Description of Greece

​As you cross over into the territory of Mantinea through Mount Artemision, a plain called Argos (Uncultivated) will receive you, just as indeed it is; for the water coming down into it from the mountains by the act of the god makes the plain uncultivated, and nothing would have prevented this plain from being a lake, if the water did not disappear into a chasm of the earth.

​Having disappeared there, it rises again at Dine, near what is called Genethlium in the Argolid, which is sweet water rising from the sea. In ancient times, the Argives used to cast into Dine, in honor of Poseidon, horses adorned with bridles. That there is sweet water in the sea is evident both here, where it rises in the Argolid, and in Thesprotia at the place called Cheimerion.

​An even greater marvel is the boiling water in the Maeander, part of which rises from a rock, while the current surrounds the rock, and part also rises from the mud of the river. Before Dicaearchia in the land of the Tyrrhenians, there is boiling water in the sea, and an artificial island has been constructed on account of it, so that this water is not left useless (argos) but provides them with warm baths.

​On the left of the plain called Argos, for those of Mantinea, there is a mountain containing the ruins of the tent of Philip, son of Amyntas, and of the village of Nestane; for they say that Philip encamped near this Nestane, and they still call the spring there Philip’s Spring after him. Philip came to Arcadia to win over the Arcadians and to alienate them from the rest of the Greek world.

​Of Philip, one might indeed be persuaded that he displayed the greatest achievements among the kings before him and all who subsequently ruled the Macedonians; yet no one in his right mind would call him a good general, since he constantly trampled upon the oaths of the gods, broke treaties on every occasion, and dishonored good faith more than any other man.

​And the wrath from the god met him not late, but earliest of those we know. Philip, having lived not far beyond forty-six years, fulfilled the oracle from Delphi, which they say was given to him when he inquired about the Persian: “The bull is crowned, it has its end, the slayer is there.” This indeed showed not long after that it applied not to the Persian, but to Philip himself.

​Upon the death of Philip, Olympias dragged the infant child of Philip, born of Cleopatra the niece of Attalus, onto a bronze vessel under which a fire had been placed, and destroyed him together with his mother; and later she also killed Arrhidaeus. It was destined, then, that the deity would also miserably harvest the race of Cassander; and Cassander had children by Thessalonica, the daughter of Philip, and the mothers of Thessalonica and Arrhidaeus were Thessalian women. As for the events concerning Alexander, they are likewise clear to everyone.

​But if Philip had taken account of the story concerning Glaucus the Spartan and had reminded himself of the verse at each of his actions: “But the posterity of a man who keeps his oath is better hereafter,” it does not seem to me that any of the gods would have quenched the life of Alexander and the prime of the Macedonians together in such an irrational manner.