32.25
The
appearance of Philocles in Achaia not only raised the siege of Corinth but
brought about the loss of Argos, which was betrayed by the leaders of the
city acting with the full concurrence of the population. It was customary
with them on the day of the elections for the presiding magistrates, as an
omen of good fortunes, to commence the proceedings by uttering the names
of Jupiter, Apollo and Hercules, and a law had been made ordering Philip's
name to be added. After the alliance with Rome had been made the usher did
not add his name and the people broke out into angry murmurs, and soon
shouts were heard demanding the restoration of Philip's name and the
honours which were his by law, till at last the name was uttered amidst
tremendous cheers. Replying upon this proof of his popularity, Philip's
partisans invited Philocles, and during the night he seized a hill which
commanded the city; the stronghold was called Larissa.. Posting a
detachment there, he marched down in order of battle to the forum which lay
at the foot of the hill. Here he found a body of troops drawn up to dispute
his progress. It was an Achaean force which had recently been thrown into
the city, consisting of 500 men selected from all the cities under the
command of Aenesidemus of Dymae. Philocles sent a spokesman to them,
bidding them evacuate the place, since they were no match even for the
Macedonian supporters in the town, still less so now that they had the
Macedonians with them, those Macedonians against whom even the Romans
could not make a stand at Corinth. At first his warning made no impression
on either the commander or his men, but soon afterwards when they saw a
large body of Argives in arms marching against them from another side, they
saw that their fate was sealed, though had their commander persisted in his
defence of the place they were evidently prepared to fight to the death.
Aenesidemus, however, was unwilling that the flower of the Achaean
soldiery should be lost together with the city, and he came to an
understanding with Philocles that they should be allowed to depart. He
himself, however, remained standing under arms together with a few of his
personal followers. Philocles sent to ask him what his intention was, and
without moving a step and holding his shield in front of him he replied that
he would die fighting in defence of the city entrusted to him. The general
then ordered the Thracians to shower their darts upon them, and the whole
party were killed. Thus, even after the alliance between the Achaeans and the
Romans had been cemented two of the most important cities, Argos and
Corinth, were in the king's hands. Such were the operations of the naval and
military forces of Rome, during this summer, in Greece.
