from the Macedonians. Thereupon when Arsaces saw Diotus or Theodotus, grow so powerful among the Bactrians, he made the Parthians revolt from the Macedonians also. Apollodorus in his books of the Parthian affairs, tells us that those Greeks who dwelt in Bactria, became very strong and invaded India. They went so far that after they crossed the Hypanis River, they went as far as the Isamus, farther then Alexander went in his conquest of India. (Strabo. l. 11. p. 515. & l. 15. p. 686.)

3758 AM, 4468 JP, 246 BC

2835. Seleucus king of Syria was overcome with love for his former wife Laodice and her children and began to court her again. A short time later she began to fear his fickleness and thought that his affections might return again to Bernice, his second wife. She poisoned him. (Jerome on Da 11 Appia. in Syrac. p. 130.) To conceal this wicked deed of hers, she had Arremon, who looked very much like him, lie in his bed and pretend to be sick. By his face and imitation of his speech, he deceived all that came to see and visit him in his sickness. By this means, she concealed the death of the true king, until she had arranged a suitable successor. (Valer. Max. l. 9. c. 14. Pliny, l. 7. c. 11. Solic, c. 1.) Through her, Seleucus, the oldest son of Seleucus by Laodice, succeeded him in the kingdom. He was surnamed Callinicus because of the many victories which he won. (There were none that I know of.) From his large beard he was called Pogon, which means "a beard". (Polyb. l. 2. p. 155.) He ruled for 20 years. (Eusib. Chron.)

2836. In Egypt, Ptolemy Philadelphus died. He lived luxuriously and did not hesitate to say that he would live for ever and that only he had found the way to immortality after the death of Ptolemy the First, his father. Ptolemy, surnamed Euergeres, his son, succeeded him. He was born by Arsinoe, the daughter of Lysimachus, and reigned 25 years. (Cl. Ptolem. in Canone, Clemens Alexand. in l. 1. Strom. & Jerome on Da 9) In his time it is said that there appeared a phoenix, which came to Helopolis, followed by a large flock of other birds. Everone marvelled at the beauty of the phoenix. (Tacit. Annal. l. 6.)

2837. Laodice turned Berenice with her young son, who she had by Ptolemy, over to Icadion and Genneus (or Coeneus.) to have them murdered. They were two important men in Antioch. (Jerome on Da 11 and Appia. in Syriac. p. 130.) When Berenice heard that they were coming to murder her, she shut herself up in Daphne, a citadel or suburb of Antioch of which I spoke before. When the cities of Asia heard that she with her young son were besieged, they remembered and reverenced her high calling and her sons. Out of compassion, they sent her help from all parts. Also, her brother Ptolemy surnamed Euergetes, feared for the danger his sister was in. He left his kingdom and went as quickly as he could with as many forces as he could gather to help her. (Justin in l. 27. c. 1.) Before any help arrived, the young son was taken by the schemes of Laodice and carried away. When Berenice the mother heard of this, she armed herself and got into a chariot. She pursued Coeneus, the butcher of that cruel act. When she overtook him, she could do nothing against him with her spear. She took a stone and knocked him down. She forced her chariot over the very body of the knave and broke through the middle of the companies. She went directly to the house, where she heard that they had laid the murdered body of her son. (Val. Max. l. 9. c. 10.)

2838. The murderers of the child took another child very like him and brought him out. They showed him to the people, with a royal guard about him, as if it had been the same child. However, they had a strong guard of mercenary Gauls attack Bernice. They turned over to her the strongest part of the place or citadel of Antioch. They gave her their oath to be loyal to her and entered into a covenant with her. She listened to Aristarchus her physician, who persuaded her to make a covenant of friendship with them. However, they used their oath as a stratagem, to get near her. They tried to cut her throat. The women about her, defended her as well as they could and many of them there died in the fight. However 3 of them, Panxriste, Maria and Gethosyne, took her body and laid it in her bed as if she had been wounded only and not quite dead. They let it be known that she might recover and held the people in suspense until the coming of Ptolemy. (Polyanus. Stratag. l. 1.)

2839. All the cities of Asia, which had revolted from Seleucus, sent their ships and joined with Ptolemy. They were either going to defend Berenice if she was still alive or to revenge her murder if she was dead. (Justin l. 27. c. 1.) When Ptolemy came, he killed Laodice and entered Syria marching as far as Babylon. (Appian. in Syriac. pag. 130.) He took over Coelosyria with Seleucia. (Polyg. l. 5. p. 402, 403.) Syria, Cilicia, the upper provinces beyond the Euphrates and almost all Asia became his. (Jerome on Da 11.) Even from the Taurus Mountains to India, he took all without fighting a battle. That is if we can believe Polyenus, in the place cited above with which we may also compare what we find on the monument of Euergetes, called the monument in Aduliteanum, published at Rome in the year 1631 by Leo Allatrus. It says:

``After his father died, Ptolemy became king of Egypt, Libya, Syria Phoenicia, Cyprus, Lycra, Caria, and the Cychadian Isle. He gathered an army of foot soldiers and cavalry with a fleet of ships and elephants from Trogloditica and Ethiopia. Some of the elephants had been taken there by his father and the rest he brought from there into Egypt. He trained these forces in the art of war and they were well equipped. With these forces he sailed into Asia and conquered all the land on this side the Euphrates, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Ionia, Hellespont and Thracia together with all their forces and other elephants from India and all the kings of these countries. He crossed over the Euphrates and conquered Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Susia, Persia, Media and all the country as far as Bactria.''

2840. When Euergetes had conquered all Syria, he came down to Jerusalem, and offered many sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. He dedicated to him gifts worthy of such a great victory. (Josephus l. 2. cont. Apion. p. 1064.)

3759 AM, 4469 JP, 245 BC

2841. Euergetes was called back by a rebellion of his own people in Egypt. He held Syria personally and entrusted Antiochus, one of his friends, with Cilicia. He put Xanthippus in control of the provinces beyond the Euphrates. He wasting all the kingdom of Seleucus and carried from there 40,000 talents of silver and all the rich vessels that were there. He took 2500 images of their gods. Among these images were those images which Cambyses had taken previously from Egypt to Persia. By this action the Egyptians surnamed him, "Euergetes" when they saw their gods come home. (Jerome on Da 11.) Concerning him in that monument mentioned earlier, called Monumentum Adulitanum, we find written:

``Ptolemy had returned those gods which the Persians had taken and carried from Egypt previously along with other treasures stored there. He sent his army to let in the water in ditches recently dug for that purpose.''

2842. After the departure of Ptolemy from Syria, Seleucus outfitted a huge fleet to attack the cities that had revolted from him. A sudden storm sank the whole fleet. Thereupon the cities and countries which had defected to Ptolemy because they hated Seleucus, all returned to him because of this great disaster at sea. (Justin, l. 27. c. 2.)

3760 AM, 4470 JP, 244 BC

2843. In the year 67 according to the Chaldeans, on the 5th day of the month Apelleus, and in the year 504 of Nabonassar, 27th of the month Thoth, the 18th day of our November, the planet Mercury was observed in the morning to have been to the northward of the uppermost star in the head of Scorpio. (Cl. Ptol. l. 9. c. 7.)

2844. Seleucus Callinicus began to make war on Ptolemy Euergetes and was utterly routed and fled to Antioch. From there he wrote to his brother Antiochus and begged his help. He offered him for his trouble, all Asia on this side the Taurus Mountains. Antiochus, at this time was not more than 14 years old and was very greedy for a kingdom. He seized on the occasion but not out of brotherly love. He acted like a robber ("laron", Ussher cited in Oxford English Dictionary as using this term) and sought to strip his brother of all that he had in his time of need. Although he was a child, yet he behaved more like a man with this impious resolve. From this, he was surnamed "Hierax", that is "greedy hawk". He was more like a harpy eagle because he was always ready to fall upon every man's estate. (Justin, l. 17. c. 2. with Strabo, l. 16. p. 754.)

3761 AM, 4471 JP, 243 BC

2845. At this time, the people of Smyrna and Magnesia, in the month Lenaeon, entered a league between themselves to maintain the honour and greatness of Seleucus. This league we find preserved to this very day and is transcribed from those Marmora Arundeliana; i.e. those marble stones which the Earl of Arundel brought from those parts and published by Mr. J. Selden, as noted before.

2846. When Ptolemy saw that this young Antiochus sided with Seleucus, he made a 10 year truce with Seleucus lest he should be forced to fight both of them. (Justin, l. 27. c. 2.) In this long time of peace, he sent for Eratosthenes Cyrenaeus from Athens and made him keeper of his library at Alexandria. (Suidas, in Eratosthenes, and in the word, Apollonius.) Ptolemy Euergetes followed after his father Philadelphus in promoting the magnificence of this library and with it, all kinds of learning. He was a scholar of Aristarchus the philosopher and wrote certain historical commentaries himself. (Athena. l. 2. c. 33.) Concerning his diligence in getting works into his library from the ancient writers, Galen, on the 3rd book of Hippocrates, (of Epidemical diseases,) says:

``He ordered all the books of them which came into Egypt to be brought to him. He had copies made of them and gave the copies back to the owners who brought them. The originals were placed in his own library with this inscription, "from out of ships" so that it might appear that they came from such ships as had arrived there.''

2847. He left 15 talents in Athens as a security deposit so he could borrow the works of Sophocles, Eurypides and Escylus to transcribe them. When he resturned them, he would get his money back. He had them written out most exquisitely in excellent parchment and then kept the originals. He sent those copies back to them again and wished that they would keep his deposit of 15 talents and to allow the originals to remain with him.

3762a AM, 4471 JP, 243 BC

2848. Antigonus Gonatas died after he had reigned in Macedonia 34 years and in Greece for 44 years. He lived 80 years, according to Medius and other writers. Porphyry says he lived 83 years. (Lucian, in Macrobius, Porphyr. in Grec. Eusebanus, Scalig. p. 220.)

2849. Antigonus Gonatas was succeeded by his son Demetrius who reigned 10 years. (Porphyr. in Grec., Polyb. l. 2. p. 131.) During this time he subdued all of Cyrene and Libya. (Porphyr. in Grec.) After the death of her husband and brother, Alexander, Olympias, the daughter of Pyrrhus, king of Epirus gave her daughter Pthias to Demetrius, who was already married to the sister of Antiochus, king of Syria. When Demetrius turned her out, she went to her brother Antiochus and stirred him up to make war on her husband because of the wrong he did to her. (Justin, l. 28. c. 1.) In all this time there was no other man named Antiochus who was a king, except Antiochus Hierax. He wanted to take the whole kingdom from Seleucus his older brother. Justin from Trogus, (l. 441. c. 4.) calls both these brothers, by the name of kings. These writers. (Trogus, l. 27. in the Prologue to it, & Polya. l. Stratag. 4. in Antio. Hierax) show, that Antiochus went into Mesopotamia where Seleucus had built a city called Callimicopolis according to the Fasti Seculi. At that time, neither Antiochus nor Seleucus controlled Syria for Ptolemy Euergetes king of Egypt governed it.

3762 AM, 4472 JP, 242 BC

2850. At this time, Antiochus tried to take over all Asia proper, from his brother Seleucus. He raised a mercenary army of the Gauls to fight against him. They fought near the city Ancyra, Seleucus was defeated by the extraordinary prowess of those Gauls. Thereupon, these Gauls supposing that Seleucus had been slain in the battle, turned on Antiochus who had hired them. When he knew what was happening, he bought their loyalty and was forced to make a league with these mercenaries. However, Eumenes with a fresh army of his own, attacked and routed Antiochus and his Gauls. They were all tired out and many were wounded from the recent battle with Seleucus. By this he got most of Asia under his control. (Justin, l. 27. c. 2. & 3 with the Prologue of Trogus, l. 27.)

3763 AM, 4473 JP, 241 BC

2851. Eumenes, the son of Eumenes the older, who was the son of Philetaerus, drank himself drunk and died. (Athenaus, l. 12. c. 16. from Ctesicles, l. 3. de Temporibus,) Attalus, his son, succeeded him. He was the younger brother to Philetairus, and born by Antiochis, the daughter of Achaeus. Attalus used his great wealth cautiously and magnificently. He thought that he should be called a king and then convinced other men too that he deserved to be a king. Therefore, after he had defeated the Gauls, he assumed the title of a king. He ruled wisely and his house continued to the 3rd generation. (Polyb. l. 18. in the Excerpt. of him, published by Vales. p. 102.) Suidas reports an oracle which was given to him by the prophetess at Delphi: It said:

Go on Taurocerus, thou a crown shall wear, And thy sons and there an end shall be.

2852. Now it is thought that this Eumenes was surnamed Taurocerus because there were a pair of bull's horns added to a statue of him. Also in that oracle by Poaennes, is mentioned the slaughter which he would one day make of the Gauls. He is called, "Tauri Silius", i.e. the "son of a Bull". (Pausan. in Phocicis, p. 334.) It said this:

For Jove shall quickly send them a saviour. Son of a Bull and by Jove nurtured, Which on the Gauls shall bring a dismal day.

2853. Concerning this battle fought between Attalus and the Gauls, Livy says: (l. 38.)

``Attalus was the first in Asia who refused to pay tribute to the Gauls. Fortune here, beyond all expectation of men, favoured this bold attempt of his and in a battle he fought and defeated them.''

2854. However, Polyanus, (l. 4. Stratag. in Attalo) told of a scheme which Sudines, a Chaldaean soothsayer, used to enliven his soldiers for this fight when they were quite dispirited. Sudines was that Babylonian mathematician whom we find mentioned by Strabo. (l. 16. p. 739.) Vettius Valens of Antioch says he used his astronomical tables to determine the motions of the moon.

2855. In the 45th year according to Dionysius' calendar, on the 10th day of the month Parthenion or Virginion, 83 years after the death of Alexander, on the 17th day of the month Epiphus, (September 3rd) the planet Jupiter eclipsed the southern star of the constellation of the Asellus, that is, "the little Ass. (Cl. Ptolem. lib. 11. cap. 3.) (Aselli is two stars in the constellation of Cancer, Pliny Nat. l. 18. s. 353.)

3764 AM, 4474 JP, 240 BC

2856. Lacides Cyrenaeus, the rector of the new academy, succeeded Arcesilaus of Pitane in Eolia. He kept his academy in a certain garden which Attalus the king had provided there for that purpose. He began to read in year 4 of the 134th Olympiad. (Laert. in Laces.)

3768 AM, 4478 JP, 236 BC

2857. In the 25th year according to the Chaldeans, on the 14th day of the month Dios in the 512th year of Nabonassar, the 9th of the month Thoth, (July 29th) the planet of Mercury, in the morning, was seen near to the beam star in the sign of Libra. (Cl. Ptol. l. 9. c. 7.)

3771 AM, 4481 JP, 233 BC

2858. Onias the Second became high priest. He was the son of Simon the just. After Simon, Eleasarus had executed the office of the high priest at Jerusalem, because Onias was still quite young. After Eleasarus, Manasses became high priest until Onias came of age. Josephus says he was a dim witted man and in his old age finally came to be prince and high priest among the Jews. In this office, he behaved most unworthily and basely and was only concerned about money. (Josephus Antiq. l. 12. c. 3. in Grac. Euseb. p. 50.) It is said that he was the high priest for 14 years.

2859. In his days, the Samaritans grievously vexed the Jews. They plundered the country and carried away the people captives. Onias refused to pay the 20 talents of silver imposed by the kings upon the land. He was very covetous of money. This sum was paid by his predecessors from their own wealth to relieve the people. In a rage, Ptolemy Euergetes sent a messenger to Jerusalem and threatened Onias that if he did not quickly send in his arrears of tribute, he would immediately distribute the land among his soldiers and settle new colonies of his own there. There was at that time a man named Gasifies, the son of Tibias. Although a young man, yet he was in high regard among all men for his prudence, justice and other virtues. He lived in the country at a place called Phicola, where he was born. He was told by his mother, who was the daughter of Simon the Just and sister to this Onias the priest, of the arrival of these ambassadors to Jerusalem. Thereupon he came to Jerusalem and undertook to be part of an embassy to Euergetes concerning this matter. He so ingratiated himself to King Ptolemy and his queen Cleopatra that he appeased his wrath. He also obtained a company of 2000 soldiers to collect the tributes and other profits to the king from Coelosyria, Phoenicia, Samaria and Judaea. He held that office for 22 years and in that time doubled the king's revenues. He increased the revenue from 8000 to 16,000 talents a year. He brought this into the king's treasury all the goods of thieves and confiscated goods which the tax collectors had kept and divided among themselves. (Gasifies 16. c. 3. & 4.)

3772 AM, 4482 JP, 232 BC

2860. In Macedonia, Demetrius died leaving his very young son Philip as king. Antigonus was made his guardian. He was known for his great and extraordinary promises which he made to all sorts of men. He was nicknamed, "Doson", i.e. one that was ever full of promises and of no action. He married the mother of Philip and took over the kingdom. (Justin l. 28. c. 3.) He ruled for 12 years. (Dexippus, Porphy. & Euseb.)

3774 AM, 4484 JP, 230 BC

2861. Lycon of Troas died. He was head of the school of the Peripateticks for 42 years. Strato Lapsacenus was the previous head of the school until his death. Lycon lived 74 years.

3775 AM, 4485 JP, 229 BC

2862. In the 82nd year according to the Chaldean account, the 5th day of the month Xanthicus, in the 519th year of Nabonassar, the 14th day of the month Tybi, (March 1) in the evening, Saturn was observed to be two fingers width below the southern shoulder of Virgo. (Cl. Ptol. l. 11. c. 7.)

3778 AM, 4488 JP, 226 BC

2863. When Antiochus Hierax was in trouble, he fled to Ptolemy Euergetes in Egypt. He threw him into prison. He escaped, by the means of a certain harlot, who used to come to him. On his escape, he fell into the hands of certain thieves who killed him. (Justin l. 17. c. 3.)

2864. About the same time, Seleucus Callinicus, the older brother of Antiochus, fell off his horse, broke his neck and died. (Justin l. 17. c. 3.) He left two sons. The oldest one was Seleucus Ceraunus was physically weak and poor. He could not keep order in his army. The younger was called Antiochus and surnamed later the Great. After the death of his father, he went into the upper Asia. (Polyb, l. 4. p. 315 & l. 5. p. 386 with Appian. in Syriac. p. 86, 131.) Seleucus Ceraunus reigned only 3 years. (Porphy. Euseb. Severus Sulpitius.)

3781 AM, 4491 JP, 223 BC

2865. Seleucus Ceraunus marched against Attalus, who had controlled all of Asia on this side the Taurus Mountains. He left his kingdom to the care of Hermias, a Carian, and crossed over the Taurus Mountains with a large army. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 315. & l. 5. p. 386.)

2866. Seleucus was poisoned in Phrygia by his two friends, Apatarias, and Nicanor. (Polyb. ib. Appianus, in Syriac. p. 131. Jerome, upon Da 11, Justin, l. 29. c. 1.) At that time in his army, Achaeus, the son of Andronicus, brother to Laodice, Seleucus' wife, was in exile with Ptolemy in Egypt. Achaeus, as a kinsman to Seleucus, avenged his death and killed the two men who murdered Seleucus. He managed all matters in the army with a extraordinary dexterity, wisdom and magnanimity. Even though he could now crown himself king and all men wanted him to, he would not do it. He kept it for Antiochus, the young son of Seleucus Callinicus. He marched with the army from place to place throughout Asia and recovered all that his father had lost on this side of the Taurus Mountains. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 315, 317.)

2867. The army that was in Syria sent to Antiochus who was in Babylon. They wanted him to come and assume the kingdom. (Jerome, on Da 11) This he did when he was less than 14 years old. (Justin, l. 29. c. 1.) Polyb. (l. 4. p. 271.) says he reigned 36 years. We find the same in Porphyrie & Eusebius.

2868. Antiochus committed the whole rule and government of all Asia, on this side of the Taurus Mountains to Achaeus. He made Molon governor of Media, and Alexander, Molon's brother, president of Persia. In court, Hermias the Carian, controlled all. He was a man of a fierce and cruel nature. He punished very severely even small offences and made them seem all the greater by the aggravating words he said. He made false charges on various people and was a merciless and inexorable judge against them. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 386.)

2869. Cleomenes, the king of Lacedemon, was defeated by Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia near Sellasia. He was kicked out of his kingdom and sailed from Gythium in a ship he had prepared beforehand in case it was needed. He took some of his friends along with him and he sailed into Egypt to Ptolemy Euergetes. (He had previously sent to Ptolemy as pledges, his children and his mother Cratesiclea when Ptolemy had first promised him help.) When he came, Ptolemy honourably entertained him. (Polyb. l. 2. p. 154. Justin, l. 28. c. 4. Pausan. in Corinth. p. 52. Plut. in Cleome.)

3782 AM, 4492 JP, 222 BC

2870. The two brothers, Molon, the governor of Media and Alexander, the president of Persia, despised the youth of Antiochus their king. (They thought that Achaeus would easily be persuaded to join with them since all feared the power of Hermias in the court and his malice and cruelty.) They conspired together with their provinces to revolt from Antiochus, (Polyb. l. 5. p. 386.)

2871. In the parts of Caria and the isle of Rhodes, there was a very strong earthquake which destroyed their houses. The huge colossus or image of Jupiter at Rhodes was destroyed also. (Euseb. Chron. Oros. l. 4. c. 13.)

2872. Ptolemy Euergetes gave Cleomenes some hopes that he would send him back into Greece with a well furnished navy and restore him again to his kingdom. Ptolemy by his loving behaviour grew each day more intimate with him than any other man. Meanwhile he gave him 24 talents yearly for his entertainment. With this he lived frugally and maintained himself and those with him. (Plut. in Cleom.)

3783 AM, 4493 JP, 221 BC

2873. Ptolemy died before he could help Cleomenes. (Plut. in Cleom.) He either died of a natural sickness, (Polybius, l. 2. p. 155.) or through the wicked practise of his own son, called Philopater. That name means "a lover of his father" and is said to have been given to him in a sarcastic manner. Justin (l. 29. c. 1.) says this:

``When Ptolemy had murdered his father and his mother, (whom Strabo calls Agathoclea) he took Egypt into his hands. Because of his vile deed of murdering his parents, he was surnamed "Philopater" by the country.''

2874. We read in Pliny, (l. 7. c. 56.) that this Ptolemy was by another nickname, called Triphon, from his effeminate and luxurious fashion of living. In the Fasti Siculi, we find this:

``Ptolemy Philopator, who was also called Gallus, son of Ptolemy Euergetes, was surnamed also Triphon, &c.''

2875. An incorrect copy in the prologue of (Trog. Pompei. 27, 30.) wrongly attributed the surname of "Tirphon" to his father Euergetes. The collector of the great Etymology concurs with him that the other name of "Gallus" was given to Philopator. He notes, that Philopater was called Gallus because he was wont to go with an ivy bush about his head and other parts of his body as was the custom of the Gauls, who were priests of Cybele. He did this when he observed the holy days of Bacchus. He was so effeminate and debauched with homosexuality and drinking that when he was in his best state and extraordinarily sober, he would even then run about the streets with the dancers and bells gangling about him. (Plut. in Cleom.) Polybius notes that he spent the whole time of his reign in revellings. He gave himself over to all sensual and filthy lusts of the flesh and to daily drinking and carousing. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 380, 381.) Strabo adds, (l. 17. p. 796.) that he and all the Ptolemy's came after him grew rich and never managed that state well. This Philopater reigned for 17 years. (Cl. Ptol. in Reg. Canone, Clem. Alexan. Porphy. Euseb.)

2876. Philopator feared his brother, Magas who by the means of his mother Berenice, had ingratiated himself with the army. He consulted with Sosibius, who was his right hand man and with others how to get rid of both of them. This business worried these men quite a lot. They feared lest the great courage of Berenice prevailed and all this matter would come to nothing. Therefore they were forced to flatter all the court and gave them their agreement in great matters in case the business went on and succeeded as they planned. However, Sosibius went further. He talked to Cleomenes, the king of Sparta, who at that time greatly needed the king's help. He was a very wise and politicly astute man and had much experience in matters of the world. When he told Cleomenes of the plot, Cleomenes disuaded him from it. He said that the king had more need of sons and brothers for the security and preservation of his kingdom than to destroy those who he already had. Sosibius had told him that the king could never be sure of the mercenary soldiers as long as Magas was alive. Cleomenes told him not to worry about that for among his mercenaries he had 3000 Greeks from Peloponesus and 1000 from Crete who would follow him if he gave the word. Thereupon Sosibius was encouraged and murdered Berenice and her son Magas, and all their relatives. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 380, 382. & l. 15, in Excerpt. p. 65. and Plut. in Cleom.)

2877. Philopator had first murdered his father then his mother and now had killed his brother too. As if all had been well with him, he gave himself over to wanton living more than ever. All the court followed him in this life style including his friends at court and his main commanders in the army. The whole body of the army from the highest to the lowest eschewed martial discipline and indulged themselves in taverns and brothels. (Justin l. 13. p. 1.)

2878. Antiochus was advised by his counsel, how to put down that rebellion of the two brothers, Molon and Alexander in Media and Persia. Epigenes was the man that secured for Antiochus the loyalty of the army who were gathered together for Seleucus. He and was of great credit and reputation in the army. He advised that Antiochus personally with his army should march against them. However, Hermias, advised the king to go himself into Coelosyria and recover that. He should send Xenon and Theodorus Hemiolius, to subdue the two brothers. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 387.)