2879. During this rebellion and while Antiochus besieged Zeugma in Seleucia, Diognetus his admiral came to him from Cappadocia escorting Laodice the daughter of Mithridates king of Pontus. As soon as she came, Antiochus married her. When he came from the upper regions unto Antioch, he had her proclaimed queen. After this he prepared for the war. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 388.)
2880. At the same time Molon, who had his brother Alexander as his helper in all his affairs, marched with a large army against Xenon and Theodorus, the king's commanders. They were sent into those parts and scared Molon so much that he dared not stay in the fields but secured themselves in walled cities. In this case, Molon had the country of Apollonia behind him and had plenty of provisions. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 388.)
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2881. Meanwhile, Philip the son of Demetrius in Macedonia became king after the death of Antiogonus, his guardian and father-in-law. He was 14 years old (Justin l. 28. c. ult. & l. 29. c. 1.) and reigned 42 years. Dexip. Porphy. Euseb. and Polybius (l. 2. p. 155.) note that these three, Philip of Macedonia, Ptolemy Philopator of Egypt and Antiochus Magnus of Syria came to their kingdom within the time of the 139th Olympiad. Antiochus became king in the first year of it. Ptolemy Philapator succeeded his father in the 3rd year. Philip of Macedonia became king in the 4th year. Polybius, (l. 4. p. 271.) notes further that about that time almost all the kingdoms of the world had new kings. Justin (l. 29. c. 1.) and Polybius also note that Ariarathes, about the same time, became king of Cappadocia.
2882. After the death of Antigonus, the Etolians united with the Lacedonians and fought with the Acaeans and Macedonians. Cleomenes asked Philopator of Egypt if he would furnish him with means and some soldiers and allow him to return to his own country. When he knew that Philopator was not going to do this, he then began asking the king more often to allow him and his small company to leave. The king cared little for the business of the state or what would be the result of his actions and paid no attention to Cleomenes. However, Sosibius, who was the chief man of all the rest about the king in the matters of the kingdom, advised along with the rest of the council, to keep Cleomenes. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 381.)
2883. Molon tried to cross the Tigris River to besiege Seleucia. He was prevented by Zeuxis, who had taken all the boats of the river. Molon changed his plans and went to Ctesiphon and made his winter quarters. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 389.)
2884. Antiochus was told that Molon was coming and that his men yielded ground to him. He resolved to abandon going against Ptolemy in Coelosyria, and to march in person against Molon. However, Hermias, did not change his original plans and sent Xonaetas, an Achaean, against Molon with a well outfitted army. Xonaetas had absolute power to use the army to accomplish his ends. Hermias brought the young king back again to Apamaea and there assembled an army for him. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 390.)
2885. Xenaetas came with his army to Seleucia and sent for Diogenes, the king's governor of the province of Susa and for Pythiades the admiral of the Red Sea. (Indian Ocean, ed.) With their forces he marched with the Tigris River at his back. He camped with his army in the very face of the enemy. The next day, he seized Molon's camp which Molon had left that night. The invading army started drinking and rioting in the camp. When Molon saw his opportunity, he came back the following night and in the dead of night, attacked and recovered his camp. He captured the enemy camp also. Xonaetas was killed while fighting in the darkness by an unknown soldier. Molon came with his army before Seleucia and took it with the first assault because Zeuxis had fled from it along with Diomedon, the governor of the place. He then subdued the whole province of Babylonia, with that which bordered the Red Sea (Indian Ocean, ed.) and he took the city of Susa. He left some troops there to besiege the citadel into which Diogenes, their commander had fled. He then returned to Seleucia on the Tigris River and refreshed his army. Of the country that bordered that river, he took it all over as far as Europus, a city in those parts. In Mesopotamia, he controlled all as far as Dura. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 391-393.)
2886. After that meeting held by Sosibius, Cloemens was committed to custody. He waited for the time when Philopator with his court had gone to Canopus. He let the keepers believe that the king would let him go free soon. While they grew careless about him and lay fast asleep by their heavy drinking, he with his friends, broke out of prison at noon day. He wanted to instigate a rebellion among the people but could not do it. Therefore when he had no hope of escape left, he and his followers killed themselves. (Polyb. l. 5 p. 385.) This was 3 years after his defeat in Laconia. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 304.) When Philopator heard of this, he commanded Cleomenes' body to be hung on a cross and executed his mother Cratesiclea and her sons with all the women that attended her. (Plut. in Cleome.)
2887. Antiochus set out with his whole army from Laodicea and when he crossed the desert, he came to the Dale of Marsyas, which lies between the Lebanus and Antilebanus. He spent many days in marching through this dale and captured those places that were on his way or close to it. He finally came to Gerra and Brochos which are two citadels built on the narrow pass which leads into this dale. These were held by Theodotus who was an Etolian and governor of Coelosyria for Philopator. When Antiochus saw these citadels, he planned to attack them. However, when he knew this was a very strong fortification and that Theodotus was very courageous, he abandoned the place and left. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 390.) Theodotus was not rewarded by Philopator for this. On the contrary, when he was summoned to Alexandria, he barely escaped with his life. (Polyb. p. 385, 405.)
2888. Antiochus heard of the utter destruction and slaughter of his men with their general Xenoetas and of Molon's victory. By this all the upper provinces were lost and controlled by Molon. He abandoned his intended journey and thought about how to regain this lost territory. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 390.) Hermias could not oppose the general vote of all the rest in the council who persuaded the king to go. Yet Hermias had his way in one thing. He forged certain letters as written from Molon to Epigenes and put them in a packet with other letters to him. By that means, he had Epigenes put to death, as an informer for Molon. The king marched against Molon. When he came to the Euphrates River, he added to his army the rest of his forces that were there and came to Antioch which is in Mygdonia. This was about the beginning of winter and he stayed there until the next spring. (Polyb. p. 393-395.)
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2889. He left there on the 40th day after he came to Lybia. He followed the advice of Zeuxis and not of Hermaias and crossed over the Tigris River with all his army. He marched toward Dura. At the news of his approach, the captains of Molon raised the siege of Dura. He went from there and never camped two days in one place. After 8 days, he passed Oricus and came to Apollonia. (Polyb. p. 395, 396.)
2890. Although Molon was quite afraid lest his army would abandon him, he still attacked the king. He made two wings. He put his brother Neolaus in charge of the left wing and led the other himself. When the battle started, his right wing remained loyal to him and fought very stoutly against their kinsmen. However, the left defected to the king. When Molon knew this and saw that he was about to be wholly surrounded by the enemy, he fell upon his own sword. The rest of his friends who had been part of this conspiracy against the king, escaped to their homes and killed themselves. When the wing which Neolaus led surrendered to the king, Neolaus escaped to Persia to Alexander, Molon's brother. When he had killed Molon's mother and his children, he advised Alexander to kill himself and then he committed suicide. The king commanded Molon's body to be hung on a cross in a high place and he castigated his rebel army with bitter words for their foul and disloyal actions toward him. Finally he gave them his hand and received them into his favour and service again. He appointed some to escort them back into Media from where they came and to settle in that province again. Meanwhile, he went down from those upper parts to Seleucia, where Hermias used the inhabitants very harshly. He planned to extract a 1000 talent fine from them. The king reduced the fine to 150 talents and left Diogenes to govern Media. He made Apollodorus to be president of the province of Susiana. He sent Tychon, the master of the scribes and general of the army into the regions lying upon the Red Sea (Indian Ocean, ed.) to govern them. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 396-399.)
2891. At the time when Antiochus made this war on Molon, Theodotus, the Etolian who was governor under Philopator of Coelosyria, returned from Alexandria. He though that Philopator was a useless fellow and he would have no good thing from his princes. With the troops he had with him, he seized on Ptolemais and Tyre. Through Pamuetolus, he resolved to come to some agreement with Antiochus to place all Coelosyria under his control. This he did a little later. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 385, 405.)
2892. Attalus king of Pergamus had a son born by Apollinis of Cyzicum called Attalus Philadephus who lived 82 years according to Lucian. (in his Macrobiis) About the same time, Antiochus had a son born to him, called Seleucus and surnamed (as it seems) Philopator.
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2893. Jubilee 25
2894. After Antiochus' son was born, he planned at attack Ariobarzanes, who had obtained the kingdom of the Atropatians and the other counties in that area. Ariobarzanes feared the coming of the king. He was now old and decrepit and made peace with the king on the best terms he could get. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 399, 400.)
2895. While the war went on between Antiochus and Ariobarzanes, Achaeus besieged Attalus in his capital city of Pergamus and took all the places around there. He made a league with Ptolemy Philopator of Egypt and planned to capture Syria before Antiochus could return to defend it. With the help of the Cyrrhestians, who had revolted from Antiochus, he planned to take over that kingdom. Therefore with his whole army, he left Lydia and marched toward there. When he came to Laodicea in Phrygia, he there placed a crown on his head and began to assume the title of a king. He did this when he received ambassadors from other princes. When he had the opportunity of writing to them, he entertained Siveris, who was banished from his own country. Siveris was the main one who urged him on to be a king. He continued his journey toward Syria. When he came near Lycaonia, his army began to rebel complaining that they were fighting against Antiochus who was their natural king. Thereupon when Achaeus saw that his plans incited such a response, he abandoned them and went no farther. Moreover he told the army that he never planned to lead them into Syria against Antiochus but only to waste the country of Pisidia where he was leading them. That they did and when they enriched themselves with its spoil they returned home again as loyal as ever to him. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 271, 314, 315. & 5. p. 401, 402.)
2896. After the war between Antiochus and Ariobarzanes was over, Apollophanes a physician of Seleucia greatly feared Hermias. He figured out a way to bring him into disfavour with the king. Thereupon, the king feigned to be sick and had Hermias taken from his house and murdered by some men he had assigned the task to. It happened at the same time, the wives of Apamea took Hermias' wife and children from her house and stoned them all to death. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 400, 401.)
2897. When Antiochus returned home and sent his soldiers to their winter quarters, he sent messages to Achaeus that contained many threatening words. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 401, 402.)
2898. The Jewish high priest Onias the 2nd died and was succeeded by his son Simon the 2nd. (Joseph. l. 12. c. 4.) He is said by Scal. (In Grac. Euseb.) to have been high priest for 20 years.
2899. At the beginning of spring, Antiochus called all his army to Apameas. Apollophanes his physician persuaded him to go to Seleucia which is called Pieria. He sent Diognetus his admiral there with his fleet. He sent Theodotus Hermiolius with a suitable company of troops to take over the passes into Coelosyria. He had information from some informers of the Seleucians in the town whom he had won over to him by large amounts of money and greater promises. He captured one of the suburbs and then the city opened their gates to him. When he was inside, he treated the inhabitants very kindly but put garrisons into their citadel and port. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 402-405.)
2900. While the king was busy in settling matters there, he received letters from Theodotus the Eolian, to ask him to go into Coelosyria. He was now ready to turn it over to the king. Thereupon the king marched toward there. Nicolaus, a captain of Philopator's, discovered this plot and besieged Theodotus in Ptolemais. He was unable to get out to carry out his plans. He sent Lagoras, a Cretian, with Dorymon of Etolia, with troops to hold the pass that entered to Coelosyria near Berytus. Antiochus easily defeated these troops. When Theodotus and Panaetolus saw the siege raised from before Ptolemais where they and their friends were confined, they went and met Antiochus on the way. They turned over Tyre and Ptolemais and all that was in them to Antiochus. They found in both ports, 40 ships which were turned over to Diognetus the admiral. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 405, 406. with l. 4. p. 305.)
2901. Antiochus was told that Philopator had gone to Memphis, all Ptolemy's forces were met at Peleusium and the sluices of the Nile were all opened to let the sea in to spoil all the fresh water there. He changed his plans of marching to Peleusium and went into Coelosyria. He went from one place to another and sought to subdue them all. Some he took by force and others surrendered based on the reasonable conditions he offered them. The weaker places mainly yielded to him the first time he asked. The rest remained loyal to Philopator their king and Antiochus spent much time besieging them. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 405.)
2902. Meanwhile, Philopator took no care for anything. However Agathocles and Cosibius, who managed everything under him, prepared for war. They kept everything as secret as they could so Antiochus would not know what was happening. They secretly solicited help from the states of Cyzieum, Byzantium, Rhodes, Etolia and others to mediate for a peace between the two kings. In the interim, they made all provisions for the war they could. They trained and exercised their men in all kind of feats of chivalry and martial discipline to the best of their ability. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 405, 407. l. 4. p. 305.)
2903. There was at this time a new war between the Byzantines and the Rhodians. The cause of the war was that the Byzantines were forced to pay a heavy tribute to the Gauls. Hence they charged a toll on every ship that passed by them into the Pontus Sea. (Polyb. l. 1. p. 158. & l. 4. p. 305, 306, 314.)
2904. Thereupon the Rhodians sent to Prusias, king of Bithynia. (That is Prusia who in Excerpt. Memnon. c. 29. is surnamed the Lame.) They made an alliance with him. Previously, he was normally their enemy. The Byzantines where trying to form an alliance with Attalus and Achaeus who were hostile to Prusias. Therefore he came to this agreement with the Rhodians. They would take the charge of the war at sea and he would conduct the war on land. He immediately seized Hieron which was a port of theirs on the Asian side. This place was previously owned by the merchants who traded into the Pontus but the Byzantines had recently bought them out. They used it for themselves together with all that portion of Mysia in Asia which they had controlled many ages before. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 314-316.)
2905. When the Byzantines saw what the Rhodians had done with Prusias, they tried to get help from Attalus and Achaeus. Attalus wanted to help but Achaeus was pressing so heavily on him, he could offer very little help. Achaeus, whose dominions stretched far and near on this side the Taurus Mountains and who had recently assumed the title of king, promised them all the help that he could give. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 314.) They also sent for Tibites from Macedonia to be their general in this war against Prusias. It was thought that the whole kingdom of Bithynia, belonged as well to Tibites as to Prusias the nephew of Tibites. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 316.)
2906. Prusias feared the coming of his uncle Tibites and pulled down all citadels and places of any strength that were in the kingdom. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 318.)
2907. The Rhodians tried to draw away Achaeus from helping the Byzantines. They sent to Ptolemy and desired him to give them Andromachus, who was at that time a prisoner in Alexandria. They wanted to present him as a gift of their own to his son Achaeus. When this was done along with some other deeds of honour done to him by the Rhodians, the Byzantines lost their main supporter in the war. When Tibites was being escorted from Macedonia, he died in the way. This greatly thwarted their purposes. Cavarus was a petty king of those Gauls who were in Thrace, (according to Polybius, in Excerpt. Balesii p. 26. and Athenaus l. 6. c. 6.) He came at that time to Byzantium and mediated a peace between them, Prusias and the Rhodians. The Byzantines agreed to stop charging any more tolls on their ships and Prusias was to restore what he had taken from Byzantium. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 317, 318.)
2908. At the same time, Mithridates king of Pontus made war on the people of Sinope, who borrowed 140,000 drachmas from the Rhodians. They used the money to fortify their city and all that peninsula on which their city was located. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 323.)
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2909. Antiochus besieged Dura in Phoenicia, a city which Cl. Ptolemey calls Dora. Because the place was naturally well fortified, he could not take it. Nicloaus, a captain of Philopater's sent them relief. Because winter was coming, he was contented to make a truce with them for 4 months. Some ambassadors sent by Philopator persuaded him to do this. He would not grant a longer truce, nor spend more time there than necessary away from his own dominions. It was obvious that Achaeus intended to invade his kingdom and there was no doubt that Philopator was helping Achaeus. Therefore he sent away the ambassadors and put garrisons in suitable places. He left the care of all things there to Theodotus and he returned to Seleucia. He sent his army to their winter quarters but took no care of keeping them in military condition. He thought that the rest of the cities would submit to him without any great deal of fighting because he had already gotten a part of Coelosyria and Phoenicia. He thought he could win the war with words rather than by fighting. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 409.)
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2910. However in the spring, events did not unfold as he planned. He took his army from their winter quarters and planned to attack his enemies by sea and land and by force to subdue the remainder of Coelosyria that withstood him. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 411.)
2911. Pilopator committed the charge of all his wars to Nicolaus the Etolian. He made Gaza the storehouse for the war effort and place all his provisions for the war there. He sent his armies by sea and land. He appointed Perigemes the admiral of his naval forces. He had only 30 fighting ships but had 400 cargo ships. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 411.)
2912. Antiochus marched as far as Marathos when ambassadors came to him from the isle of Aradus. They desired his friendship. He agreed to this and also settled the differences between them and their neighbours who dwelt on the continent and made them good friends after that. Antiochus entered by the way of Theu-prosopon into Phoenicia and came to Berytus. On his way he attacked the Botrys and took it. He burned Treres and Calamus to the ground. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 411.)
2913. Before the main battle, he divided his army into 3 parts. He gave one part to Theodotus, the other to Menedemus and the 3rd he reserved for the sea under the command of Diocles. He had made Diocles the governor of Parapotamia that bordered on the Euphrates River. He had his bodyguards around him for protection. He went to see how the battle was going and to help if needed. Diognetus prepared the naval forces for Antiochus and Perimenes did the same for Philopator. Each kept as close to the land as they possibly could. At last when a general signal was given, the battle was joined on land and sea. At sea neither side won and parted on even terms. On land after a strong fight, Theodotus routed Nicolaus. In the chase, 2000 of his men were killed and at least that many taken prisoner. The rest fled into Sidon. When Perigines saw that the land battle was lost, he retreated at sea and came to Sidon. Without delay, Antiochus came there with his whole army and besieged it. He did not attack it because there were many men inside it and they had many provisions to keep them alive. (Polyb. l. 4. 412, 413.)
2914. When P. Cornel. Scipio and T. Sempronius Longus were consuls at Rome, Hannibal made a difficult crossing of the Alps and came down into Italy in the summer of this year. (Livy l. 21.) This was in the latter end of the 2nd year of Olymp. 140 and from that time we indicate the start of the second Carthaginian war or the war of Hannibal. This is described in detail by Polybius and Livy. Silius Italicus describes it in poetry and Appianus Alexandrinus, in his Hannibalica. This war enhanced the fame of the Carthagenians and Romans all over the world. The effect was first felt in Greece, then in Asia, properly so called, and its islands. All men began to look to them and not to Philip, Antiochus or Ptolemy any longer. (Polyg. l. 4. p. 443.)
2915. In the same summer that Hannibal came into Italy, Antiochus attacked Palistine. He ordered Diognetus his admiral to take his foot soldiers to Tyre. Antiochus marched with his army to Philoteria, a city seated upon the Lake of Tiberias into which the Jordon River flows. From there the river runs through the country adjoining the city of Scythopolis, which Josephus calls Bethshan in the tribe of Manasseh. When he had captured both of these cities and left garrisons to hold them, he crossed the mountains and came to Atabyrium. This is the city called Tabor and is located on a hill whose top is almost 2 miles in circumference. Antiochus drew them out in small skirmishes. He had his vanguard go close to the walls and then feign to flee. This they did. When the townsmen came out and pursued them, they were attacked by those who lay in ambush. Many were killed. With the rest of the army, Antiochus attacked and captured the city. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 413.)
2916. At the same time, Keraeas, a commander of Ptolemy Philopator, defected from him to Antiochus. Antiochus received him so graciously that Hippolochus a Thessalian with his 400 cavalry all defected. Antiochus left a strong garrison in Atabysium. He went and subdued Pella, Camus and Gephrus which surrendered to him. After this great success, the Arabians who bordered on those parts, unanimously joined their forces with those of Antiochus. Antiochus was encouraged by these events and trusted in the resources of Arabia. He marched into the country of Galatis and subdued the area and took the city Abyla. All those, who were under the command of Nicias, came to help them. There remained only Gadara to be taken and was reputed to be by far the strongest city in all that region. Therefore Antiochus came and showed himself before it. He began to cast up his works against them. The very sight of this terrified the inhabitants and they surrendered to him. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 414.)
2917. In the same summer in Pamphylia, the Pednelissenses were besieged by the Slegenses and were in danger of being taken. They sent and asked for help from Achaeus. He immediately sent 6000 foot soldiers and 500 cavalry under the command of Garsieres. He planned to enter the town by the way of Mylias but found that the passes were controlled by the Selgenses. Thereupon, he feigned as if he would leave. When the Selgenses saw him go, they went their way too. Some went to the camp and others to their harvest which was ready to be gathered. When Gasieres knew this, he turned back quickly and crossed the pass of Mylias near Climax without any opposition. He left a strong guard there and then committed the whole war and defence of Pednelissa to Phaylus. He was going to Perga and stirred up all the people of Pamphylia and Pisidia to come and help the distressed. Thereupon the people of Aspendus sent them 4000 foot soldiers, those of Etenna sent 8000 men. The Slegenses by there rash actions were badly defeated and lost 10,000 men. They fled home to Selga. Phaylus closely persuaded them. They were so afraid that they immediately sent Logbasis to sue for peace. Instead, he betrayed them. When a truce was declared, the enemy soldiers came freely into Selga. The town's people sent secretly to Achaeus and put themselves at his mercy to deal with them as he thought best. Meanwhile, Logbasis plotted to betray the town to their enemies. When things were now ripe to do this, his plot was discovered. They executed him, his fellow conspirators and all the enemies in the area. Then, Achaeus seriously began to negotiate a peace between them. The men of Selga were agreeable to this. Thereupon they were to pay 400 talents of current money and 300 more later. The Pednelissens were to restore to them all their prisoners without ransom. When Achaeus had gotten Mylias and the greater part of Pamphylia into his hands, he immediately marched to Sardis. After constantly harassing Attalus in war, he began to threaten Prusias. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 415-420.)
2918. While Achaeus was busy in making war against the men of Selga, Attalus was not idle. He enlisted the Gauls, called the Tectosagi of Europe. He sent for them from Europe to fight against Achaeus because of their reputation for valour. He marched through the cities of Eolis and other nearby cities. They had all submitted to Achaeus out of fear. All Cuma, Smyrna and Phocaea voluntarily yielded to Attalus. Those of Egea and Lemnos yielded to him from fear at his first approach. Ambassadors came to him from the Teians and Colophonians. When they had given hostages, he controlled them subject to the conditions they had before. He continued on and crossed the Lycus River. He came into the country inhabited by the Mysians. He went through that and came to the borders of the Carsenses. He so frightened these people and those who kept Didyma-tiche and Themistocles whom Achaeus had left to hold them for him, surrendered them to Attalus. He left there and ravaged all the region of Asia. He passed the hill of Pellicante and camped on the bank of the Megistus River. While he was there, the moon was totally eclipsed. The Gauls were weary of so long an expedition with their wives and children in their company. They pretended that this eclipse was a bad omen and would go no further. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 240.) On September 1st, near the beginning of the of the night, the moon was eclipsed for more than an hour.
2919. Attalus feared lest his Gauls would defect to Achaeus and would attack his countries. They would not do this because of his word that they came from Europe to Asia. He escorted them all back safely to the Hellespont where they first landed. He gave them lands to live on and promised that if at any time later they needed his help he would be ready to aid them. He summoned those of Lampsacus, Alexandria and Ilium to him. He commended them for remaining loyal to him. After this he returned with his army to Pergamos. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 421.)
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2920. Antiochus was told that a large enemy army was assembled in the Arabian city of Rabatamana or Rabbath-Ben-Ammon. After Antiochus had plundered all the country around there, he marched toward the city. He came near to the little hills where the city stood and went and viewed the enemy. He learned that there were only two ways to get into the city. Therefore he located his batteries against those two places to break down the wall. Nacarchus was in charge of the one site and Theodotus the other. When they breached the wall, much to their surprise the inhabitants quickly repaired the breaches. Antiochus' men laboured day and night without stopping with all the might they possibly could to get into the city. They were unable to because the damage was repaired as fast as they could inflict it. At last, one of the prisoners in the camp showed them an underground way the inhabitants used to get their water. He quickly sealed it up and the city was forced to surrender for lack of water. When the king had captured the place, he left Nicarchus with a sufficient garrison to hold it. He sent Hippolochus and Kiras who had defected from Ptolemy, with 5000 foot soldiers to the country adjoining Samaria to govern that province. They were to protect his friends in those parts. He went with his army to Ptolemais to winter there. (Polyb. l. 4. p. 414, 415.)
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2921. Cn. Servilius started his consulship at Rome on the ides, or 7th day of March. Among the omens that happened when the senate did this was, that in Sardinia, the sun was dimmer than it normally is. In Arpi the sun and the moon seemed to fight with each other. Ca. Flamminius the other consul, who was with the army in the spring of this year was disastrously defeated by Hannibal at Lake Trasimene in Etruria. He and 15,000 of his men were killed. (Livy l. 22.) On Feburary 11 there was an eclipse of the sun in Sardinia.
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2922. Polybius (Polyb. l. 5. p. 442.) states that as well as that great battle at Trasimene another battle was fought in the east between Antiochus and Philopator over Coelosyria. This was fought toward the later end of the 3rd year of the 150th Olymp. at a place called Raphia. He describes it thus:
``In the beginning of this spring, Antiochus and Ptolemy had made final preparations for war. The fate of Coelosyria was to be decided in the next battle. Therefore, Ptolemy with 70,000 foot soldiers, 5000 cavalry and 73 elephants, left Alexandria. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 421.) First, he camped at Pelusium, where he stayed until the rest of his army came to him. When he had given every man his allowance of grain, he marched on through a desert country near the Casius Mountains and the Barathra and came to Gaza. After a five day march, he came to his planned destination and camped within 6 miles of Raphia. This is the first city of Syria, except for Rhinocorura, which a man meets when he leaves Egypt for Coelosyria.'' (Polyb. l. 5. p. 422.)
2923. At the same time Antiochus came there with his army of 72,000 foot soldiers, 6000 cavalry and 102 elephants. After he passed the walls of Raphia, he camped the first night about 1 1/4 miles and the next day came within 5/8 of a mile of Ptolemy's camp, (Polyb. l. 5. p. 422.)
2924. At that time, Theodotus the Etolian, who was previously well known in Ptolemy's court and knew well his daily routine tried to kill Ptolemy. He and two others about break of day, came inside his trenches. The next night they got into the king's pavilion, hoping to kill him alone. However, Dositheus, who was a Jew by birth but no longer observed the Jewish religion, had moved the king to another tent. He had common men occupy the king's bed that night. When Theodotus broke into the kings tent that night, he wounded two of the guards and killed Andraeas, the king's chief physician. So the king returned untouched to his own tent again. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 422. & /RAPC 3Ma 1:2,3)
2925. After the armies had camped there for 5 days, the battle was joined. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 422.) When Antiochus appeared to be winning, Arsinoe, Ptolemy's sister, went among the soldiers with her hair hanging about her ears and cried to them that they should fight bravely and defend their own wives and children. She promised them that if they won, they would each be given two pounds in gold. This revitalized the army and they killed many of the enemy and took many prisoners. (Polyb. l. 5. 424, 425 & /RAPC 3Ma 1:4,5)
2926. In that fight, Antiochus lost almost 10,000 foot soldiers and more than 300 cavalry. 4000 were taken prisoner. 3 elephants were killed in the fight and 2 died later from their wounds. Ptolemy lost 1500 foot soldiers and 700 cavalry. 16 of his elephants were killed and the rest were captured. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 427.)
2927. When Antiochus had buried his dead he returned home with the rest of his army. Ptolemy went back again to Raphia and the rest of the places which had been taken from him. They voluntarily surrendered to him and strove to see who would be the first at recognising his kingship. This was particularly true of the Coelosyrians because they were always inclined to serve the Ptolemys. On this occasion, they exceeded all others in honouring him with crowns, sacrifices, altars and other such expressions of their affection. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 427, 428.) Ptolemy visited the cities adjoining that place and bestowed gifts on their temples. By this he encouraged the people to remain loyal to him. (/RAPC 3Ma 1:6,7)
2928. The Jews sent some of their sanhedrin and elders to offer him their service and to present him with gifts. They congratulated him after so great a victory. It happened that he was more anxious to visit and honour their city with his presence. When he came, he greatly admired the beauty of their temple and would have gone into the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could enter there and that once a year. When the Jews refused that request, the king wanted all the more to enter it. He went into the temple and all the temple was filled with crying and howling and the city in a tumult. Then Simon the high priest knelt down in the temple, that is between the temple and the altar and prayed to God for help in this time of trouble. Thereupon, the king fell into such a horror of mind and body that he was unable to speak and was carried half dead from the temple. (/RAPC 3Ma 1:8-2:33)
2929. As soon as Antiochus was returned to Antioch, he sent Antipater, his brother's son, and Theodotus Hemiolius as his ambassadors to Ptolemy to sue for peace between them. Ptolemy was content with this surprise victory and with the recovery of Coelosyria. After a few sharp words with the ambassadors and complaining about the unjust dealings of Antiochus, he granted a truce for a year. He sent Sosibius to ratify it with Antiochus. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 428, with Justin l. 30. c. 1.)
3787d AM, 4497 JP, 217 BC
2930. When Ptolemy had spent three months in Syria and Phoenicia in settling matters there, he left Andromachus from Aspendus in Asia, to govern all that country. He with his sister Arsinoe and his friends returned to Alexandria. His subjects knowing how he lived, marvelled at how he had ended this war against Antiochus. Antiochus ratified the truce in the pretence of Sosibius. Antiochus began a war on Achaeus as he formerly planned to do. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 428.)
3788 AM, 4498 JP, 216 BC
2931. Antiochus spent the winter in making his provisions with all possible care. The next spring he crossed the Taurus Mountains and made a league with Attalus. He started his war on Achaeus. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 444-446.) He besieged Achaeus in Sardis. Daily there were skirmishes between the two sides as each side tried to get the upper hand by any means they could. (Polyb. l. 7. p. 506.)
2932. When the Gauls, whom Attalus had settled in Hellespont, besieged the city of Ilium, the Alexandrenser, who dwelt in Troas sent their captain Themistas with 4000 men. He expelled them from all the territories of Troas. He kept all the provisions from them and attacked them everywhere. When the Gauls could no longer stay there, they went and took over the city of Arisba and the territories of Abidus. They used that as a base to take over the rest of the surrounding country. Thereupon Prusias, king of Bithynia, went out and attacked them. After he had defeated them, he attacked their camp and slaughtered their wives and children and all the rest of them. He gave their spoil to the soldiers for their reward. (Polyb. l. 5. p. 447.)
2933. When Ptolemy returned to Egypt, he resumed his old lifestyle and wallowed in all manner of gluttony and luxury. (Polyb. l. 14. in Excerpt. Hen. Vales p. 62.) He grew more and more mad by this kind of living. He indulged himself with uncleanness and lechery. He also vexed the Jews of Alexandria with infamous and false reports spread against them. He tried by all means to turn them away from the true worship of the living God. Those that refused, he commanded to be slain. He expelled them from all offices of dignity. He branded them with hot irons in the face with the sign of an ivy leaf because that was the sign of Bacchus. Those that abandoned their religion, he allowed to enjoy equal rights and privileges with the native Macedonians in Alexandria.
2934. Many abandoned their religion and others bought their peace with money. They saved their lives and escaped having their faces branded. Those who continued in the religion of there forefathers, remained loyal to the king but excommunicated and had no dealings those who had apostatized from their religion. By this action, their enemy assumed that they really opposed the king and tried to make his subjects defect. Philopator became very angry with the Jews in Alexandria and throughout all Egypt. He ordered that they be gathered into one place so he could destroy them all. The king's officers were allowed 40 days to do this, from the 25th day of the month Pachon to the 4th day of the month Epiphi, according to the fixed year of Alexandria. Some later historians assume without any basis that this calendar was never used until after the naval battle at Actium between Augustus and Anthony. This period was from May 20th to July 29th. Three days were allotted for the massacre. That is from the 5th to the 7th of Epiphus, inclusively.
2935. Upon the appointed time, the Jews of Alexandria were all brought into the hippodrome. They were first reviled and set at naught by all that passed by. Then the king called for Hermon, the master of the elephants. He ordered him before the next day to make his 500 elephants to drink with wine mingled with myrrh or frankincense. This would make them grow more fierce and stark mad. He would let them go and drive them on the Jews to tear and trample them all to pieces. The next day, the king fell into a dead sleep and did not awake until dinner time. By that time all the people that came there to see the event had gone home again. On the 3rd day, when the elephants were all prepared and ready to attack them, 2 angels appeared who were very terrible to look at. They came down from heaven and so amazed all the people who were there that they stood still and did not move. The king fell into a trance and relented of his fury toward those poor prisoners. Most interestingly, the elephants did not attack the Jews. They turned around and attacked and trampled the soldiers behind them.
2936. Then the king commended the Jews for their loyalty and released their fetters. He acknowledged that their God had delivered them. For 7 days long, from the 7th to the 14th of Epiphus (July 2-9th) he feasted them. After this the Jews obtained permission from the king to execute those Jews who had apostatized from their religion. They said that those who, for their belly's sake, had forsaken the laws and commandments of their God would never prove loyal to their king. They killed 300 on the way as they went and came at last to Ptolemias on the Nile River in Arsinoise Nomo. It is called Rhodophorus from the abundance of roses that grew there. Their fleet attended them for 7 days. There they altogether made a feast of thanksgiving. The king himself gave every man a generous allowance for his homeward expenses. Thereupon they returned home joyfully. Some went by land, others by sea and some by the river. This is described in detail in /RAPC 3Ma 1:1 - 7:23. Phlostorgius in the beginning of his Ecclesiastical History, calls it the "Librum portentosum", that is "A book of miracles".
2937. The Egyptians grew insolent and proud with their success at the battle of Raphia against Antiochus. They never liked Philopator after that. They sought a captain of their own with enough power to quell the like of him. This they did shortly after. (Polyb. l. 5. c. 444.)
3789 AM, 4499 JP, 215 BC
2938. Philopator was now forced to make a war upon his rebelling subjects. (Polyb. l. 5. c. 444) His recent actions ensured the loyalty of the Jews. From Eusebius and Jornandes his Chron. that about this time there were about 60,000 Jews killed in a battle. Such a large slaughter has caused Demetrius, who wrote a book of the Kings of the Jews, to think it reasonable to record the years from the captivity of Babylon or the carrying away of the Jews into Assyria down to the reign of this Philopator as recorded by Clemens Alexandrinus. (l. 1. Stromat.) From there we gather that this Demetrius the historian, wrote after the days of Philopator but before that vast desolation brought upon the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes. If he knew of the latter he would have described it in the same terms he did of the former calamities of the Jews.
2939. The city of Sardis except the citadel, through the work of Lagoras the Cretian, was taken by Antiochus in the 2nd year after he besieged it. (Polyb. l. 7, p. 506-510.)
2940. Sosibius managed all matters in Egypt under Philopator. He confirmed with Bolis, a Cretian, how to deliver Achaeus, who was besieged in the citadel at Sardis from this danger. Bolis arranged with Cambylus, the captain of the Cretians, who served under Antiochus and got Achaeus out of the citadel but delivered him alive into Antiochus' hands. Antiochus first had his hands and his feet cut off. Then he had his head chopped off and sown in an asses belly. His body was hung on a cross. In the citadel, some held with Ariobazus the governor of Sardis, others with Laodice, the widow of Achaeus and daughter of Mithridates king of Pontus. They were at odds with each other but quickly resolved to surrender themselves and the citadel to Antiochus. (Polyb. l. 8. p. 522, 529.)
3790 AM, 4500 JP, 214 BC
2941. Lacydes of Cyrenia, was the master of the new academy for 26 years. He was the only man who resigned the position while he was alive. He turned it over to Telecles and Evander both of Phocaea. (Laert. in Lacyde.)
3792 AM, 4502 JP, 212 BC
2942. Antiochus attacked Media and Parthia and other provinces which had revolted from his ancestors. (Appian. in Syriac. in Mitio.) He made an expedition against Arsaces, who was the main founder of the Parthian Empire. This is described in detail in the 10th book of Polybius. (Polyb. l. 10. p. 597-602.)
3793 AM, 4503 JP, 211 BC
2943. When P. Sulpitius and Cu. Fulvius, were consuls of Rome, the praetor, Laevius made a league with the Etolians in Greece and Attalus king of Pergamus in Asia. (Livy l. 27. Justin, l. 29. c. 4. Eutrop. l. 3.) Attalus kept the agreement with the Romans until he died. (Polyb. p. 820.)
3794 AM, 4504 JP, 210 BC
2944. M. Attalus and Manius Acilius were sent as ambassadors from Rome to Ptolemy and Cleopatra in Egypt at Alexandria to remind them of the league and to renew it. They gave him a gown and a robe of scarlet with a throne all made of ivory. She received an embroidered gown and a scarlet fur coat. (Justin l. 30. c. 1.& 4.)
3795 AM, 4505 JP, 209 BC
2945. Ptolemy Epiphanes was born to Ptolemy Philopator by Euridice, his wife who was also his sister. When he was 5 years old, he succeeded his father in the kingdom of Egypt. (Justin l. 30 c. 1, 2.) His birthday was first solemnly celebrated by all the great men and others of Syria and the country in his dominion. Every man made a journey to Alexandria to congratulate him on the birth of his son. Among these was Joseph the Jew, the son of Tobias and of the daughter of Simon the Just, the high priest. Joseph was the collector of his tributes throughout Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine. He sent his youngest son Hyrcanus who was born by the daughter of Solymius, his older brother, to kiss the king's hand. He sent letters to his agent Arion, who had the managing of all his money at Alexandria. He had over 3000 talents there. Arion was to supply him with money to buy the most expensive present for the king that the place had. The most expensive present the king had received was not worth more than 20 talents. Hyrcanus brought with him 100 beautiful boys and as many maidens. He gave them 1000 talents to offer to the king. The boys were a gift for the king and the girls a gift for Cleopatra the queen. The king greatly admired this so great and unexpected a present. He royally entertained the young man with all honour and royal gifts. He wrote royal letters of commendation to his father and brethren and to all his commanders and chief officers in those parts. The king dismissed him in a most honourable fashion. However, his brethren (who were 7 in number but begotten by another wife) were jealous of the great honour the king had given him. They met him on the way and planned to murder him. His father knew of this and did not care because he was angry with him for the extravagant cost of the gift he gave to the king. When his brothers attacked him, he killed two of them and various others in their company. When he came to Jerusalem, no man there would look upon him. He feared the worst, and exiled himself to the regions beyond Jordan. (Joseph. l. 12. c. 4.)
3796 AM, 4506 JP, 208 BC
2946. Philippus, king of Macedonia, fought two battles against the Etolians. Although they were helped by Rome, from Attalus the king, and ships from Prusius, king of Bithynia, they were defeated both times. Attalus and P. Sulpitius the proconsul in those parts, wintered that year in the isle of Egina, (Livy l. 27. & Polyb. l. 10. p. 612, 613, 851.)
2947. In the beginning of the spring, Sulpitius and Attalus joined together and sailed to Lemnos. From there they came into Eubaea and captured Oreum and Opus. When Attalus heard Prusias had invaded his kingdom, he left the Romans and the war in Etolia and sailed into Asia. Philippus came to Etolia, where he had arranged for the ambassadors from Ptolemy and from the Rhodians to meet him. While they tried to end the war in Etolia, news arrived that Niachanidas the tyrant of Lacedemon, was ready to attack the Eleans while they were busy about their solemn games at Olympus. (Livy. l. 28.) This summer began the 143rd. Olympiad.
3797 AM, 4507 JP, 207 BC
2948. Polybius (l. 15. p. 719.) states that Arsinoe the queen and sister of Ptolemy was murdered by Philammon as arranged for by Sosibius. See also (Hen. Vales. Excerpt. p. 65.) In Justin, (l. 30. c. 1.) we find that Philopator slew Eurydice who was his wife and sister. It seems that Polybius' Arsinoe, Justin's Eurydice and Livy's and Josephus' Cleopatra were all the same person. (See notes on 3794 AM & 3795 AM.)
2949. When she was dead, whatever her name was, Philopator fell in love with Agathoclia, a female musician and with her brother Agathocles in a homosexual way. To everyone's amazement, he put Agathocles in charge of his kingdom. He did not know the ways of the court or the state affairs. These two arranged to have their mother Oenauthe taken care of too. She endeared herself into the king's affection also. Agathocles always stayed near the king and ruled the whole state. The women gave all the offices and military positions of the state to whomever they pleased. The king himself, who was now in their hands, could do the least of any man in his own kingdom. (Polyb. l. 15. p. 720. & in Excerpt. Vales. p. 65. Justin, l. 30. c. 1, 2, Plut. in Erotico & in Cleom. Athena. l. 6. c. 6. l. 13. c. 13. Hieronym. on Da 11.)
2950. The people wanted a man to execute their anger on Agathocles and Agathoclia. They were forced to bide their time for the present and placed their hopes on Tlepolemus. (Polyb. p. 66. Excerpt. Vales.) This young man behaved himself well and had done military exploits. At that time, he was managing the king's treasure. He used the funds not as an officer but rather like a young heir. He soon disliked and hated the court. Ptolemy the son of Sosibius, (of whom I spoke earlier) returned from Philippus in Macedonia with the other ambassadors. It seems they had been sent there the previous year. He began to speak his mind rather freely about Tlepolemus. He found that every man at court agreed with him. (Polyb. l. 16. p. 82, 85. & Excerpt. Vales.)
3798 AM, 4508 JP, 206 BC
2951. This discontent was fanned when the courtiers in an public assembly complained about Tlepolemus. Tlepolemus on the other side planned to accuse them all to the king. Sosibius heard this. He had both the keeping of the king's seal and custody of his person. He gave the seal to Tlepolemus who did all things after this in the state as he wished. (Polyb. l. 16. p. 85, 86.)
3799 AM, 4509 JP, 205 BC
2952. During the consulship of P. Cornel. Scipio and P. Licimus Crassus, the college of the Decemviri found this written in the books of the Sibylla which they kept. It said:
``Whenever a foreign enemy should make war on Italy, he might be driven out again and overcome if the image of the mother of the gods at Ida, which fell from heaven, were sent for and brought to Rome.''
2953. Thereupon, 5 ambassadors were sent to king Attalus to desire the image from him and to bring her by sea to them. These 5, each had a ship of five tiers of oars for the journey. To obtain a favourable reply, as soon as they arrived they were to ingratiate themselves and to promote a good opinion of the Roman name and majesty of their state. Attalus received and entertained these ambassadors at Pergamus very kindly. He led them to Pessinuntis in Phrygia and turned over to them that sacred stone which the people who lived there said was the mother of the gods. He asked them to carry it to Rome as they desired. (Livy l. 29.)
2954. In the prologue to the 30th of Trogus, it is noted that Antiochus' expedition subdued all the upper provinces of Asia as far as Bactria. There he spent a long time trying unsuccessfully to expel Euthydemus from that province. He was finally forced to come to an agreement and make a league with him. To ratify this, Euthydemus sent his own son, Demetrius, to Antiochus. Antiochus saw his behaviour and judged him a man worthy to be a king. First he promised to give him one of his daughters to marry. Then he gave his father permission to assume the title of king. Lastly, they subscribed to the other articles of the league between them. He took his oath for the true observance of them. Antiochus distributed provisions generously among his soldiers and moved his camp. Euthydemus had given him all the elephants which he had with him. (Polyb. l. 11. p. 651.)
2955. Antiochus crossed the Caucasus Mountains and re-entered India. He renewed the league and friendship he had made previously with King Sophagasenus. He gave Antiochus more elephants. He distributed more grain among his army and so returned. He left Androsthenes of Cyzucum, to bring him later the treasure which Spophagasenus had promised him. (Polyb. l. 11. p. 652,)
3800 AM, 4510 JP, 204 BC
2956. He then came to Arachosia. He crossed the river Erymanthus and went through the country of Drangia and came into Carmania. Since winter was coming, he placed his troops about the country. Polyb. l. 11. p. 652.)
2957. The Romans made a peace with Philippus king of Macedonia. The parties to the league were Philippus, Prusias the king of Bithynia, the Romans, the state of Ilium and Attalus the king of Pergam. (Polyb. l. 11. p. 652,)
2958. Philopator died at Alexandria. Ptolemy surnamed Epiphanes, that is the "noble" succeeded him. Appianus in his Syriac, surnames him also Philopator, after his father's surname. He assumed the throne when 4 years old according to Hieronym. on Da 11. Justin says he was 5 years old. He reigned 24 years. (Cl. Ptolem. in Reg. Can. Clemens Alexandr. Porphys. Euseb. and Jerome)
2959. Philopator's death was concealed for a long time, while Agathoclia and Oenanthe her mother, rifled the king's treasury. They got all his money and put the affairs of state under the control of their lewd companions. (Justin l. 40. c. 3.) Finally, Agathocles assembled the leaders of the Macedonians. He came with his sister Agathoclia and the young king. He told them that when the king was dying he committed the care of the child to his sister. He produced the testimony of Critolaus, who said that Tlepolemus was about to invade the kingdom and become the next king of Egypt. He said the same things wherever he went. The people scorned him. To make his disagreement with Tlepolemus more obvious to everyone, he took Danae, Tlepolemus' mother-in-law, from the temple of Ceres. He dragged her through the open streets and put her in prison. He laid hands on Moeragenes, one of the guard, because he gave information of all these things to Tlepolemus and favoured him. (He could do no less, in regard of that friendship that was between him and Adaeus, the governor of Bubastis.) Agathocles turned him over to his secretary Nicostratus to be tortured. However, he mysteriously escaped the rack and got away stark naked. He fled to the Macedonians and stirred them up against Agathocles. (Polyb. l. 15. p. 712-714.)