28.7
The
beacon fires at Oreus had given Philip warning, but through the treachery of
Plator they were lighted too late, and in any case Philip's inferiority in naval
strength would have made it extremely difficult for him to reach the island.
In consequence of this delay he made no effort for its relief, but he hastened
to the relief of Chalcis as soon as he got the signal. Although this city is also
situated on the island, it is separated from the mainland by such a narrow
strait as to allow of its being connected by a bridge, and it is therefore more
easy to approach it by land than by sea. Philip marched from Demetrias to
Scotusa; he left that place at midnight, and after routing the Aetolians who
were holding the pass of Thermopylae drove them in confusion to Heraclea.
He finally reached Elatia in Phocis, having covered more than sixty miles in
one day. Almost on the very same day the city of the Opuntians was taken
and sacked by Attalus. Sulpicius had left the spoils to him, because Oreus
had been sacked by the Romans a few days previously, when the king's
troops were elsewhere. Whilst the Roman fleet was lying off Oreus, Attalus
was busily occupied in extorting contributions from the principal citizens of
Opus, utterly unaware of Philip's approach. So rapid was the Macedonian
advance that had not some Cretans who had gone foraging further than usual
caught sight of the hostile column in the distance, Attalus would have been
completely surprised. As it was he fled, without stopping to arm, in wild
disorder to his ships, and the men were actually pushing their vessels off
when Philip appeared, and even from the water's edge created great alarm
amongst the crews. Then he returned to Opus, storming at gods and men
because the chance of a great success had been almost snatched out of his
hands. He was just as furious with the Opuntians, for, though they might
have held out till his arrival, no sooner did they see the enemy than they
voluntarily surrendered.
After settling matters at Opus, he went on to Thronium. Attalus
had sailed to Oreus, but on learning that Prusias, the king of Bithynia, had
violated the frontiers of his dominions he dropped all his projects in Greece,
including the Aetolian war, and sailed to Asia. Sulpicius took his fleet back
to Aegina, whence he had started in the beginning of spring. Philip captured
Thronium with no more difficulty than Attalus had experienced at Opus. The
population of this city consisted of refugees from Thebes in Phthiotis. When
the place was captured by Philip, they escaped and put themselves under the
protection of the Aetolians, who assigned for their abode a city which had
been ruined and abandoned in the previous war with Philip. After his capture
of Thronium he advanced to the capture of Tithronon and Drymiae, small
unimportant towns in Doris. Ultimately he reached Elatia, where it was
arranged that the embassies from Ptolemy and the Rhodians should meet
him. Here they were discussing the question of bringing the Aetolian war to
a close -the ambassadors had been present at the recent council of the
Romans and Aetolians at Heraclea -when news was brought that
Machanidas had decided to attack the Eleans in the midst of their
preparations for the Olympic Games. Philip thought it his duty to prevent
this, and accordingly dismissed the ambassadors after assuring them that he
was responsible for the war and would place no obstacles in the way of
peace, provided its terms were fair and honourable. He then set off with his
army in light marching order, and passed through Boeotia to Megara, and
from there he descended to Corinth. Here he collected supplies, and then
advanced towards Phlius and Pheneos. When he had reached Heraea he
heard that Machanidas, alarmed at his rapid approach, had made a hurried
return to Lacedaemon. On receiving this intelligence he repaired to Aegium,
in order to be present at the meeting of the Achaean League; he also
expected to find there the Carthaginian fleet, which he had sent for in the
hope of doing something by sea. The Carthaginians had left that place a few
days previously for Oxeae and then, when they heard that Attalus and the
Romans had left Oreus, they sought shelter in the harbours of Acarnania,
fearing lest if they were attacked within the strait of Rhium, the neck of the
Gulf of Corinth, they should be overpowered.