Bibliotheca Historica

​While these things were being done, Attalus, Polemon, and Docimus, and also Antipater and Philotas, the generals who had been captured with the army of Alcetas, were being guarded in a fortress that was exceedingly strong; but when they heard that Antigonus and his men were making their march into the upper satrapies, thinking that they had a favorable opportunity, they persuaded some of their guards to release them, and having gained possession of arms, they attacked the guard around midnight. Although they themselves were only eight in number, and were guarded by four hundred soldiers, yet excelling in daring and hand-to-hand combat because of their campaign with Alexander, they seized Xenopeithes, the commander of the fortress, and threw him over the wall, the height of the rock being a stadium. Of the others, they slew some, and drove out others, and set fire to their quarters.

​Having joined to themselves those who were waiting outside, they increased their number to about fifty. Since the fortress contained a large quantity of grain and other provisions, they deliberated whether they ought to remain and make use of the strength of the place, awaiting help from Eumenes, or to escape as quickly as possible and wander through the country, watching for changes of fortune.

​Since a longer dispute arose, Docimus advised them to depart, but Attalus and his men said they could not endure hardship because of the ill-treatment they had suffered in their bonds. While they were at variance with one another, soldiers from the neighboring garrisons, more than five hundred infantry and four hundred cavalry, arrived first, and besides these, more than three thousand of the local inhabitants of all kinds, who, having appointed a general from among themselves, encamped around the place.

​When they had been unexpectedly shut in again, Docimus, having noticed an unguarded descent, negotiated with Stratonice, the wife of Antigonus, who was near those places, and having escaped through this descent with a second companion, he himself did not gain credit but was delivered into custody; but the one who had gone down with him, acting as a guide to the enemy, led up no small number of them into the place and occupied one of the steep rocks.

​But Attalus and his men, though far inferior in numbers, held out because of their bravery and persisted, fighting daily; and having been besieged for a year and four months, they were taken by storm.