The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

CHAP. XXV.

The Athenians invade the Spartans by Tolmides.

THE Eighty First Olympiad was celebrated at Elis, wherein Polymnastus * 1.1 Cyreneus was Victor, at the time when Callias was Archon of Athens, and Servius Sulpitius and Publius Volumnius Amintinus were Roman Consuls. Then Tol∣mides the Admiral of the Athenian Fleet out of Emulation to the glory of My∣ronides, * 1.2 made it his Business to do something more than ordinary remarkable. And therefore for as much as none before had ever attempted to invade Laconia, he advis'd the People of Athens to make an Inroad into the Country of the Spartans, undertaking that if he might have but a Thousand Armed Men Aboard his Ships, he would waste Laconia, and bring an Eclipse upon the Spartans Glo∣ry. Having got the Consent of the People, and designing privately to get more * 1.3 Men than he at first required, he conceiv'd this Project: All were of opinion that a choice should be made of the strongest, young and most spriteful Men in the Army. But Tolmides designing far more than the Thousand yielded to him for his intended Enterprize: He goes to every one of the ablest Men, and tells 'em each singly, that he intended to chuse him for the War, and that it was far more for their Credit and Reputation, to offer themselves of their own accord, than being chosen to be compell'd to the Service. When by this means he had persuaded above Three Thousand to give in their Names of their own accord, and discern'd the rest to be backward, he then proceeded to the choice of the Thousand granted to him by the Consent of the People. And when all things * 1.4 were ready for the Expedition, he set Sail with Fifty Ships, and Four Thousand Souldiers, and arriving at Methon in Laconia, took it; but by reason of the speedy Succour sent by the Spartans, he was forc'd to quit the Place, and made for Gythium, a Port Town of the Lacedemonians, which he likewise took, and there burnt and destroy'd all the Shipping and Naval Provisions, wasting the * 1.5 Country round about. Thence he bent his Course for Zacynthus in Cephalania, and possess'd himself of that City, and after he had brought all the Towns in Ce∣phalania to a submission, he sail'd with the whole Fleet to Naupactus, on the

opposite Shore, which he gain'd at the first Assault, and there plac'd a Colony of the Noblest Families of the Messenians, who had been before (upon Agree∣ment) dismis'd by the Lacedemonians. For about this time in a War against the Messenians and the Helots, the Lacedemonians had reduced most of them to their former Subjection. And them of Ithomea they discharg'd upon Articles of Sub∣mission, as is before said: And as for the Helots, those of them that were the Authors and Ringleaders of the Defection, they had put to Death, and made the rest Slaves.

Sosistratus now Pretor of Athens, the Romans chose for Consuls, Publius Vale∣lerius * 1.6 Publicola, and Caius Clodius Rhegillanus. During their Government, Tolmi∣des continued in Beotia. But the Athenians made Pericles the Son of Xanthes Ge∣neral of a select number of Men, and committed to him Fifty Ships, and a Thousand Souldiers, with a Command to invade Peloponesus. Hereupon he wasted * 1.7 a great part of it, and passed into Acarnania, near the Island Oeniades, and there brought all the Cities to a Submission. So that during this Year, the Athenians gain'd many Cities, and became famous for their Military Discipline, and many glorious Successes in their Wars.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olymp. 81. An. Mu. 3516. Ant. Chr. 454.
• * 1.2

  Tolmides's De∣sign to invade Laconia.
• * 1.3

  His Strata∣gem to raise Souldiers.
• * 1.4

  P. 286. The acts of Tolmides.
• * 1.5

  Ant. Chr. 454.
• * 1.6

  Olymp. 81. 2. An. M. 3517. Ant. Chr. 453.
• * 1.7

  Pericles made General.