35.51
Delium is a temple of Apollo overlooking
the sea, five miles distant from Tanagra and four miles from the nearest point
of Euboea by sea. Here in the fane and in the grove, sacred and therefore
inviolable, with its rights of sanctuary which it possessed in common with
those temples which the Greeks call "asyla," the soldiers were walking about
perfectly at their ease, not having yet heard that a state of war existed or that
swords had been drawn and blood shed. Some were exploring the temple
and the grove, others strolling along the beach without any weapons, while a
large number had gone off to procure wood and fodder. Whilst thus
dispersed they were suddenly attacked by Menippus. Many were killed, as
many as fifty were made prisoners; very few made their escape. Amongst
these was Micythio, who was taken on board a small transport. The losses
incurred greatly disquieted Quinctius and the Romans, but at the same time it
was regarded as an additional justification for the war. Antiochus had moved
his army up to Aulis and from there he despatched a second mission to
Chalcis, consisting of some of his own people and some Aetolians. They
employed the same arguments as before, but in much more threatening tone,
and in spite of the efforts of Micythio and Xenoclides he had little difficulty
in inducing the townsmen to open the gates to him. The adherents of Rome
left the city just before the king's entry. The Achaean troops and those of
Eumenes were holding Salganeus, and a small body of Romans were
fortifying a post on the Euripus to defend the position. Menippus
commenced the attack on Salganeus and Antiochus prepared to capture the
fortified post. The Achaeans and the soldiers of Eumenes were the first to
abandon the defence on condition of being allowed to depart in safety. The
Romans offered a much stouter resistance, but when they found that they
were blockaded by land and sea and that siege artillery was being brought up
they were unable to hold out any longer. As the king was now in possession
of the capital of Euboea, the other cities on the island did not dispute his
dominion. He flattered himself that he had made a most successful
commencement of the war, considering how large an island and how many
serviceable cities had fallen into his hands.
End of Book 35