Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XX - The Library of History



Page 699 the Signal, at which both they that had made an Attack upon the Port, and those round the Walls, set up a Shout all together, to encourage their Men that had enter'd, and were about the Theatre. The poor Women and Children throughout the whole City were in terrible Frights and Lamentations, as if the Town had been then certainly taken by Storm.

However, a sharp Encounter there was between them that had enter'd within the Walls and the Rhodians; and though many fell on both sides, yet neither of them at first gave the least Ground: But after a while, when many more of the Rhodians came flocking in, resolv'd to endure the greatest Extremity, as now to fight for their Country, and for all that was dear to them in the World, the King's Party were overborn; and Alcimus and Mantias, the Commanders of the Party, (after many Wounds receiv'd,) were there slain; most of the rest were either kill'd upon the Spot, or taken Prisoners; but some few made their escape, and got to the King. Many likewise of the Rhodians were slain at the same time, amongst whom was Damotetis, President of the Council, a Man most Renown'd for his Valour. Demetrius (although he judg'd, that Fortune had, as it were, wrung the City out of his Hands, yet) prepar'd for another Assault; But his Father writing to him to make Peace with the Rhodians upon such Terms and Conditions as he could get, he watch'd for the most convenient opportunity, which might afford him a colourable Pretence for an Agreement and Composure of Matters between them. Ptolemy likewise, though he had before writ to the Rhodians to acquaint them that he intended to send them a great quantity of Corn, and Three thousand Men, yet afterwards advising them to Treat and Agree with Antigonus upon any reasonable Conditions, they all inclin'd to Peace. At the same time likewise the Aetolian Commonwealth sent Ambassadors to Negociate a Pacification. The Rhodians therefore at length struck up a Peace with Demetrius upon the Conditions following; viz.


That the City should Govern according to their own Laws, and should be without a Garison: That they should Enjoy their own Estates and Revenues: That they should join with Antigonus in his Wars against all Persons, except Ptolemy: And that they should deliver a Hundred Citizens for Hostages, such as Demetrius should make Choice of, except such as were Magistrates.

And thus the Rhodians (after a whole Year's Siege) put an end to the War, honouring those with just Rewards, who had approv'd themselves honest and faithful to their Country; and such Slaves as had behav'd themselves stoutly and valiantly, they set free, and enroll'd them as Members of the City: They set up likewise the Statues of the Kings, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus, and of some others inferiour to them, yet who had contributed much to the Preservation of the Place. But that they might express their Gratitude and Thankfulness to Ptolemy above all the rest, they sent some of their Priests to consult the Oracles of Ammon, whether they should worship Ptolemy as a God, or no: And being answer'd, That they should; they consecrated to him a Four-square Grove in their City; building on every side thereof a Gallery of a Furlong in length, and call'd it Ptolemeum, or Ptolemy's Gallery. They repair'd also the Theatre, and the Parts of the Walls that were thrown down, and made them, and all the other Places that had been ruin'd, far more Beautiful and Glorious than they were before.

Demetrius having ratifi'd the Peace with the Rhodians, (according to his Father's Commands,) loos'd from thence with his whole Army, and passing by the Islands, he arriv'd at Aulis in Boeotia, minding with all speed to set the Grecians at Liberty; for Cassander and Polysperchon grown bold through the absence of the Enemy, had not long before wasted and harrass'd many Parts of Greece. And first of all he freed the City of the Calcideans from a Garison of the Boeotians, and forc'd the Boeotians (out of fear of him) to fall off from their League with Cassander. Afterwards confederating with the Aetolians, he prepar'd to make War upon Polysperchon and Cassander.

During these Transactions, Eumelus, the King of Bospherus Cimmerius, having now reign'd Six Years, ended his Days; after whom succeeded Sparticus his Son, who reign'd Twenty Years.

Having now given an Account of the Affairs of Greece and Asia, we shall pass over to other Parts of the World.

In Sicily, Agathocles on a sudden, and without any Provocation, invaded the Inhabitants of the Lipari Islands, being then in full and perfect Peace and Security, and exacted from them Fifty Talents of Silver. At which time, many thought that 'twas then spoken from a Divine Spirit, when 'twas said, That God would remarkably pursue him for his Wickedness: The Liparians then desir'd him, that he would give some time to make up the Money that was short, declaring that to that time they never made use of the Dedicated Treasure:


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