Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XVIII - The Library of History



Page 590 fell into the Hands of the Enemy. Very many for a long time toss'd and tumbled hither and thither, were at length devour'd by Crocodiles. Above Two thousand having perish'd in this manner, (among whom were some eminent Commanders,) the Hearts of the Soldiers were much turn'd against Perdiccas. But Ptolemy caus'd all those Bodies to be burnt that were brought dead down the River to him, and having perform'd all Funeral Obsequies and Observances due to the Dead, he sent their Ashes and Bones to their Kindred and Friends.

This far more inrag'd the Spirits of the Macedonians against Perdiccas, and knit their Hearts in affection to Ptolemy. When the Night came on, the Camp was full of Cries and Lamentations, that so many Men should miserably perish without a Stroke stricken, amongst whom there were no fewer than a Thousand, who were swallow'd by the monstrous Crocodiles.

Hereupon many of the Commanders rail'd against Perdiccas; and the whole Phalanx of Foot being totally disaffected, discover'd their Hatred by their Murmurings and Threats: And a Hundred of the chief Commanders deserted him; of whom, the chiefest of them was Pithon, who had conquer'd the Rebellious Greeks, not inferiour in Valour and Reputation to any of Alexander's Commanders. Afterwards some of the Horse enter'd into a Conspiracy, and made to his Tent, and in a Body fell upon him, and kill'd him.

The next day, when the Soldiers were in a Consult, Ptolemy came to them, and saluted the Macedonians, and made an Apology for what he had done. And seeing that they wanted Provision, he furnish'd the Army with abundance of Bread, and supply'd the Camp with all other Things that were necessary. But though he was upon this account in great Grace and Favour with the Soldiers, and so able easily to gain the Protectorship of the Kings, yet he demanded it not, but bestowed the chief Command upon Python and Arrhideus, to whom in Gratitude he was much oblig'd. For when the Macedonians appointed a Consult concerning that honourable Trust and high Command, by the Advice of Ptolemy they all unanimously created Python and Arrhideus (who convey'd the the King's Body) to be Protectors of the Kings, investing them with Sovereign Authority. And in this manner Perdiccas, after he had enjoy'd the Sovereign Command for the space of Three Years, lost both it and his Life together. After his Death, News was brought, that Eumenes had won the Day in Cappadocia, and that Craeterus and Neoptolemus were both slain. Which News, if it had arriv'd the Day before Perdiccas his Death, that prosperous Success would have been a Protection to his Person, so as none durst have lifted up their Hands against him.

But the Macedonians now hearing how Eumenes had succeeded, condemn'd him and all his Adherents (to the number of Fifty Noble Lords, amongst whom was Alcetas the Brother of Perdiccas,) to die. And at that very time they put to Death those that were Perdiccas his chiefest Friends, then in their Hands, with his Sister Atalanta, the Wife of Attalus the Admiral of the Fleet. For at and after the Death of Perdiccas, Attalus the Admiral lay with the Fleet before Pelusium; and when News was brought him of the Death of Perdiccas and his Wife, he loos'd from thence, and arriv'd at Tyre; where Archelaus, a Macedonian Governor of the City, kindly receiv'd him, and deliver'd up to him the City, and faithfully restor'd to him the Money intrusted in his Hands by Perdiccas, to the Value of Eight hundred Talents. And thus Attalus abiding at Tyre, receiv'd all Perdiccas's Friends that fled to him from the Camp at Memphis.

After Antipater was gone over into Asia, the Aetolians, in pursuance of their League made with Perdiccas, mach'd into Thessaly with a Design to divide Antipater's Army. They had Twelve thousand Foot, and Four thousand Horse, commanded as General by Alexander an Aetolian.

In their March they besieg'd the Locrians in Amphissa, and harrass'd their Country, and took some of the neighbouring Towns and Villages. They routed likewise Polycles, Antipater's General, and kill'd him, with a great number of his Men. Of the Prisoners they took, some were sold for Slaves, and others were ransom'd. Afterwards they broke into Thessaly, and brought over many there to join with them in the War against Antipater, insomuch as they made up in the whole a Body of Five and twenty thousand Foot, and Fifteen hundred Horse; while they were taking in the Cities, the Acarnanians bearing a Grudge to the Aetolians, invaded Aetolia, wasted and spoil'd the Country, and besieg'd the Cities. When the Aetolians heard what Danger their Country was in, they left the rest of their Forces in Thessaly under the Command of Menon of Pharsalis, and they themselves speedily march'd back with their own Soldiers into Aetolia, and struck such a Terror into the Acarnanians, that they presen reliev'd their Country. While


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