Bibliotheca Historica

​The Rhodians, beholding the progress of the enemy’s works, constructed another wall inside, parallel to the one likely to suffer in the attacks. They used stones for this by pulling down the precinct wall of the theater and the neighboring houses, and also some of the temples, having vowed to the gods that they would construct more beautiful ones if the city were saved.

​They also sent out nine of their ships, ordering the commanders to sail in all directions, and appearing unexpectedly, to sink some of the captured vessels and to bring others into the city. When these had sailed out and divided into three groups, Damophilus, having the ships called “guard-boats” by the Rhodians, sailed to Carpathus, and capturing many of Demetrius’s vessels, some he shattered with his rams and sank, and others he brought to the shore and burned, selecting the most useful of the captives, and he brought back to his country not a few of those carrying the crops from the island.

​Menedemus, commanding three triemioliae, sailed to Patara in Lycia, and finding a ship at anchor while its crew was on land, he set fire to the vessel, and having captured many ships carrying provisions to the camp, he sent them off to Rhodes.

​He also captured a quadrireme sailing from Cilicia, which carried royal raiment and other baggage, which Phila, the wife of Demetrius, had prepared with great care and sent to her husband. This clothing, therefore, he sent to Egypt, since the robes were of purple and fitting for a king to wear; but the ship he hauled ashore, and he sold the sailors, both those from the quadrireme and those from the other captured vessels.

​Amyntas, commanding the remaining three ships, sailed to the islands, and falling in with many vessels carrying materials suitable for engines to the enemy, some of them he sank, and others he brought to the city, among which were also captured eleven of the notable artisans who excelled in experience with missiles and catapults.

​After this, when an assembly had been gathered, some advised pulling down the statues of Antigonus and Demetrius, saying it was a terrible thing that those besieging them should be honored equally with their benefactors; at which the people were indignant and censured them as being in error, and did not disturb any of the honors belonging to Antigonus and his house, having deliberated well both for their reputation and their advantage.

​For their magnanimity and the stability of their decision under a democracy won praise from others, but repentance from the besiegers. For they seemed, while liberating the cities throughout Greece which had shown no goodwill toward their benefactors, to be enslaving the one which through experience had shown itself most steadfast in its return of gratitude; and moreover, against the uncertainty of fortune, if it should happen that the city were captured, there was left to them, as a plea for mercy, the remembrance of the friendship they had preserved. Thus these matters were managed wisely by the Rhodians.