37.22
It was
now decided that Eumenes should go home and make the necessary
preparations for the passage of the consul and his army across the
Hellespont, whilst the Roman and Rhodian fleets returned to Samos, and
remained stationed there to prevent Polyxenidas from moving out of
Ephesus. Here M. Aemilius the praetor's brother died. After the funeral
honours had been paid, the Rhodians set sail for Rhodes with thirteen ships
of their own, one quinquereme from Cos and one from Cnidus. They were to
take up their station there in order to be ready for the fleet which was
reported to be coming from Syria. Two days before Eudamus arrived with
the fleet from Samos, a squadron of thirteen ships, together with four which
had been guarding the coast of Caria, had been despatched from Rhodes
under the command of Pamphilidas to meet this same Syrian fleet, and had
raised the siege of Daedala and other fortified places belonging to Peraea
which the king's troops were investing. Eudamus received instructions to sail
again at once. The fleet which he had brought with him was augmented by
six undecked ships, and with this force, by making all possible speed, he
overtook the other at a harbour called Megiste. From there the combined
fleets sailed on to Phaselis, which appeared to be the best position in which
to await the enemy.