← Diodorus Siculus

Bibliotheca Historica

§19.89.1-19.89.3

Cassander's Defeat at Apollonia and Death of Alcetas

Cassander reconciled with Alcetas in Epirus and besieged Apollonia, but retreated after being defeated. Subsequently, the Epirotes killed Alcetas and his sons due to his tyrannical rule.

View ▾
View
Translation
Typeface
AI ↗
← PrevNext →
§19.89.1

καθʼ ὃν δὴ χρόνον Κάσανδρος ἀκηκοὼς μὲν τὴν τῶν ἰδίων ἧτταν, ἀγνοῶν δὲ τὸ μετὰ ταῦτα γεγονὸς εὐτύχημα κατὰ σπουδὴν ἧκεν εἰς τὴν Ἤπειρον βοηθήσων τοῖς περὶ Λυκίσκον. καταλαβὼν δʼ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ προτερήματος γεγονότας1 πρὸς μὲν Ἀλκέταν διαλυσάμενος φιλίαν συνέθετο, τῆς δὲ δυνάμεως μέρος ἀναλαβὼν ἀνέζευξεν εἰς τὸν Ἀδρίαν, πολιορκήσων Ἀπολλωνιάτας, ὅτι τὴν φρουρὰν ἐκβαλόντες τὴν αὐτοῦ προσέθεντο τοῖς Ἰλλυριοῖς.

​At which very time Cassander, having heard of the defeat of his own men but being ignorant of the success that had occurred after this, came in haste to Epirus to bring aid to Lyciscus and his men. But finding them to have gained the advantage, he reconciled with Alcetas and concluded a friendship; then, taking a part of his force, he marched to the Adriatic in order to besiege the Apolloniates, because they had expelled his garrison and allied themselves with the Illyrians.

§19.89.2

οὐ μὴν οἵ γε ἐν τῇ πόλει κατεπλάγησαν, ἀλλὰ βοήθειαν μεταπεμψάμενοι παρὰ τῶν ἄλλων συμμάχων πρὸ τῶν τειχῶν παρετάξαντο. γενομένης δὲ καρτερᾶς μάχης ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον οἱ μὲν Ἀπολλωνιᾶται τοῖς πλήθεσιν ὑπερέχοντες τοὺς ἀντιτεταγμένους φυγεῖν ἠνάγκασαν, ὁ δὲ Κάσανδρος πολλοὺς στρατιώτας ἀποβαλὼν καὶ δύναμιν μὲν οὐκ ἔχων περὶ αὑτὸν ἀξιόχρεω,2 τὴν δὲ χειμερινὴν ὥραν θεωρῶν ἐπανῆλθεν εἰς Μακεδονίαν.

​Yet those in the city were by no means terrified, but having sent for aid from their other allies, they drew up for battle before the walls. When a fierce battle had taken place for a long time, the Apolloniates, surpassing in numbers, forced their opponents to flee; and Cassander, having lost many soldiers and not having a sufficient force about him, and considering the winter season, returned to Macedonia.

§19.89.3

τούτου δὲ χωρισθέντος Λευκάδιοι προσλαβόμενοι βοήθειαν παρὰ Κορκυραίων ἐξέβαλον τὴν φρουρὰν τοῦ Κασάνδρου. οἱ δʼ Ἠπειρῶται χρόνον μέν τινα διέμενον ὑπʼ Ἀλκέτου βασιλευόμενοι, χρωμένου δʼ αὐτοῦ χαλεπώτερον τοῖς πλήθεσιν αὐτόν τε κατέσφαξαν καὶ δύο τῶν υἱῶν παῖδας ὄντας τὴν ἡλικίαν3 Ἠσιονέα καὶ Νίσον.

​After he had departed, the Leucadians, taking additional aid from the Corcyraeans, expelled the garrison of Cassander. The Epirotes for some time continued to be ruled by Alcetas, but when he treated the multitude too harshly, they slaughtered him and also two of his sons, Hesioneus and Nisus, who were still children in age.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 19.89.1ἐπὶ τοῦ προτερήματος γεγονότας

    Meaning "having gained the upper hand." γεγονότας is the perfect active participle, here functioning as a predicative participle after καταλαβὼν ("finding them to have...").

  2. 19.89.2ἀξιόχρεω

    The accusative singular feminine form of the Attic declension adjective ἀξιόχρεως ("sufficient, noteworthy"), modifying the preceding feminine noun δύναμιν.

  3. 19.89.3τὴν ἡλικίαν

    An accusative of specification (or respect) meaning "in age" (or "with respect to their age"), modifying παῖδας ὄντας ("being children") to specify their youthfulness.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
  • 2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:19.89.1-19.89.3