a smaller history of greece-第44章
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highly popular with the Greeks。
A new war now broke out in the East。 Antigonus had become the most powerful of Alexander's successors。 He had conquered Eumenes； who had long defied his arms； and he now began to dispose of the provinces as he thought fit。 His increasing power and ambitious projects led to a general coalition against him； consisting of Ptolemy； Seleucus； Cassander； and Lysimachus； the governor of Thrace。 The war began in the year 315； and was carried on with great vehemence and alternate success in Syria； Phoenicia； Asia Minor； and Greece。 After four years all parties became exhausted with the struggle； and peace was accordingly concluded in 311； on condition that the Greek cities should be free； that Cassander should retain his authority in Europe till Alexander came of age； that Ptolemy and Lysimachus should keep possession of Egypt and Thrace respectively； and that Antigonus should have the government of all Asia。 This hollow peace； which had been merely patched up for the convenience of the parties concerned； was not of long duration。 It seems to have been the immediate cause of another of those crimes which disgrace the history of Alexander's successors。 His son； Alexander； who had now attained the age of sixteen； was still shut up with his mother Roxana in Amphipolis； and his partisans； with injudicious zeal； loudly expressed their wish that he should be released and placed upon the throne。 In order to avert this event Cassander contrived the secret murder both of the mother and the son。
This abominable act； however； does not appear to have caused a breach of the peace。 Ptolemy was the first to break it （B。C。 310）； under the pretext that Antigonus； by keeping his garrisons in the Greek cities of Asia and the islands； had not respected that article of the treaty which guaranteed Grecian freedom。 After the war had lasted three years Antigonus resolved to make a vigorous effort to wrest Greece from the hands of Cassander and Ptolemy； who held all the principal towns in it。 Accordingly； in the summer of 307 B。C。 he despatched his son Demetrius from Ephesus to Athens； with a fleet of 250 sail； and 5000 talents in money。 Demetrius； who afterwards obtained the surname of 〃Poliorcetes；〃 or 〃Besieger of Cities；〃 was a young man of ardent temperament and great abilities。 Upon arriving at the Piraeus he immediately proclaimed the object of his expedition to be the liberation of Athens and the expulsion of the Macedonian garrison。 Supported by the Macedonians； Demetrius the Phalerean had now ruled Athens for a period of more than ten years。 Of mean birth； Demetrius the Phalerean owed his elevation entirely to his talents and perseverance。 His skill as an orator raised him to distinction among his countrymen； and his politics； which led him to embrace the party of Phocion； recommended him to Cassander and the Macedonians。 He cultivated many branches of literature； and was at once an historian； a philosopher； and a poet； but none of his works have come down to us。 The Athenians heard with pleasure the proclamations of the son of Antigonus his namesake； the Phalerean was obliged to surrender the city to him； and to close his political career by retiring to Thebes。 The Macedonian garrison in Munychia offered a slight resistance； which was soon overcome； Demetrius Poliorcetes then formally announced to the Athenian assembly the restoration of their ancient constitution； and promised them a large donative of corn and ship…timber。 This munificence was repaid by the Athenians with the basest and most abject flattery。 Both Demetrius and his father were deified； and two new tribes； those of Antigonias and Demetrias； were added to the existing ten which derived their names from the ancient heroes of Attica。
Demetrius Poliorcetes did not； however； remain long at Athens。 Early in 306 B。C。 he was recalled by his father； and； sailing to Cyprus； undertook the siege of Salamis。 Ptolemy hastened to its relief with 140 vessels and 10；000 troops。 The battle that ensued was one of the most memorable in the annals of ancient naval warfare； more particularly on account of the vast size of the vessels engaged。 Ptolemy was completely defeated； and so important was the victory deemed by Antigonus； that on the strength of it he assumed the title of king； which he also conferred upon his son。 This example was followed by Ptolemy； Seleucus； and Lysimachus。
Demetrius now undertook an expedition against Rhodes； which had refused its aid in the attack upon Ptolemy。 It was from the memorable siege of Rhodes that Demetrius obtained his name of 〃Poliorcetes。〃 After in vain attempting to take the town from the sea…side； by means of floating batteries； from which stones of enormous weight were hurled from engines with incredible force against the walls； he determined to alter his plan and invest it on the land…side。 With the assistance of Epimachus； an Athenian engineer； he constructed a machine which； in anticipation of its effect； was called Helepolis； or 〃the city…taker。〃 This was a square wooden tower； 150 feet high； and divided into nine stories； filled with armed men； who discharged missiles through apertures in the sides。 When armed and prepared for attack； it required the strength of 2300 men to set this enormous machine in motion。 But though it was assisted by the operation of two battering…rams； each 150 feet long and propelled by the labour of 1000 men； the Rhodians were so active in repairing the breaches made in their walls； that； after a year spent in the vain attempt to take the town； Demetrius was forced to retire and grant the Rhodians peace。
In 301 B。C； the struggle between Antigonus and his rivals was brought to a close by the battle of Ipsus in Phrygia； in which Antigonus was killed； and his army completely defeated。 He had attained the age of 81 at the time of his death。 A third partition of the empire of Alexander was now made。 Seleucus and Lysimachus shared between them the possessions of Antigonus。 Lysimachus seems to have had the greater part of Asia Minor； whilst the whole country from the coast of Syria to the Euphrates； as well as a part of Phrygia and Cappadocia； fell to the share of Seleucus。 The latter founded on the Orontes a new capital of his empire； which he named Antioch； after his father Antiochus； and which long continued to be one of the most important Greek cities in Asia。 The fall of Antigonus secured Cassander in the possession of Greece。
Demetrius was now a fugitive； but in the following year he was agreeably surprised by receiving an embassy from Seleucus； by which that monarch solicited his daughter Stratonice in marriage。 Demetrius gladly granted the request； and found himself so much strengthened by this alliance； that in the spring of the year 296 he was in a condition to attack Athens； which he captured after a long siege； and drove out the bloodthirsty tyrant Lachares； who had been established there by Cassander。
Meanwhile Cassander had died shortly before the siege of Athens； and was succeeded on the throne of Macedon by his eldest son； Philip IV。 ＇Philip Arrhidaeus is called Philip III。＇ But that young prince died in 295； and the succession was disputed between his two brothers； Antipater and Alexander。 Demetrius availed himself of the distracted state of Macedonia to make himself master of that country （B。C。 294）。 He reigned over Macedonia； and the greater part of Greece； about seven years。 He aimed at recovering the whole of his father's dominions in Asia； but before he was ready to take the field； his adversaries； alarmed at his preparations； determined to forestall him。 In the spring of B。C。 287 Ptolemy sent a powerful fleet against Greece； while Pyrrhus on the one side and Lysimachus on the other simultaneously invaded Macedonia。 Demetrius had completely alienated his own subjects by his proud and haughty bearing； and by his lavish expenditure on his own luxuries； while Pyrrhus by his generosity； affability； and daring courage； had become the hero of the Macedonians； who looked upon him as a second Alexander。 The appearance of Pyrrhus was the signal for revolt： the Macedonian troops flocked to his standard and Demetrius was compelled to fly。 Pyrrhus now ascended the throne of Macedonia； but his reign was of brief duration； and at the end of seven months he was in turn driven out by Lysimachus。 Demetrius made several attempts to regain his power in Greece； and then set sail for Asia； where he successively endeavoured to establish himself in the territories of Lysimachus； and of his son…in…law Seleucus。 Falling at length into the hands of the latter； he was kept in a kind of magnificent captivity in a royal residence in Syria； where； in 283； at the early age of 55； his chequered career was brought to a close； partly by chagrin； and partly by the sensual indulgences with which be endeavoured to divert it。
Lysimachus； Seleucus； and Ptolemy now divided the empire of Alexander between them。 In Egypt the aged Ptolemy had abdicated in 285 in favour of his son by Berenice afterwards known as Ptolemy Philadelphus； and to the exclusion of his eldest son； Ptolemy Ceraunus； by his wife Eurydice。 Ptolemy Ceraunus quitted Egypt in disgust； and fled to the court of Lysimachus； and Arsinoe； the wife of Lysimachus； jealous of her stepson Agathocles； the heir apparent to the throne； and desirous of securing the succession for her own children； conspired with Ptolemy Ceraunus against the life of Agathocles。 She even procured the consent of Lysimachus to his murder； and after some vain attempts to make away with him by poison； he was flung into prison； where Ptolemy Ceraunus despatched him with his own hand。 Lysandra； the mother of Agathocles； fled with the rest of her family to Seleucus； to demand from him protection and vengeance； and Seleucus； induced by the hopes of success； inspired by the discontent and dissensions which so foul an act had excited among the subjects of Lysimachus； espoused her cause。 The hostilities which ensued between him and Lysimachus were brought to a termination by the battle of Corupedion； fought near Sardis in 281； in which Lysimachus was defeated and slain。 By this victory； Macedonia； and the whole of Alexander's empire； with the exception of Egypt； southern Syria； Cyprus； and part of Phoenicia； fell under the sceptre of Seleucus。
That monarch； who had not beheld his native land since he first joined the expedition of Alexander； now crossed the Hellespont to take possession of Macedonia。 Ptolemy Ceraunus； who after the battle of Corupedion had thrown himself on the mercy of Seleucus； and had been received with forgiveness and favour； accompanied him on this journey。 The murder of Agathocles had not been committed by Ptolemy merely to oblige Arsinoe。 He had even then designs upon the supreme power； which he now completed by another crime。 As Seleucus stopped to sacrifice at a celebrated altar near Lysimachia in Thrace； Ptolemy treacherously assassinated him by stabbing him in the back （280）。 After this base and cowardly act； Ptolemy Ceraunus； who gave himself out as the avenger of Lysimachus； was； by one of those movements wholly inexplicable to our modern notions； saluted king by the army； but the Asiatic dominions of Seleucu
