33.34
Immediately after the Isthmian Games
Quinctius and the ten commissioners gave audience to the ambassadors from
the different monarchs and self-governing communities. The first to be heard
were those from Antiochus. They spoke to very much the same effect as
they had before spoken in Rome, making insincere and empty professions of
friendship, but they did not receive the same ambiguous answer as on the
former occasion, when the business with Philip was not yet settled.
Antiochus was openly and unequivocally warned to evacuate all the cities in
Asia which had belonged to either Philip or Ptolemy, to leave the free States
alone, and never to make aggressions on them, as all the cities through the
length and breadth of Greece must continue to enjoy peace and liberty. He
was especially warned not to lead his forces into Europe or go there himself.
On the dismissal of the king's ambassadors a convention of those from the
different cities and States was held and the proceedings were expedited by
the reading out of the names in the decree of the ten commissioners. The
people of Orestis, a district in Macedonia, had their old constitution restored
to them as a reward for having been the first to revolt from Philip. The
Magnetes, the Perrhaebians and the Dolopians were also declared free. The
Thessalians received their freedom and also a grant of the Achaean portion
of Phthiotis exclusive of Thebes and Pharsalus. The demand of the Aetolians
that Pharsalus and Leucas should be restored to them in accordance with
treaty rights was referred to the senate, but the commissioners acting under
the authority of their decree united Phocis and Locris thus reverting to the
former state of things. Corinth, Triphylia and Heraea -also in the
Peloponnesus -were restored to the Achaean league. The commissioners
intended to make a grant of Oreus and Eretria to Eumenes, Attalus' son, but
as Quinctius raised objections this one point was left to the decision of the
senate, and that body declared these places and also Carystus to be free
cities. Lychnis and Parthus were given to Pleuratus; both these Illyrian cities
had been subject to Philip. Amynander was told to keep the forts which he
had taken from Philip during the war.
