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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §16.89.1-16.89.3

Establishment of the League of Corinth and Persian Campaign

Passage 597 of 723 · Greek

Summary

Following his victory at Chaeronea, Philip II won over the Greek cities under the pretext of a campaign against Persia. He was elected supreme commander of Greece at the common council in Corinth, after which he returned to Macedonia to prepare for the expedition.

§16.89.1ἐπʼ ἄρχοντος δʼ Ἀθήνησι Φρυνίχου Ῥωμαῖοι κατέστησαν ὑπάτους Τῖτον Μάλλιον Τορκουᾶτον καὶ Πόπλιον Δέκιον.
When Phrynichus was archon in Athens, the Romans appointed Titus Manlius Torquatus and Publius Decius as consuls.
ἐπὶ δὲ τούτων Φίλιππος ὁ βασιλεὺς πεφρονηματισμένος τῇ περὶ Χαιρώνειαν νίκῃ καὶ τὰς ἐπιφανεστάτας πόλεις καταπεπληγμένος ἐφιλοτιμεῖτο γενέσθαι πάσης τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἡγεμών.
During their term of office, King Philip, emboldened by his victory at Chaeronea and having intimidated the most illustrious cities, aspired to become the leader of all Greece.
§16.89.2διαδοὺς δὲ λόγον ὅτι βούλεται πρὸς Πέρσας ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἑλλήνων πόλεμον ἄρασθαι καὶ λαβεῖν παρʼ αὐτῶν δίκας ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰς τὰ ἱερὰ γενομένης παρανομίας ἰδίους τοὺς Ἕλληνας ταῖς εὐνοίαις ἐποιήσατο.
By spreading the word that he wished to wage war against the Persians on behalf of the Greeks and to exact punishment from them for the lawless acts committed against the temples, he won the Greeks over to his side by their goodwill.
φιλοφρονούμενος δὲ πρὸς ἅπαντας καὶ ἰδίᾳ καὶ κοινῇ ταῖς πόλεσιν ἀπεφαίνετο βούλεσθαι διαλεχθῆναι περὶ τῶν συμφερόντων.
Showing friendliness to all, he declared both individually and collectively to the cities that he wished to confer with them about their common interests.
§16.89.3διόπερ ἐν Κορίνθῳ τοῦ κοινοῦ συνεδρίου συναχθέντος διαλεχθεὶς περὶ τοῦ πρὸς Πέρσας πολέμου καὶ μεγάλας ἐλπίδας ὑποθεὶς προετρέψατο τοὺς συνέδρους εἰς πόλεμον.
Therefore, when the common council was assembled in Corinth, he spoke concerning the war against the Persians, and by holding out great hopes, he urged the councilors to war.
τέλος δὲ τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἑλομένων αὐτὸν στρατηγὸν αὐτοκράτορα τῆς Ἑλλάδος μεγάλας παρασκευὰς ἐποιεῖτο πρὸς τὴν ἐπὶ τοὺς Πέρσας στρατείαν.
Finally, when the Greeks elected him supreme commander of Greece, he made grand preparations for the campaign against the Persians.
διατάξας δʼ ἑκάστῃ πόλει τὸ πλῆθος τῶν εἰς συμμαχίαν στρατιωτῶν ἐπανῆλθεν εἰς τὴν Μακεδονίαν.
Having assigned to each city the number of soldiers for the alliance, he returned to Macedonia.
καὶ τὰ μὲν περὶ Φίλιππον ἐν τούτοις ἦν.
And such was the state of affairs concerning Philip.

Notes

  1. §16.89.1καταπεπληγμένος — The perfect middle-passive participle καταπεπληγμένος is used here with an active/middle transitive sense ("having intimidated", "having struck terror into"), taking the accusative τὰς ἐπιφανεστάτας πόλεις as its direct object.
  2. §16.89.2ἰδίους τοὺς Ἕλληνας — ἰδίους functions as a predicative adjective with the middle verb ἐποιήσατο, meaning "he made the Greeks his own (allies)".

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §16.89.1-16.89.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc4:16.89.1-16.89.3

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