A Narrative History Detailing Cassander's Settlement of Athens In

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Narrative History Detailing Cassander's Settlement of Athens In CHAPTER SIX ATHENS AND CASSANDER 6.1 Th e years 317–307: a narrative history Detailing Cassander’s settlement of Athens in 317, Diodorus (18.74.3 = Demetr. 16A SOD) writes baldly that Demetrius assumed the supervision of the city and ruled in a peaceful and—in relation to the citizens—caring way. In one sense, Diodorus is correct in his assertion that Demetrius’ decade in power proved to be a time of peace for Athens, since no armed con- fl ict occurred on Attic soil aft er his installation in power. His glanc- ing summary of the regime completely disguises, however, the turmoil and turbulence of the wider Greek world in which Demetrius had to survive. Elevated to power by Cassander, Demetrius’ fortunes and those of Athens were inextricably linked to those of their Macedonian hegemon, and Cassander’s fate was by no means assured. Internecine struggles between the Macedonian Diadochoi were rife in the last two decades of the fourth century, and Cassander was embroiled in these confl icts. Indeed, for much of the period of Demetrius’ rule, Cassander’s position was extremely tenuous, and Demetrius’ own hold on power would oft en have been under threat before his actual expul- sion in 307. Charting Athens’ passage through this decade of strife is one theme of this chapter. Like the period of Antipater’s ascendancy before it, but on a larger scale, the decade of Cassander’s control of Athens allows us to explore the complex dynamic between Macedonian hegemon and subject Greek state. Th e relationship between Cassander and Athens was defi ned among the peace terms of 317: Cassander stipulated that the Athenians be “friends and allies” (Diod. 18.74.3 = Demetr. 16A SOD). Just what that friendship and alliance might mean, in practical terms, is the second main concern here. Turbulence and upheaval preceded Demetrius of Phalerum’s ascen- dancy. When he negotiated an accommodation with Cassander for his 242 chapter six native city in early 317, he succeeded in bringing to a close a war that had divided Attic territory for the previous year. Th is achievement is celebrated in a decree that the Attic deme Aixone moved to honour Demetrius shortly aft er the settlement: soIG ii2 1201 (= Demetr. 16B SOD) . when a war [arose] in the land and a division existed between [the Piraeus] and the city on account of the [war, by his negotiations] he reconciled the Athenian[s and once again] restored (them) to unity and a state of peace [was procured] for the [A]thenians and their territory. Th e main narrative account of the capitulation of Athens, found in Diodorus, gives a frustratingly inadequate treatment of that war. In fact, Diodorus’ work omits completely the interval spanning from the end of the campaign season of 318 (with Polyperchon’s withdrawal from Megalopolis—above, 38) to the Athenian agreement with Cassander. Th e manoeuvres of the Athenian assemblies which resolved eventually to treat with Cassander are included merely as a brief prospective nar- rative at the end of book eighteen (18.74.1–3 = Demetr. 16A SOD), in which Diodorus is rounding off Greek aff airs before a turn to Sicilian events in book nineteen: When the Athenians were unable to get rid of the garrison by the aid of either Polyperchon or Olympias, one of those citizens who were accepted leaders risked the statement in the Assembly that it was for the advantage of the city to come to terms with Cassander. At fi rst, a clamour was raised, some opposing and some supporting his proposal, but when they had considered carefully what was the expedient course, it was unanimously determined to send an embassy to Cassander and to arrange aff airs with him as best they could. Th is is all we get from Diodorus; when he focuses again on mainland Greece in any detail (at 19.11.1), he resumes aff airs in late 317, just before the death in Macedon of the king Philip Arrhidaeus in October of that year.1 From this compressed account (which leaves even the timing of the Athenian capitulation unclear), the scope of the war in Attica would appear to have been limited to the occupation of the Piraeus and Munychia by Cassander and Nicanor. But other sources may furnish 1 Th e chronology of the events of the last two decades of the fourth century in general continues to provoke heated debate; for recent contributions to this topic, and in particular on the chronology of the Th ird Diadoch War (below) see Anson 2007, Boiy 2007 and Wheatley 2007. .
Recommended publications
  • VU Research Portal
    VU Research Portal The impact of empire on market prices in Babylon Pirngruber, R. 2012 document version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in VU Research Portal citation for published version (APA) Pirngruber, R. (2012). The impact of empire on market prices in Babylon: in the Late Achaemenid and Seleucid periods, ca. 400 - 140 B.C. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. E-mail address: [email protected] Download date: 25. Sep. 2021 THE IMPACT OF EMPIRE ON MARKET PRICES IN BABYLON in the Late Achaemenid and Seleucid periods, ca. 400 – 140 B.C. R. Pirngruber VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT THE IMPACT OF EMPIRE ON MARKET PRICES IN BABYLON in the Late Achaemenid and Seleucid periods, ca. 400 – 140 B.C. ACADEMISCH PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof.dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coins from the Necropolis "Metlata" Near the Village of Rupite
    margarita ANDONOVA the coins from the necropolis "metlata" near the village of rupite... THE COINS FROM THE NECROPOLIS METLATA NEAR THE VILLAGE "OF RUPITE" (F. MULETAROVO), MUNICIPALITY OF PETRICH by Margarita ANDONOVA, Regional Museum of History– Blagoevgrad This article sets to describe and introduce known as Charon's fee was registered through the in scholarly debate the numismatic data findspots of the coins on the skeleton; specifically, generated during the 1985-1988 archaeological these coins were found near the head, the pelvis, excavations at one of the necropoleis situated in the left arm and the legs. In cremations in situ, the locality "Metlata" near the village of Rupite. coins were placed either inside the grave or in The necropolis belongs to the long-known urns made of stone or clay, as well as in bowls "urban settlement" situated on the southern placed next to them. It is noteworthy that out of slopes of Kozhuh hill, at the confluence of 167 graves, coins were registered only in 52, thus the Strumeshnitsa and Struma Rivers, and accounting for less than 50%. The absence of now identified with Heraclea Sintica. The coins in some graves can probably be attributed archaeological excavations were conducted by to the fact that "in Greek society, there was no Yulia Bozhinova from the Regional Museum of established dogma about the way in which the History, Blagoevgrad. souls of the dead travelled to the realm of Hades" The graves number 167 and are located (Зубарь 1982, 108). According to written sources, within an area of ​​750 m². Coins were found mainly Euripides, it is clear that the deceased in 52 graves, both Hellenistic and Roman, may be accompanied to the underworld not only and 10 coins originate from areas (squares) by Charon, but also by Hermes or Thanatos.
    [Show full text]
  • The Antigonids and the Ruler Cult. Global and Local Perspectives?
    The Antigonids and the Ruler Cult Global and Local Perspectives? 1 Franca Landucci DOI – 10.7358/erga-2016-002-land AbsTRACT – Demetrius Poliorketes is considered by modern scholars the true founder of ruler cult. In particular the Athenians attributed him several divine honors between 307 and 290 BC. The ancient authors in general consider these honors in a negative perspec- tive, while offering words of appreciation about an ideal sovereignty intended as a glorious form of servitude and embodied in Antigonus Gonatas, Demetrius Poliorketes’ son and heir. An analysis of the epigraphic evidences referring to this king leads to the conclusion that Antigonus Gonatas did not officially encourage the worship towards himself. KEYWORDS – Antigonids, Antigonus Gonatas, Demetrius Poliorketes, Hellenism, ruler cult. Antigonidi, Antigono Gonata, culto del sovrano, Demetrio Poliorcete, ellenismo. Modern scholars consider Demetrius Poliorketes the true founder of ruler cult due to the impressively vast literary tradition on the divine honours bestowed upon this historical figure, especially by Athens, between the late fourth and the early third century BC 2. As evidenced also in modern bib- liography, these honours seem to climax in the celebration of Poliorketes as deus praesens in the well-known ithyphallus dedicated to him by the Athenians around 290 3. Documentation is however pervaded by a tone that is strongly hostile to the granting of such honours. Furthermore, despite the fact that it has been handed down to us through Roman Imperial writers like Diodorus, Plutarch and Athenaeus, the tradition reflects a tendency contemporary to the age of the Diadochi, since these same authors refer, often explicitly, to a 1 All dates are BC, unless otherwise stated.
    [Show full text]
  • The Successors: Alexander's Legacy
    The Successors: Alexander’s Legacy November 20-22, 2015 Committee Background Guide The Successors: Alexander’s Legacy 1 Table of Contents Committee Director Welcome Letter ...........................................................................................2 Summons to the Babylon Council ................................................................................................3 The History of Macedon and Alexander ......................................................................................4 The Rise of Macedon and the Reign of Philip II ..........................................................................4 The Persian Empire ......................................................................................................................5 The Wars of Alexander ................................................................................................................5 Alexander’s Plans and Death .......................................................................................................7 Key Topics ......................................................................................................................................8 Succession of the Throne .............................................................................................................8 Partition of the Satrapies ............................................................................................................10 Continuity and Governance ........................................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Alexander's Successors
    Perdiccas, 323-320 Antigonus (western Asia Minor) 288-285 Antipater (Macedonia) 301, after Ipsus Lysimachus (Anatolia, Thrace) Archon (Babylon) Lysimachus (Anatolia, Thrace) Ptolemy (Egypt) Asander (Caria) Ptolemy (Egypt) Seleucus (Babylonia, N. Syria) Persia to Alexander the Great Atropates (northern Media) 315-311 Alexander’s Seleucus (Babylonia, N. Syria) Eumenes (Cappadocia, Pontus) vs. 318-316 Cassander Cassander (Macedonia) Laomedon (Syria) Lysimachus Daniel 11:1-4 Antigonus Demetrius (Cyprus, Tyre, Demetrius (Macedonia, Cyprus, Leonnatus (Phrygia) Ptolemy Successors Cassander Sidon, Agaean islands) Tyre, Sidon, Agaean islands) Lysimachus (Thrace) Peithon Seleucus Menander (Lydia) Ptolemy Bythinia Bythinia Olympias (Epirus) vs. 332-260 BC Seleucus Epirus Epirus “And now I will tell you the truth. Behold, three more kings are going to arise Peithon (southern Media) Antigonus Greece Greece Philippus (Bactria) vs. Aristodemus Heraclean kingdom Heraclean kingdom Ptolemy (Egypt) Demetrius in Persia. Then a fourth will gain far more riches than all of them; as soon as Eumenes Paeonia Paeonia Stasanor (Aria) Nearchus Olympias Pontus Pontus and others . Peithon Polyperchon Rhodes Rhodes he becomes strong through his riches, he will arouse the whole empire against the realm of Greece. And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.” (Dan 11:2-3) 320 330310 300 290 280 270 260 250 Antipater, 320-319 Alcetas and Attalus (Pisidia ) Antigenes (Susiana) Antigonus (army in Asia) Arrhidaeus (Phrygia) Cassander
    [Show full text]
  • The Contest for Macedon
    The Contest for Macedon: A Study on the Conflict Between Cassander and Polyperchon (319 – 308 B.C.). Evan Pitt B.A. (Hons. I). Grad. Dip. This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Humanities University of Tasmania October 2016 Declaration of Originality This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by the University or any other institution, except by way of background information and duly acknowledged in the thesis, and to the best of my knowledge and belief no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgement is made in the text of the thesis, nor does this thesis contain any material that infringes copyright. Evan Pitt 27/10/2016 Authority of Access This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. Evan Pitt 27/10/2016 ii Acknowledgements A doctoral dissertation is never completed alone, and I am forever grateful to my supervisor, mentor and friend, Dr Graeme Miles, who has unfailingly encouraged and supported me over the many years. I am also thankful to all members of staff at the University of Tasmania; especially to the members of the Classics Department, Dr Jonathan Wallis for putting up with my constant stream of questions with kindness and good grace and Dr Jayne Knight for her encouragement and support during the final stages of my candidature. The concept of this thesis was from my honours project in 2011. Dr Lara O’Sullivan from the University of Western Australia identified the potential for further academic investigation in this area; I sincerely thank her for the helpful comments and hope this work goes some way to fulfil the potential she saw.
    [Show full text]
  • At the Deathbed of Alexander the Great. Josiah Ober
    From I Wish I Had Been There II. Ed. B.Hollinshead and T.K Rabb. NY 2007. Pp. 1-17 At the deathbed of Alexander the Great. Josiah Ober. [email protected] Draft of January 9, 2007 4500 words. The last days of Alexander the Great have been obsessively studied since antiquity and much is known; the numerous Greek literary sources can be complemented by precious cuneiform texts and the evidence of archaeology. We know when and where he died: June 11, 323 B.C., between 4 and 5 p.m., on the banks of the Euphrates River in the fabled city of Babylon, in a palace built by the great and notorious Nebuchadnezzar a quarter millennium before. At the moment of his death, Alexander was surrounded by his lieutenants, soldiers, wives, eunuchs; by Macedonians, Greeks, Persians, and Babylonians; along with petitioners, ambassadors, admirers, and gawkers from across three continents. The cause of death was fever. The symptoms began several days before, after a long night of heavy drinking. The fever abated briefly, then became increasingly severe. At the end Alexander could barely move and could not speak clearly, but he retained enough strength to press his signet ring into the hand of one of his generals. When asked to whom his spear-won realm should pass the King, it was said, managed to whisper “to the strongest.” Few ancient death scenes are as well documented, yet so much remains mysterious. Upon Alexander’s demise a rumor circulated that he had been poisoned. Fingers pointed to Antipater, the veteran commander who had been left in charge of Macedonia when the 20 year old Alexander set to conquer Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • An Ill-Defined Rule: Cassander’S Consolidation of Power
    Karanos 2, 2019 33-42 An Ill-defined Rule: Cassander’s Consolidation of Power by Evan Pitt University of Tasmania [email protected] ABSTRACT Cassander’s implementation of power during the early stages of his rule of Macedonia was wide ranging and multifaceted. He employed numerous different strategies to gain support from a variety of influential groups within the Macedonian homeland and adjacent areas to secure his position. Much of the discussion surrounding Cassander’s actions to accomplish control over Macedonia has focussed on his desire to become the next king in Macedonia as demonstrated by overt public actions, a feat he achieved after the Peace of 311. However, when one considers the coinage issued by Cassander prior to 311, this single-minded monarchic aim appears less evident, calling into question the strength of this understanding of his actions. KEYWORDS Cassander, Antipatrid, Hellenistic monarchy, coins, Diadochi, governor. The winter of 317/316 BCE was a watershed moment for the Macedonian Empire and for the political landscape of the Macedonian homeland. Cassander, son of the former regent Antipater, had launched a successful invasion of Macedonia, ousting the incumbent regent, Polyperchon from power. From this point Cassander would embark on an ambitious plan to control the region. Over the following years he put in place a wide ranging and multifaceted strategy that drew upon many and varied avenues of support to cement his position. This period of time would see Cassander marry into the Argead family, initiate a significant building program in northern and southern Greece, remove the young Alexander IV from court, and bury the royal couple, Philip III Arrhidaeus and Adea-Eurydice at the traditional Argead burial ground at Aegae.
    [Show full text]
  • HELLENISTIC ART O. Palagia This Chapter Deals with Art In
    CHAPTER 23 HELLENISTIC ART O. Palagia This chapter deals with art in Macedonia between the death of Alexander III (“the Great”) in 323 bc and the defeat of Perseus, last king of Macedon, at the battle of Pydna in 168 bc. As a result of Alexander’s conquest of the Persian Empire, a lot of wealth flowed into Macedonia.1 A large-scale con- struction programme was initiated soon after Alexander’s death, reinforc- ing city walls, rebuilding the royal palaces of Pella and Aegae (Vergina) and fijilling the countryside with monumental tombs. The archaeologi- cal record has in fact shown that a lot of construction took place during the rule of Cassander, who succeeded Alexander’s half-brother Philip III Arrhidaios to the throne of Macedon, and was responsible for twenty years of prosperity and stability from 316 to 297 bc. Excavations in Mace- donia have revealed very fijine wall-paintings, mosaics, and luxury items in ivory, gold, silver, and bronze reflecting the ostentatious elite lifestyle of a regime that was far removed from the practices of democratic city- states, Athens in particular.2 Whereas in Athens and the rest of Greece art and other treasures were reserved for the gods, in Macedonia they were primarily to be found in palaces, houses, and tombs. With the exception of the sanctuary of the Great Gods of Samothrace which was developed thanks to the generous patronage of Macedonian royalty from Philip II onwards, Macedonian sanctuaries lacked the monumental temples and cult statues by famous masters that were the glory of Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Argos, Epidauros, or Tegea, to name but a few.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Hellenistic Athens: Leadership and Diplomacy
    IOANNA KRALLI EARLY HELLENISTIC ATHENS: LEADERSHIP AND DIPLOMACY PhD THESIS UCL ProQuest Number: 10016711 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest 10016711 Published by ProQuest LLC(2016). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract In my thesis I examine certain aspects of the political history of Athens in the early Hellenistic period, that is after the battle of Chaironeia in 338 B.C. and until the late 260s. For Athens this was a transitional period; she had to face a completely new political reality: she was no longer the great power of the fifth or even the fourth century B.C., Macedonia rose to power, then Alexander created a huge empire and his death triggered endless struggles for power among his Successors, in which Athens found herself involved. Independent foreign policy then on the part of Athens was impossible; on the other hand, diplomacy became more delicate and demanding than ever. I focus on the ways in which the Athenian leadership (the generals and the orators) adjusted to the circumstances. Firstly, I have examined the role of the generals in diplomacy in order to establish that they did assume increased responsibilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Ptolemy I Soter, the First King of Ancient Egypt's Ptolemaic Dynasty
    Ptolemy I Soter, The First King of Ancient Egypt’s Ptolemaic Dynasty Article by Jimmy Dunn In the ancient world, there is no surprise that military men often became rulers. These men, most of whom rose through the military ranks, usually had considerable administrative skills and had proved themselves to be leaders. Almost certainly the first man to unite Egypt at the dawn of civilization was a military man who became king, and this tradition has been followed throughout the history of the world, up unto our present times. Alexander the Great built an empire during the latter part of the first millennium BC, including Egypt which he captured in about 332 BC. Though he ordered the building of a great city in his name on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast, he was not finished with his conquests and would soon depart the country, leaving behind a banker of Naucratis named Cleomenes as Egypt's satrap, or governor. He was greatly despised. Demosthenes called him "Ruler of Egypt and dishonest manipulator of the country's lucrative grain trade". Aristotle even spoke up, concurring and citing Cleomenes' numerous incidents of fraudulent conduct with merchants, priests of the temple and government officials. The Roman historian Arrian added his own assessment, telling us that "he was an evil man who committed many grievous wrongs in Egypt" When Ptolemy I took over the post from Clemones in Egypt, he had little option but to try, sentence and execute Cleomenes. Ptolemy I is thought to have been the son of Lagus, a Macedonian nobleman of Eordaea.
    [Show full text]
  • 13-Revelation Handouts
    Endgame: Study Of Revelation ENDGAME A Study On Revelation (Week #13) Pastor Jason Goss Revelation 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write… (NASB) Revelation 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write… (NKJ) Revelation 2:12 “Write this to the angel of the church in the city of Pergamum… (NLT) Important Cities • Ephesus - _____________ Center (theater, stadium - copy of Roman cities) • Smyrna - _____________ Center (Agora market) • Pergamos - _____________ Center PERGAMOS: LOCAL APPLICATION Geography • Pergamos is about 16 miles from the sea, about 80 miles north of Ephesus, 48 miles north of Smyrna. • The present city of Bergama has a population of only 20,000 (vs. almost 200,000 in NT times). • Zeus is said to have been born there. • The great altar of Zeus stood on a foundation 125 ft by 115 ft, over 50 ft high, set in a colonnaded enclosure (Satan’s throne? Rev 2:13). Background / History • “The City Of The _____________” • Pergamos is the feminine form. • Pergamum is the neuter form of the name; both were used. • Its early history is obscure; there are evidences that it was occupied during the stone and bronze ages, but prior to Alexander the Great, Pergamos was little more than a castle on top of a hill. • Its foundation is ascribed to Arcadian (Greece) colonists under the Heracleid Telephus (who routed the Achaeans on their landing in Mysia to attack Troy). • Its name is said to have been derived from the son of Pyrrhus and Andromache who made himself king of Teuthrania by killing the king in single combat.
    [Show full text]