33.7
Eager to
press on, Philip was not in the least deterred by the clouds which had
descended to the earth after the rain, and he ordered the standard-bearers to
march out. But so thick a fog had blotted out the daylight that the
standard-bearers could not see their way, nor could the men see their
standards. Misled by the confused shouts, the column was thrown into as
great disorder as if it had lost its way in a night march. When they had
surmounted the range of hills called Cynoscephalae, where they left a strong
force of infantry and cavalry in occupation, they formed their camp. The
Roman general was still in camp at Thetideum; he sent out, however, ten
squadrons of cavalry and a thousand velites to reconnoitre and warned them
to be on their guard against an ambuscade, which owing to the darkened
daylight might not be detected even in open country. When they reached the
heights where the enemy were posted both sides stood stock-still as though
paralysed by mutual fear. As soon as their alarm at the unexpected sight
subsided they sent messages to their generals in camp and did not hesitate
any longer to engage. The action was begun by the advanced patrols, and
then as the supports came up the fighting became general. The Romans were
by no means a match for their opponents, and they sent message after
message to their general to inform him that they were being overpowered. A
reinforcement of 500 cavalry and 2000 infantry, mostly Aetolians, under two
military tribunes, was hastily despatched and restored the battle, which was
going against the Romans. This turn of fortune threw the Macedonians into
difficulties and they sent to their king for help. But as owing to the darkness
a battle was the last thing he had looked for on that day, and as a large
number of men of all ranks had been sent out to forage, he was for a
considerable time at a loss what to do. The messages became more and more
importunate, and as the fog had now cleared away and revealed the situation
of the Macedonians who had been driven to the topmost height and were
finding more safety in their position than in their arms, Philip felt that he
ought to risk a general and decisive engagement rather than let a part of his
force be lost through want of support. Accordingly he sent Athenagoras, the
commander of the mercenaries, with the whole of the foreign contingent,
except the Thracians, and also the Macedonian and Thessalian cavalry. Their
appearance resulted in the Romans being dislodged from the hill and
compelled to retreat to lower ground. That they were not driven in
disorderly flight was mainly owing to the Aetolian cavalry, which at that time
was the best in Greece, though in infantry they were inferior to their
neighbours.
