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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §19.75.1-19.75.8

Antigonus Subdues Caria and Relieves Oreus

Passage 152 of 301 · Greek

Summary

Asander of Caria initially makes peace with Antigonus but soon violates the treaty to seek outside help, prompting Antigonus to liberate and capture Carian cities. Meanwhile, Cassander besieges Oreus but faces a sudden attack from Antigonus's relief fleet, later engaging in a naval battle after receiving Athenian reinforcements.

§19.75.1κατὰ δὲ τὴν Ἀσίαν Κάσανδρος ὁ τῆς Καρίας κυριεύων πιεζούμενος τῷ πολέμῳ διελύσατο πρὸς Ἀντίγονον ἐφʼ ᾧ τοὺς μὲν στρατιώτας παραδώσει πάντας Ἀντιγόνῳ, τὰς δʼ Ἑλληνίδας πόλεις αὐτονόμους ἀφήσει, τὴν δὲ σατραπείαν ἣν πρότερον εἶχε δωρεὰν καθέξει, §19.75.2βέβαιος ὢν φίλος Ἀντιγόνῳ.
In Asia, Asander, the ruler of Caria, being hard pressed by the war, came to terms with Antigonus on condition that he would surrender all his soldiers to Antigonus, leave the Greek cities autonomous, and hold as a gift the satrapy which he previously possessed, and remain a steadfast friend to Antigonus.
δοὺς δὲ περὶ τούτων ὅμηρον Ἀγάθωνα τὸν ἀδελφὸν καὶ μετʼ ὀλίγας ἡμέρας μεταμεληθεὶς ἐπὶ ταῖς συνθήκαις τὸν μὲν ἀδελφὸν ἐξέκλεψεν ἐκ τῆς ὁμηρίας, πρὸς δὲ Πτολεμαῖον καὶ Σέλευκον διαπρεσβευσάμενος ἠξίου βοηθεῖν τὴν ταχίστην.
Having given his brother Agathon as a hostage for these terms, but regretting the treaty a few days later, he stole his brother away from hostage status and, sending envoys to Ptolemy and Seleucus, requested them to send aid as quickly as possible.
§19.75.3ἐφʼ οἷς Ἀντίγονος δεινοπαθήσας δύναμιν ἀπέστειλεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθέρωσιν τῶν πόλεων καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλασσαν, τοῦ μὲν στόλου ναύαρχον ἀποδείξας Μήδιον, τοῦ δὲ στρατοπέδου καταστήσας στρατηγὸν Δόκιμον.
At this Antigonus, being deeply indignant, dispatched forces by both land and sea for the liberation of the cities, having appointed Medius as admiral of the fleet and having established Docimus as general of the army.
§19.75.4οὗτοι δὲ παραγενόμενοι πρὸς τὴν πόλιν τῶν Μιλησίων τούς τε πολίτας ἐκάλουν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν καὶ τὴν φρουρουμένην ἄκραν ἐκπολιορκήσαντες εἰς αὐτονομίαν ἀποκατέστησαν τὸ πολίτευμα.
When these arrived at the city of the Milesians, they called upon the citizens to assert their freedom, and having taken by siege the garrisoned citadel, they restored the constitution to autonomy.
§19.75.5περὶ ταῦτα δʼ ὄντων τούτων Ἀντίγονος Τράλλεις ἐξεπολιόρκησεν· εἰς δὲ Καῦνον παρελθὼν καὶ τὸν στόλον μεταπεμψάμενος εἷλε καὶ ταύτην τὴν πόλιν πλὴν τῆς ἄκρας· ταύτην δὲ περιχαρακώσας, καθʼ ὃ μέρος ἦν προσμάχεσθαι, συνεχεῖς προσβολὰς ἐποιεῖτο.
While they were occupied with these matters, Antigonus took Tralles by siege; then, proceeding to Caunus and summoning the fleet, he captured this city as well, except for the citadel; having surrounded this with palisades at the point where it was possible to attack, he made continuous assaults.
ἐπὶ δὲ τὴν Ἰασὸν πόλιν ἐκπεμφθεὶς Πτολεμαῖος μετὰ δυνάμεως ἱκανῆς ἠνάγκασε προσθέσθαι τοῖς περὶ Ἀντίγονον.
Meanwhile, Ptolemaeus, having been dispatched to the city of Iasus with a sufficient force, compelled them to join the party of Antigonus.
§19.75.6αὗται μὲν οὖν τῆς Καρίας οὖσαι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον ὑπετάγησαν Ἀντιγόνῳ.
Thus these cities, which were of Caria, were subjected in this manner to Antigonus.
μετʼ ὀλίγας δʼ ἡμέρας ἐλθόντων πρὸς αὐτὸν πρεσβευτῶν παρʼ Αἰτωλῶν καὶ Βοιωτῶν πρὸς μὲν τούτους συμμαχίαν συνέθετο, τῷ δὲ Κασάνδρῳ συνελθὼν εἰς λόγους ὑπὲρ εἰρήνης περὶ τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον ἀπῆλθεν ἄπρακτος, οὐ δυναμένων αὐτῶν οὐδαμῶς συμφωνῆσαι.
A few days later, when envoys from the Aetolians and Boeotians came to him, he concluded an alliance with them, and having entered into discussions for peace with Cassander near the Hellespont, he departed without success, as they were in no way able to reach an agreement.
διόπερ ὁ Κάσανδρος ἀπογνοὺς τὰς διαλύσεις διέγνω τῶν κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλάδα πάλιν πραγμάτων ἀντέχεσθαι.
Therefore Cassander, despairing of the reconciliation, decided to apply himself again to the affairs in Greece.
§19.75.7ἀναζεύξας οὖν μετὰ τριάκοντα νεῶν εἰς Ὠρεὸν ἐπολιόρκει τὴν πόλιν.
Accordingly, setting out with thirty ships to Oreus, he besieged the city.
ἐνεργῶς δʼ αὐτοῦ ταῖς προσβολαῖς χρωμένου καὶ τοῦ πολίσματος ἤδη κατὰ κράτος ἁλισκομένου παρεγένετο βοηθήσων τοῖς Ὠρίταις Τελεσφόρος μὲν ἐκ Πελοποννήσου μετὰ νεῶν εἴκοσι καὶ στρατιωτῶν χιλίων, Μήδιος δʼ ἐκ τῆς Ἀσίας ἔχων ναῦς ἑκατόν.
As he was actively making assaults and the town was already being taken by storm, there arrived to aid the Oreitae Telesphorus from the Peloponnese with twenty ships and a thousand soldiers, and Medius from Asia with a hundred ships.
§19.75.8οὗτοι δʼ ὁρῶντες ἐφορμούσας τῷ λιμένι τὰς τοῦ Κασάνδρου ναῦς πῦρ ἐνῆκαν καὶ τέσσαρας μὲν κατέκαυσαν, παρʼ ὀλίγον δὲ καὶ πάσας διέφθειραν· τοῖς δʼ ἐλαττουμένοις παραγενομένης βοηθείας ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν ἐπέπλευσαν οἱ περὶ Κάσανδρον καταφρονοῦσι τοῖς πολεμίοις.
These, seeing the ships of Cassander riding at anchor in the harbor, set them on fire and burned four of them, and came near destroying them all; but when assistance from Athens arrived for those who were getting the worst of it, Cassander's men sailed against the enemy, who were acting carelessly.
συμβαλόντες δʼ αὐτοῖς μίαν μὲν κατέδυσαν, τρεῖς δʼ αὐτάνδρους ἔλαβον.
Engaging them, they sank one ship and took three along with their crews.
καὶ τὰ μὲν πραχθέντα περὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα καὶ τὸν Πόντον τοιαῦτʼ ἦν.
Such were the events that occurred around Greece and the Pontus.

Notes

  1. 19.75.1Κάσανδρος — The manuscripts read 'Cassander' (Κάσανδρος), but both the context ('ruler of Caria') and historical facts indicate that this is a scribal error for Asander (Ἄσανδρος). It is therefore translated as 'Asander' in accordance with standard scholarly practice.
  2. 19.75.1ἐφʼ ᾧ — The preposition ἐπί followed by the dative neuter relative pronoun ἐφ' ᾧ with future indicative verbs (παραδώσει, ἀφήσει, καθέξει) introduces the conditions of the treaty ('on condition that').
  3. 19.75.2βέβαιος ὢν φίλος Ἀντιγόνῳ — A nominative participle clause (with ὢν agreeing with the subject Asander) forming part of the terms of the reconciliation, specifying the obligation to 'remain a steadfast friend to Antigonus.'
  4. 19.75.8καταφρονοῦσι τοῖς πολεμίοις — καταφρονοῦσι is the present active participle in the dative plural masculine, agreeing with τοῖς πολεμίοις, which serves as the indirect object of the verb ἐπέπλευσαν ('sailed against'). It means 'against the enemy, who were acting carelessly (despising/underestimating the situation).'

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §19.75.1-19.75.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:19.75.1-19.75.8

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