Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History



Page 713 Command Agrigentum, and many other Cities, and above 10000 Soldiers. And having then reconcil'd Thynio and Sosistratas, and the Syracusians, and brought them all to a right understanding among themselves, he was thereupon highly Esteem'd and Applauded. The King receiv'd Weapons, Engines, and other Furniture and Provisions which was in the City, and 120 Deck'd Ships, and 20 open Vessels * But the Palace belonged to Enneres. The whole Navy therefore (with those he brought along with him) consisted of 200 Sail. Whilst he was thus imploy'd, Ambassadors came from the Leontines (sent to him from Heraclidas the Governor) with promise to deliver up the City into his hands, with the Garisons and 4000 Foot, and 500 Horse. There were then many others at Syracuse, who promis'd to deliver up their Cities to Pyrrhus, and to join with him in the War: He receiv'd them all Graciously, and sent them back to their several Countries, hoping now shortly to be Lord of Lybia.

12 The Port of Corinth is call'd Lechoeum.

13. Brennus King of the Gauls made an inroad into Macedonia with an Hundred and forty thousand Targateers, and Ten thousand Horse, and with a great multitude of other foreign Rabble, and many Merchants, together with Two thousand Carts and Carriages. He made great havock and slaughter with a design to ruine them utterly; at last he broke into Greece, and fully propos'd to rifle the Temple at Delphos. By frequent Engagements he lost Myriads of his Men, and he himself receiv'd Three desperate wounds. Being near his end, he call'd his Army together, and made a Speech to the Gauls, and advis'd them to kill both him and all the rest of the wounded Men, and to burn all their Carriages, and return home with all speed, and make Cichorius their King. Brennus at length after he had swill'd down abundance of Wine, ran himself through the Body. Cichorius (as soon as he had buried Brennus) knock'd all the wounded Men on the Head, that were like to be starv'd with Hunger, and perish by the Cold, to the number of Twenty thousand, and return'd with the rest the same way they came: But the Grecians that lay in ambush in the strait and narrow passages, cut off all their Rear, and took all their Bag and Baggage; marching forward to Thermopilae, they left there behind them Twenty thousand more for want of Food: at length as they were passing through the Country of the Dardanians, they all perish'd, and not one Man return'd to his own Country.

14. But Pyrrhus when he had settled all things in Syracuse and Leontinum, march'd with his Army towards Agrigentum, and while he was in his March, he was told by some that came off Shipboard, that they had driven out the Carthaginian Garison, that Phintias might not Govern them, and promis'd they would deliver the City into his hands, and join with him as Confederates in the War. Having therefore receiv'd the Forces, he marcht straight to Agrigentum, and receiv'd the City and Soldiers from Sosistratus, to the number of 8000 Foot and 800 Horse, nothing inferior to the Epirots. And now he took into his protection 30 Cities which were under the Command of Sosistratus. Afterwards he sent to Syracuse for the Engines of Battery, and all the Arms and Darts, and when they were brought to him, he marched into the Territories of the Carthaginians, having an Army with him of 30000 Foot and 1500 Horse, and some Elephants. And First he took in Heraclea a Carthaginian Garison: Then Azones, after they of Selinunte came in to the King, with the Halicyens Aegestines, and many other Cities. Aeryx at that time had in it a very strong Carthaginian Garison, and was beside naturally fortify'd and difficult to approach. Pyrrhus was resolv'd to storm this place, and to that end brought his battering Rams to the Walls: After a strong defence made for a long time, the King desirous to make his Name Famous (in imitation of Hercules) was the first that entred within the Walls, and fought with that Courage and Resolution, that he dispatcht all those Carthaginians that came within his reach; at length Succours coming in to him, he took the Town by Storm; then leaving there a strong Carrison he march'd to Eginera, a very strong place, and pleasantly situated near Panormus. They of Eginera surrendred the City; and thence he forthwith made for Panormus, which had the best Harbor of any City in Sicily, from whence this City was so call'd; He took it likewise by Storm. Then taking in the Fort at Ercte, he gain'd all that belong'd to the Carthaginians, except Lilibeum. This City was built by the Carthaginians after Dionysius the Tyrant had ruin'd Motya. For those that were left alive after that slaughter, the Carthaginians setled in Lilibeum. Just as Pyrrhus was ready to besiege this place, a great Army landed there out of Africa, having the advantage of being Masters at Sea, and brought with them abundance of Corn, and an innumerable number of Engines and Weapons of War. And because the greatest part of the City lay near to the Sea, they were most careful to guard that part towards the main Land, and to that end rais'd many Bulwarks and high Towers, and drew a large Trench to prevent an approach on that side. Then they sent Ambassadors


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