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Bibliotheca Historica

§20.28.1-20.28.4

Cassander's Pact with Polyperchon and the Murder of Heracles

Polyperchon attempts to restore Heracles, the son of Alexander and Barsine, to his ancestral kingdom, but Cassander persuades him with tempting promises to assassinate the young prince.

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§20.28.1

ἅμα δὲ τούτοις πραττομένοις Πολυπέρχων μὲν ἠθροικὼς ἁδρὰν δύναμιν κατήγαγεν1 ἐπὶ τὴν πατρῴαν βασιλείαν Ἡρακλέα τὸν Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Βαρσίνης, Κάσανδρος δὲ καταστρατοπεδεύσαντος αὐτοῦ περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Στυμφαίαν ἧκεν μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως. οὐ μακρὰν δὲ τῶν παρεμβολῶν ἀπεχουσῶν ἀλλήλων καὶ τῶν Μακεδόνων οὐκ ἀηδῶς ὁρώντων τὴν κάθοδον τοῦ βασιλέως, δείσας ὁ Κάσανδρος μήποτε φύσει πρὸς μεταβολὴν ὄντες ὀξεῖς οἱ Μακεδόνες αὐτομολήσωσι πρὸς τὸν Ἡρακλέα, διεπρεσβεύσατο πρὸς Πολυπέρχοντα.

​While these things were being done, Polyperchon, having gathered a strong force, conducted Heracles, the son of Alexander and Barsine, to his ancestral kingdom, but Cassander, when Polyperchon had encamped near the so-called Stymphaea, arrived with his force. Since the camps were not far from each other and the Macedonians were not displeased to see the return of the king, Cassander, fearing lest the Macedonians, being by nature quick to change, should desert to Heracles, sent envoys to Polyperchon.

§20.28.2

καὶ περὶ μὲν τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπειρᾶτο διδάσκειν αὐτὸν ὅτι γινομένης τῆς καθόδου ποιήσει2 τὸ προσταττόμενον ὑφʼ ἑτέρων, συναγωνισάμενος δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὸν νεανίσκον ἀνελὼν3 παραχρῆμα μὲν ἀπολήψεται τὰς προγεγενημένας κατὰ Μακεδονίαν δωρεάς, εἶτα καὶ δύναμιν ἀναλαβὼν στρατηγὸς ἀποδειχθήσεται περὶ Πελοπόννησον καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν τῇ δυναστείᾳ τῇ Κασάνδρου κοινωνὸς ἔσται, τιμώμενος διαφόρως. πέρας δὲ πολλαῖς καὶ μεγάλαις ἐπαγγελίαις πείσας τὸν Πολυπέρχοντα καὶ συνθήκας ἐν ἀπορρήτοις συνθέμενος προετρέψατο δολοφονῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα.

​And as for the king, he tried to point out to him that if the return took place, he would do what was commanded by others, but that if Polyperchon joined forces with him and made away with the youth, he would immediately recover his former gifts in Macedonia, and then, having received a force, would be appointed general over the Peloponnese and would share in all things in Cassander’s domain, being exceptionally honored. Finally, having persuaded Polyperchon by many great promises and having concluded a secret treaty, he urged him to assassinate the king.

§20.28.3

ὁ δὲ Πολυπέρχων ἀνελὼν τὸν νεανίσκον καὶ φανερῶς κοινοπραγῶν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Κάσανδρον τάς τʼ ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ δωρεὰς ἐκομίσατο καὶ κατὰ τὰς ὁμολογίας παρέλαβε στρατιώτας πεζοὺς μὲν Μακεδόνας τετρακισχιλίους, ἱππεῖς δὲ Θετταλοὺς πεντακοσίους. προσλαβόμενος δὲ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τοὺς βουλομένους ἐπεχείρησε μὲν διὰ τῆς Βοιωτίας προάγειν εἰς Πελοπόννησον, ὑπὸ δὲ Βοιωτῶν καὶ Πελοποννησίων κωλυθεὶς ἀνέστρεψε καὶ προελθὼν εἰς Λοκροὺς ἐνταῦθα τὴν παραχειμασίαν ἐποιεῖτο.

​And Polyperchon, having made away with the youth and openly making common cause with Cassander’s party, received his gifts in Macedonia, and according to the agreements, took over four thousand Macedonian infantry soldiers, ​and five hundred Thessalian cavalry. Having also taken along those of the others who wished to join, he attempted to advance through Boeotia into the Peloponnese, but being prevented by the Boeotians and the Peloponnesians, he turned back, and having proceeded to Locris, he made his winter quarters there.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 20.28.1κατήγαγεν

    The verb, meaning literally 'to bring back from exile', here implies 'attempting to restore Heracles to his ancestral kingdom'.

  2. 20.28.2ποιήσει

    The subject of this third-person singular future indicative verb is contextually Heracles (referred to as ὁ βασιλεύς). Cassander warns Polyperchon that if the restoration takes place, the young king will merely do what is commanded by others (ὑφ᾽ ἑτέρων).

  3. 20.28.2συναγωνισάμενος δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὸν νεανίσκον ἀνελὼν

    The subject of these nominative participles is Polyperchon, the addressee of the indirect discourse, representing a conditional clause ('if he should join forces with him and make away with the youth') for the subsequent future verbs such as ἀπολήψεται. αὐτῷ refers to Cassander.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
  • 2026-09-21 AI review — source 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:20.28.1-20.28.4