afforded least advantage By Land no War arose that gave any sufficient advantage of inlarging their dominions further than to the disturbance of their next Neighbours they stirred not abroad nor gave their minds to any new Conquests Those that were Subjects were patient under the yoak and Equalls in power made no considerable quarrells till all Greece came to be divided in the old War betwixt the Inhabitants of Chalcis and Eretria Then to hinder them from growing great the affairs of the Persians were advanced till having cast out their Tyrants who all this while contenting themselves with the private power they had over particular places stirred not they got ground by little and little of the Eastern Empire Almost during this whole Period had they * No written Laws no written Laws Homer being witnesse who never useth the word * No written Laws Law throughout his writings †Joseph centra Apion l. 2. They were not generally governed but by indefinite Sentences and Praecepts of their Kings remaining a long time without any written Praecepts and referring all to the event according to which Judgment insued Such was the most antient condition of Greece in generall Now a particular account is to be given of the severall Kingdoms and States that were most considerable and contemporary with the Babylonian Empire SECT II. The Sicyonian Kingdom The Sicyonian Kingdom most ancient 1. THe affairs of the Sicyonian have the (a) Euseb in Chronic. August de Civit Dei l. 18. Pausan in Corinthiacis p. 49. Edit Graec. Francfurti 1583. first place allotted to them in Antiquity who inhabited a City situated upon the Bay of Corinth and the confines of Achaia Here Aegialeus began a Kingdom about 270 years after the universall Deluge 232 before the beginning of Inachus 1313 before the first Olympiad Aegialeus the first King the year of the World 1915 according to the Vulgar way of computation without taking in the 100 years formerly mentioned in the History of the Judges and the 859th year of Noah whilst Ninus reigned in Assyria A. M. 1915. From him the City was first called Aegialia and part of the Peninsula it self according to some SECT 2. which afterwards was from Pelops named Peloponnesus Europs Telchines Apis. He left his Kingdom to Europs his Son after he had reigned 52 years and Europs having reigned 45 was succeeded by Telchines He governed 20 and was followed by Apis who was so great that all within the Isthmus was from him called Apios When he had continued 25 years Thelxion his Son Thelxion succeeded him during whose reign all things were so prosperous and happie that being dead they worshiped him for a god by sacrifices Aegyrus and solemnizing games which as they say were first invented for his sake Him followed Aegyrus after he had reigned 52 years Aegyrus or Aegydrus Thurimachus Leucippus Peratus reigned 33 Thurimachus 45 Leucippus 53 who had onely a Daughter named Calchinia on which Neptune or rather Mesapus begat Peratus who was Heir to his Grand-father and governed 47 years Plemnaeus Orthopolis After Peratus followed Plemnaeus whose children all died as soon as they were born till Ceres came in the likenesse of a Woman and brought up Orthopolis who succeeded his Father having reigned 48 years 2. Orthopolis the twelfth King of Aegialea had a Daughter named Chrysorthe Coronus Corax Epopeus on which Apollo is supposed to have begot Corenus his successor Coronus left two Sons Corax and Lamedon Corax after he had reigned 30 years died without issue and Epopeus a Thessalian seized on his Kingdom Epopeus stole Antiopes the Daughter of Nycteus King of Thebes for which injury he was prosecuted with War by the Thebans A battell being fought he had the better but both the Kings were mortally wounded Nycteus presently died after he was carried home but left the tuition of Labdacus the Son of Polydorus and Nephew to Cadmus whose Guardian he had been to his Brother Lycus requesting of him to lead down another Army into Aegialea to revenge him upon Epopeus to punish Antiope if he could take her Lamedon but in the mean time Epopeus died also of his wounds being neglected and Lamedon the Son of Coronus obtained his Fathers Kingdom gave up Antiope to Lycus as Pausanias writeth though Apollodorus saith A. M. 2616. that Lycus took Aegialea and slew Epopeus Antiope in the way to Thebes fell in travell and brought forth Amphion and Zethus who being found and nourished by an Herdsman the former gave himself to Musick and the later to nourishing of Cattell and both afterwards revenged their Mother upon Lycus and his Wife Dirce from whose hard usage she had escaped and came to them 3. Lamedon maried Phenò the Daughter of Clytius an Athenian and undertaking War against Archander and Architeles the Achaeans sent for Sicyon the Son of Metion and Nephew of Erechtheus out of Attica to assist him Sicyon from whom the City was named to whom giving his Daughter Zeuxippe in mariage A. M. 2656. he left him also his Successor From Sicyon the City was named Sicyon and the Country Sicyonia He had a Daughter named Chthonophyle on which Mercury begat Polybus after whose birth she was maried to Phlias the Son of Dionysus Polybus Adrastus and to him bore Androdamas Polybus succeeding his Grand-father left also his Grand-Son Adrastus by his Daughter maried to Talaus King of Argos his Heyr who being expelled his own City had fled to him But he making his peace at home returned Janiscus and after his departure Janiscus or Inachus the Nephew of that Clytis whose Daughter maried with Lamedon came out of Attica and obtained the Kingdom Phaestus After Janiscus had reigned 42 years he gave way by death to Phaestus one vulgarly accounted the Son of Hercules who after eight years at the direction of an Oracle went over into Crete where he built a City of his own name Zeuxippus 4. After his departure Zeuxippus the Son of Apollo by the Nymph Syllis A. M. 2846. was King of Sicyon but reigned not long Hippolytus Nephew to Phaestus by his Son Rhopalus Hippolytus obtained his Grand-Fathers seat Against him Agamemnon King of Mycenae made War till he forced him to submit After four years succeeded Polyphides Polyphides Pelasgus and continued 31 then Pelasgus 20 and after this * Ex Castore Rhodio Chronographo Eusebius would have Zeuxippus to have begun his reign which after 32 years ended with the Kingdom The Priests of Apollo Carinus It having now continued the space of 962 years the Priests of Apollo Carnius obtained the Soveraignty and held it 33. SECT 3. Lacestades Phalces seizeth upon Sicyon But Pausanias writeth that when Lacestades the son of Hippolytus reigned at Sicyon Phalces the son of Temenus who had been King of Argos seized upon it with the Dores in the night time
defeat was greatly discouraged fearing all the rest of the Persian Army might be easily transported and suspecting lest the Enemy should bend his utmost strength against Memphis the Metropolis was especially concerned for it and with that party which accompanied him returned thither In the mean time Lacrates the Theban General and principal of all the Graecian Captains drained the Chanel by cutting a ditch and passing over his Soldiers raised a battery against Pelusium by which the walls being much broken the defendants raised still Pallisadoes in the place and the Graecians within stoutly defending the Fort a great contest hapned for several dayes But as soon as they heard of the Kings departure they desired a Parley and Lacrates interposing an Oath that upon yielding of the place they should depart with such things as they brought out of Greece they presently yielded Then Artaxerxes sent Bagoas an Eunuch of great authority with him with a party of Barbarians to take possession of Pelusium who meeting the Graecians took from them many things contrary to the agreement This they received in great disdain and called to their gods as witnesses of the Oath which to keep Lacrates fell upon the Barbarians put them to flight with the losse of some and defended his Country-men for which being accused by Bagoas the King defended what he had done and punished the Authors of the violence 10. Pelusium being taken the other Towns were easily reduced by this stratagem of Mentor the Rhodian the third Captain of the Graecians These places being held by Garrisons consisting of two sorts of Nations Graecians and Aegyptians he caused this rumour to be spread abroad that Artaxerxes had resolved to deal mildly with all those who should deliver up any Towns but such as should withstand him he would prosecute with as great severity as the Sidonias and he gave in chrrge to the Sentinels to let as many Citizens go out as would By this means this report was presenly spread all over Aegypt and thereupon mutinies followed betwixt the Strangers and Natives in every Garrison each endeavouring first to betray their trust and gain credit of the Conquerours by their speedy treachery Accordingly when Mentor and Bagoas laid siege to Bubastis the Aegyptians secretly sent to the latter to yield to him the Town upon security of a free dismission The Graecians suspecting the matter persued the Messenger and getting from him the whole truth in a great great rage fell upon the Aegyptians whereof some they slew others they wounded and drove the rest into a corner of the Town They signified this to Bagoas and desired him with all speed to come and take possession of the Town and in the mean time a messenger was sent to Mentor from the Graecians who advised them as soon as Bagoas should enter the Town to fall upon the Barbarians As soon therefore as part of his Soldiers with him was entred they shut the gates and killing all the Soldiers took Bagoas himself prisoner 11. Bagoas (a) Diodorus ut supra seeing his onely hope to be in Mentor earnestly besought him to be the means of his deliverance promising him to do nothing for the future without his approbation who procuring his release and having the Town delivered up into his own hands as he got the credit of the enterprise so ingaged he Bagoas to him who entred by Oath into friendship and endearednesse which he also kept to the last and by which union they both became afterwards the most powerful of all the King's Officers After the surrender of Bubastis the other Cities made their peace but Nectanebus lying at Memphis and seeing what progresse the Enemy made in his conquest would not endanger his personal safety for a Kingdom Nectanebus flieth out of Aegypt but packing up all his treasures got him away into Aethiopia Then became Artaxerxes Master of all Aegypt and demolishing the walls of the greater Towns spoyled the Temples and got much treasure He carried away the Writings of the Priests which afterwards Bagoas restored to them for a great sum of money he (b) Sulp. Severus Hist Sacr. lib. 2. derided Apis and all their gods and for that the Aegyptians had for his dulnesse (c) Aelian var. Hist lib. 4. c. 8. Suid. in Ocho called him an Asse he sacrifized Apis being taken by violence to an Asse making his flesh also be dressed up for meat Then rewarded he the Graecians with great munificence according to their particular merits and making Phoerendates Satrapa of Aegypt he returned laden with glory and spoyl unto Babylon taking (d) Orosius l. 3. cap. 7. quaere Diodorus ad Olymp. 107. ann 4. in his way a great number of Jews captive of whom some he placed at Babylon and others in Hyrcania upon the Caspian Sea 12. Ochus rewarded Mentor the Rhodian with 100 talents of silver and much costly housholdstuff and making him governour of the Coasts of Asia gave him full power to make war upon his Rebels He used his power moderately towards Artabazus and Memnon who formerly had revolted and now were fled to Philip King of Macedonia those he reconciled to the King and sent for them both with their Families for Artabazus had by the Sister of Mentor and Memnon eleven Sons and ten Daughters by which number Mentor being much affected not onely procured him his pardon but preferred by degrees all the youths to honourable command in the Army Idem ibid. Polyaenus lib 6. Strabo lib. 13. After this promise of pardon he allured Hermias the Eunuch Governour of Atarnus into his hands whom casting into prison he took his Ring and therewith signed letters wherein was commanded in his name that such as had command of any Castles or Towns should deliver them up into the hands of the bearers which was accordingly done and then sent he Hermias up to the King who caused him to be hanged Aristotle the Philosopher and Xenocrates the Chalcedonian whom he had sent for to him made their escape out of such places as the Persians had got into their hands Afterwards Mentor either by force or policy reduced all such Captains as had revolted 13. Philip the son of Amyntas at this time reigning in Macedonia Diodorus ad Olymp. 109. ann 4. grew very potent and besieged Perinthus a Town in Thrace situate upon the Propontis with 30000 men and very strong provision for War so that he straightly pressed the inhabitants giving them no rest through his continual attempts This Artaxerxes Ochus taking notice of Philip King of Macedonia opposed by Ochus and being very jealous of his sudden growth commanded the Satrapaes of the Maritime Coasts of Asia to relieve the Perinthians as effectually as might be which they so performed as he missed of his design and this afterwards was objected as a sufficient cause amongst others for the invasion of Asia 14. In the reign of Ochus as some think hapned those things which are * Josephus
The Athenians feared if the Islands should be left to their own liberty lest they should lose Lemnus Imbrus and Sciras The Thebans lest they should be compelled to set at liberty the Cities of Boeotia and the Argives concluded that then they must lay aside all thoughts of Corinth which they had conceived great hopes to make their own Their dissention hindred Teribazus from concluding a peace with the Lacedaemonians without the Kings special Warrant but underhand he supplied them with money to maintain their power at Sea and committing Conon to custody went to the King to know his pleasure 21. The King upon his giving account how affairs stood sent Struthas to take care of the maritime affairs who being sensible what damage Agesilaus had done his master was inclinable towards the Athenians which being understood at Lacedaemon they sent Thymbro into Asia to keep him in action who at first sorely afflicted the places subject to his command but at length was slain and his Forces defeated At this time certain Rhodians being banished by the people who had the power in their own hands came to Sparta and complained that the Athenians had brought the Island under their power by that kind of Government The Spartans understood their interest in so powerfull an Island and sent Ecdicus with eight Gallies to revive if possible the Oligarchy which was agreeable to their own model and in this Fleet they ordered him to convey Diphridas into Asia who was to gather up the Reliques of Thymbro's Army and renew the War against Siruthas He ordered his affairs very well being a man fitter for the purpose than Thymbro was But Ecdicus fearfull of the power of the people did nothing at Rhodes into his room Teleutias was dispatched and with a Fleet of 27 Gallies did that for which he was sent Thrasybulus sent against the Lacedaemonians The Athenians hearing of these motions sent out Thrasybulus against the Spartans who despairing of Rhodes went into the Hellespont where in Thrace he reconciled two Princes Odryses and Seuthes and made them friends of the Athenian State Departing thence he recovered several Cities and amongst the rest Byzantium and Chalcis whence going to the Island Lesbus all the Towns whereof except Mitylene were joyned to the Lacedaemonians he had good successe taking several places and wasting the Territories of the other 22. From Lesbus he sayled victoriously unto Rhodes where he obtained money from the Inhabitants of Aspendus Is slain but his men after the receit thereof dealing injuriously with them they issued out in great anger and killed him in his Tent. This is he who if virtue be to be valued without fortune Corn. Nepos one doubts whether he be not to be preferred before all others seeing that for faithfulnesse constancy greatnesse of mind and love towards his Countrey no man is to be preferred before him and whereas it hapned rarely to any to free his Countrey from the slavery of one man he did it from the Tyranny of thirty But whereas no man excelled him in worth many overtopped him in nobility and hereupon it fell ouâ— that though in the Peloponnesian War he doing many things of himself Alcibiades did nothing without him yet the eminency of that man easily swallowed the glory and profit of all atchievements The Lacedaemonians having notice of what he had done and fearfull of what the friendship of Pharnabazus to the Athenians might produce though they had nothing to say against Dercyllidas yet sent Anaxibius out to restore their fortune who had prevailed with the Ephori for this employment and promised great matters if he were but assisted with money and shipping They gave him three Gallies and pay for 1000 men He coming to Abydus skirmished with Pharnabazus and then getting three ships more infested the Athenians But the Athenians being sollicitous for keeping what Thrasybulus had recovered though they had nominated Argyrius to his place yet now sent Iphicrates with eight Gallies and 1200 men who was lately returned from the Corinthian War He setting upon Anaxibius whilest he carelesly went abroad slew him as he was going to Abydus and with him twelve more Governours of Towns and thence betook himself into the Cherronesus 23. At this time Aegina was withdrawn by Etâ—onicus from the Athenians who thereupon besieged it but to no effect Xenoph. lib. 5. Diod. At Sea both sides as it were played the Pyrats with each other for some time But Telentias being made General of the Lacedaemonian Fleet fell in upon the Haven at Athens where he took some Vessels laden with the men and putting the Citizens into a great fright in his return preyed upon the Coasts whence he took many Fisher-boats with other booty the places being not aware of any such things In the mean while Antalcidas the Spartan returned with Teribazus from the Persian King having concluded a League offensive and defensive with him in case the Athenians and others would not consent to their proposals for a general peace He coming to Sea took eight Athenian Gallies which came from Thrace under the Command of one Thrasybulus and making up the Fleet to the number of 80 sayl with 20 Syracusian Gallies and others which he procured of Teribazus obtained the Soveraignty of the Seas The Athenians were startled hereat fearing the issue of this War might be the same with that of the Peloponnesian especially the Persian being now Confederate with the Lacedaemonians and the Inhabitants of Aegina infesting their Borders The parties desire peace upon all which accounts they were very desirous of peace The Lacedaemonians also being much straightned in maintaining Garrisons in so many places both affected to them weary of them began to have enough of War having moreover much trouble about Corinth The Argives not ignorant that War was decreed against them and that their old shifts and pretences would stand them in no stead were also ready to imbrace peace They all then sent their Agents to Teribazus to know what was proposed by Artaxerxes Mnemon 24. Teribazus shewing them the Kings Seals read the Contents of the writing which imported that he thought it just that the Cities in Asia the Islands Clazomenae and Cyprus should be under his Jurisdiction and all the rest little and great should be left to their own freedom except Lemnus Imbrus and Scirus which having been time out of mind subject to the Athenians he thought it fitting they should so continue And such as would not admit of these conditions he with the rest of the Confederates would prosecute with War both at Sea and Land to the utmost ability The Agents returning home all the States imbraced the conditions except the Thebans who were unwilling to set at liberty the Cities of Boeotia but Agesilaus making preparations to invade them they were so far awed thereby as to receive them He constrained also the Argives to leave Corinth from which the Authors of the late massacre then flying