35.43
No
characters are so prone to jealousy as those whose birth and fortune are not
on a level with their intelligence, for they hate virtue and goodness in others.
The plan of sending Hannibal to Africa, the one useful plan which had been
thought out at the beginning of the war, was promptly set aside. Encouraged
by the defection of Demetrias, Antiochus determined to postpone no longer
his advance into Greece. Before setting sail he went up to Ilium to offer
sacrifices to Minerva. He then rejoined his fleet and started on his expedition
with 40 decked ships and 60 undecked ones, and these were followed by 200
transports laden with supplies and military stores of every description. He
first touched at the island of Imbros and from there crossed the Aegean to
Sciathus. After the ships which had lost their course during the voyage had
rejoined him, he sailed on to Pteleum, the first point on the mainland. Here
he was met by Eurylochus and the Magnetan leaders from Demetrias, and
the sight of so many supporters put him in excellent spirits. The following
day he entered the harbour of Demetrias and disembarked his force at a spot
not far from the city. His total strength consisted of 10,000 infantry, 500
cavalry and six elephants, a force hardly sufficient for the occupation of
Greece, even if there were no troops there, to say nothing of maintaining a
war against Rome. When the Aetolians received intelligence that Antiochus
was at Demetrias they at once convened a council and passed a resolution
inviting him to attend. As the king knew that this resolution would be passed
he had already left Demetrias and advanced to Phalara on the Maliac Gulf.
After being supplied with a copy of the resolution he went on to Lamia,
where he received an enthusiastic welcome from the populace, who showed
their delight by loud cheers and other manifestations by which the common
crowd express their extravagant joy.
