31.17
The
Abydenes in the first instance placed engines all along their walls and in this
way not only prevented any approach by land, but also made the anchorage
of the hostile ships unsafe. When, however, a portion of the wall was
battered into ruins and the enemies' mines had been carried up to an inner
wall which the defenders had hastily constructed, they sent envoys to the
king to arrange terms for the surrender of the city. They proposed that the
Rhodian quadrireme with its crew and the contingent which Attalus had sent
should be allowed to depart and that the inhabitants should be permitted to
leave the city with simply the clothes they were wearing. Philip replied that
there was not the slightest hope of peace unless they surrendered
unconditionally. When this reply was brought back it created such an
outburst of indignation and rage that the citizens formed the same frenzied
resolution as the Saguntines had done in former years. They gave orders for
all the matrons to be shut up in the temple of Diana, the freeborn boys and
girls, even infants with their nurses to be collected in the gymnasium, all gold
and silver to be taken to the forum, all costly apparel to be placed on board
the vessels from Rhodes and Cyzicus which were lying in the harbour, and
altars set up in the middle of the city, round which the priests were to be
assembled with victims for sacrifice. Here a body of men, selected for the
purpose, took an oath dictated to them by the priests, to carry out the
desperate measure which had been decided upon. As soon as they saw that
their comrades who were fighting in front of the levelled wall were all killed,
they were to put the wives and children to death, throw the gold and silver
and the apparel on board the ships into the sea and set fire wherever they
possibly could to all the public buildings and private houses, and the most
horrible curses were invoked on them if they broke their oath. Following
them, all the men of military age solemnly swore that none should leave the
battle alive, except as victor. So faithful were they to their oath and with
such desperation did they fight, that before night could put an end to the
battle, Philip withdrew from the conflict appalled by their frenzied courage.
The leading citizens, to whom the more cruel part had been assigned, finding
that there were only a few survivors, and they wounded and exhausted, sent
the priests, wearing supplicatory fillets, as soon as it was light to Philip to
make a surrender of the city.
