33.20
The
Rhodians have given many splendid proofs of their courage in maintaining
their loyalty to Rome and in defending the liberties of Greece, but never did
they afford a finer instance of it than at this time. Undismayed by the
vastness of the impending war they sent a message to the king forbidding
him to sail beyond the promontory of Chelidonia in Cilicia, a place rendered
famous by its being mentioned in an ancient treaty between the Athenians
and the kings of Persia. If he did not keep his fleet and his forces within that
limit, they informed him that they should oppose him, not because of any
personal enmity to him, but because they would not allow him to join forces
with Philip and so hinder the Romans in their work of liberating Greece.
Antiochus was at the time investing Coracesium. He had so far secured
Zephyrium, Soli, Aphrodisias and Corycus, and after rounding Anemurium -another Cilician headland -had captured Selinus. All these towns and other
fortified places on this coast had submitted to him either voluntarily or under
the stress of fear, but Coracesium unexpectedly shut its gates against him.
During this delay the Rhodian envoys obtained an audience of him. The
tenor of their instructions was of a nature to rouse the king's wrath, but he
curbed his anger and told them that he should send envoys to Rhodes with
instructions to renew the old ties which he and his ancestors had formed with
that State, and also to reassure them as to the object of his approach, which
would bring no injury or loss either to them or to their allies. The embassy
which he had sent to Rome had just returned, and as the issue of the war
with Philip was still uncertain the senate had wisely given them a favourable
reception. Antiochus alleged the gracious reply of the senate and the
resolution they passed, so complimentary to him, as a proof that he had no
intention of breaking off his friendly relations with Rome. Whilst the king's
envoys were urging these considerations in a meeting of the citizens of
Rhodes, news came that the war had been brought to a close at
Cynoscephalae. On receipt of this intelligence the Rhodians, having nothing
more to fear from Philip, abandoned their design of opposing Antiochus with
their fleet. They did not, however, abandon the other object, the defence of
the liberties of the States in alliance with Ptolemy which Antiochus was now
threatening. To some they gave active assistance, others they forewarned of
the movements of the enemy; it was thus that Caunos, Myndus,
Halicarnassus and Samos owed their liberty to Rhodes. It is not worth while
to go in detail into the events which happened in this part of the world,
seeing that it is almost beyond my powers to deal with those especially
connected with the war with Rome.
