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. VI.

The Corinthian War against Corcyra. Potidea revolts from the Athenians. Quarrels in Thurium. Meton's Year. Heraclea in Italy built. Potidea besieg'd by Phormio.

GLaucides the Chief Magistrate of Athens, Titus Quintus, and Agrippa Furius, * 1.1 Consuls of Rome: The Syracusians (being Victorious as is before related) fell a building of Ships of Three Oars upon a Bank, and doubling the number of their Horse, busi'd themselves in raising a Land-Army. And that they might. raise, and get together a great Treasure and Fond of Money, they exacted larger Contributions from their Subjects; and this they did with a Design to subject all Sicily by degrees to their Dominion.

Whilst these things were in doing, the Corinthian War (as it's call'd) broke * 1.2 forth upon the following occasion. The Epidamnians, the Inhabitants of the Coasts of the Adriatick Sea, being Colonies brought from Corcyra and Corinth, were greatly distress'd with Tumults and Seditions amongst themselves, where the stronger Party cast many of the contrary Faction out of the City; where∣upon the Exiles join'd together, and calling the Illyrians to their Assistance and Confederacy, they made against Epidamnum with a great Fleet: And being the Barbarians were very strong, they easily possess'd themselves of the Country, and besieged the City. They of Epidamnum not able to resist so great a Force, * 1.3 sent to Corcyra for aid, who were of the same Stock and Kindred; but being disregarded by them, they made their Application to the Corinthians, owning that City to be their only Metropolis, and desired a Supply of more Citizens in the room of those that were ejected. The Corinthians partly out of pity to them of Epidamnum, and partly out of an old grudge they bore them of Cor∣cyra (for that they only of all the Colonies, brought from them thither, neg∣lected to send to them as their Metropolis, the usual Offerings) decreed Aid to be sent to them of Epidamnum. And accordingly they sent both a new Sup∣ply of Citizens, and a Guard of Souldiers sufficient for the defence of the City. The Corcyreans much inrag'd at this, fitted out a Fleet of Fifty Sail against them. The Admiral of which Fleet after his arrival commanded them of E∣pidamnum, to receive the Exiles: And then by Ambassadors propos'd to the Co∣rinthian Garrison, That the matter relating to the Colony, might rather be end∣ed in an orderly Course of Justice, than by force of Arms. But the Corin∣thians refusing, it came at length to a War; and Fleets were prepared, and As∣sociations and Confederacies made on both sides: And these were the Causes of that Corinthian War. In the mean time, the Romans made War against the Volsci. At first they began with light and small Skirmishes; but at length in a formal Battel the Romans became Victorious, and slew most of their Enemies upon the Field.

When Theodorus govern'd Athens, and the Romans constituted Marcus Genu∣sius, * 1.4 and Agrippa Curtius Chelon, Consuls; in Italy the Nation of the Campanians began to flourish; so call'd from the Fruitfulness of the Country round about them. In Asia the Archaeanactidae had now held the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosphorus for the space of Two and Forty Years; to whom then succeeded Spar∣tacus, who reign'd Seven Years. In Greece the Corinthians and Corcyreans were preparing on both sides Navies for Fights at Sea: And presently the Corinthians * 1.5 made towards the Enemy with Seventy Gallies bravely sitted out; and the Cor∣cyreans met them with Fourscore, routed them, and took Epidamnum by Storm, and made all the Corinthians their Prisoners, but put all the rest to the Sword. The Corinthians by this overthrow, wholly discouraged, return'd into Peloponesus. * 1.6 The Corcyreans now become Masters of this part of the Sea, invaded the Con∣federates of the Corinthians, and wasted their Country.

This Year ended, Euthymenis entred upon the Government of Athens, and at * 1.7 Rome Three Military Tribunes were appointed Magistrates with Consular dig∣nity, Aulus Sempronius, Lucius Atilius, and Titus Celius. At that time the Co∣rinthians, not long before overcome at Sea, determined to put forth another Na∣vy more glorious than the former. And to that end getting together Materials from all Parts, and hiring Ship-Carpenters out of the Cities, they built Ships with all care and earnestness, and prepared all manner of Arms and Weapons, and every thing necessary for War; some Ships they built new, others they re∣paired, and some they borrow'd of their Confederates. Nor were they of Cor∣cyra idle, for they were nothing inferior to their Enemies in care and diligence; whence it was apparent how dreadful a War was like to ensue. In the mean time, the Athenians sent a Colony to Amphipolis, chosen partly out of their own City, and partly out of the neighbouring Forts and Castles.

Nausimachus being chief Ruler of Athens, Titus Quintus, and Marcus Geganius Macerinus were chosen Roman Consuls. At that time, the Eleans celebrated the * 1.8 Eighty Sixth Olympiad, in which Theopompus of Thessaly carry'd away the Prize. The Corcyreans hearing of the great Preparations that were making against them, sent Ambassadors to Athens, to desire their Assistance, which was done likewise by the Corinthians. The Assemblies being called, and audience given to the Embassadors on both sides, it was determin'd to joyn with them of Corcy∣ra. * 1.9 And without delay, they sent them Ten Ships of Three Oars in a Seat, well Man'd and provided, promising to send them more, as there should be oc∣casion.

The Corinthians (now abandoned by the Athenians) having Ninety Ships of their own, borrow'd Sixty more of their Confederates, and so made up a Fleet of an Hundred and Fifty Sail, and furnished it with choice Commanders, and forthwith made out against the Corcyreans, to fight them upon the first op∣portunity. As soon as the Corcyreans heard that their Enemies Fleet was near at Hand, they made forth against them with a Navy of an Hundred and Twen∣ty Sail, accounting those of Athens.

The Fleets engaged, and fought with great Resolution; the Corinthians at the * 1.10 first had the Advantage, but a Fleet of Twenty Sail from Athens just then ap∣pearing (sent in pursuance of a second Address made to them) the Corcyreans got the Day. The next Day the Corcyreans appear'd with their whole Strength in a Line of Battel, daring the Corinthians to Fight; but they kept within their Harbours, and so avoided further Fighting.

Antilochides now Archon of Athens, at Rome Marcus Fabius, and Posthumius Ae∣butius * 1.11 † 1.12 Aulicus were made Consuls: In their times the Corinthians greatly resented the Confederacy of the Athenians with them of Corcyra, especially for that the Victory obtain'd, was chiefly by their means. And therefore being inrag'd, and seeking by all the means they could to be reveng'd, they stirr'd up their Colony at Potidea to revolt. In like manner Perdicas the King of Macedonia, not long * 1.13 before incens'd against the Athenians, prevail'd with them of * 1.14 Chalcidica to revolt, and leave the Cities upon the Sea Coast, and withdraw only into one cal∣led Olynthus.

The Athenians hearing of the defection of Potidea, sent forth a Fleet of Thir∣ty Sail, with Command both to destroy the Country of the Rebels, and storm the City. They according to order, bent their Course for Macedonia, and like∣wise besieg'd the City. The Corinthians sent Two Thousand Men to assist the Besieged, and the Athenians sent as many to strengthen it. Hereupon a great * 1.15 Battel was fought in the Isthmus near Pallene, where the Athenians were Victors, and kill'd above Three Hundred of the Enemy. And then straiter Siege was laid to Potidea. In the mean time, the Athenians built a new City in Propontis, which they call'd Letoanum.

In Italy the Romans sent new Colonies into Ardea, and divided the Country a∣mongst them by Lot.

Now Charetes executed the Office of Archon at Athens, and the Romans made * 1.16 Quintus Furius Fusus, and Manius Papyrius Crassus Consuls. In Italy the Inhabitants of Thurium (being composed of People gathered from several Places) began to quarrel and disagree concerning what City chiefly Thurium, should be re∣puted * 1.17 a Colony of, and who should be acknowledg'd the Founder. For first they

of Athens challeng'd it, affirming most of the Inhabitants came from thence. Next they of Peloponesus (because many Cities sent Colonies from thence) claim'd the right of being accounted Founders of the City. In this manner (there being many Persons of Quality Members of the Colony, who had done much towards its Advancement,) there arose great Dissentions, every one challenging the dignity and honour as due to himself. At length they of Thurium sent to Del∣phos to consult there who should be esteemed and taken to be their Founder. The Oracle answered, That he himself should be so taken. And thus the great doubt being resolv'd, the Thurians declar'd Apollo their Founder: And so this Difference being remov'd, the People lived in Peace as formerly. In Greece, Ar∣chidamus King of Lacedemon died, having reign'd Forty Two Years, and Agis * 1.18 succeeded, who reign'd Seven and Forty Years.

At the time when Apseudes was chief Governor of Athens, and Titus Mine∣nius, * 1.19 and Proculus Geganius Macerinus, Roman Consuls, Spartacus King of Bos∣phorus died, after he had Reigned Seventeen Years; whom Seleucus succeeding, Reign'd only Four Years. At Athens flourished that famous Astrologer Me∣ton the Son of Pausanias, who then published his Table of the Cycle of the Moon called Enneadeceterides, beginning from the Thirteenth of the Attick Month * 1.20 Scirrophorion: For in the space of Nineteen Years the Stars return to the same State and Place, and compleat as it were a great Year. And therefore by some it is called Meton's Year. * 1.21 This Man in this Discovery, seems to be exactly true to a wonder, for the Motions and Aspects of the Stars, fully agree with this De∣scription. And therefore most of the Grecians following the Rule of this Table, have never err'd to this Day. In Italy they of Tarentum, drave out the Inhabitants of Siris, and bringing a new Colony thither, built a City call'd Hera∣clea.

When Pythodorus govern'd Athens, and Titus Quintius, and Titus Menenius A∣grippa, were Roman Consuls, the Eleans celebrated the Eighty Seventh Olympiad, in which was Victor Sophron of * 1.22 of Amphracion. At this time Spurius † 1.23 Manius affecting So∣vereignty at Rome, was kill'd. In the mean time, the Athe∣nians in a Signal Battel at Potidea (wherein they were Con∣querors) lost their General Callias. Phormio was advanced to his Place, who as soon as he came to the Army, renew'd the Siege, and press'd hard upon it with continual Assaults: But by reason of the Valour and * 1.24 Obstinacy of the Defendants, the Siege continued long.

Here Thucydides the Athenian begins his History, and then proceeds to relate * 1.25 the War between the Athenians and the Lacedemonians, call'd the Peloponesian War. It continued Seven and Twenty Years, but Thucydides writes only of the first Two and Twenty Years, in Eight Books, others say Nine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olym. 85. 2. An. M. 3533. Ant. Ch. 437.
• * 1.2

  The Corin∣thian War.
• * 1.3

  Ant. Chr. 437.
• * 1.4

  Olymp. 85. 3. Ant. Ch. 436.
• * 1.5

  Sea-Fight be∣tween the Co∣rinthians and Corcyreans.
• * 1.6

  P. 304.
• * 1.7

  Olymp. 85. 4. An. Mu. 3535.
• * 1.8

  Olymp. 86. 1. An. Mu. 3536. Ant. Chr. 435.
• * 1.9

  The Athenians joyn with the Corcyreans.
• * 1.10

  Another Fight at Sea. Ant. Chr. 435.
• * 1.11

  Olymp. 86. 2. An. Mu. 3537.
• † 1.12

  Elbas. Ant. Chr. 434.
• * 1.13

  Potidea re∣volts from the Athenians.
• * 1.14

  Chalcidica a Region in Macedonia.
• * 1.15

  P. 305. Potidea Be∣sieg'd. Ant. Chr. 435.
• * 1.16

  Olymp. 86. 3. An. Mu. 3538. Ant. Chr. 434.
• * 1.17

  Quarrels at Thurium.
• * 1.18

  Archidamus dies.
• * 1.19

  Olymp. 86. 4. An. Mu. 3539. Ant. Chr. 453.
• * 1.20

  Answering to the Roman Months June and July. See Aelian. Var. Hist. lib. 10. c. 7.
• * 1.21

  Meton's Year.
• * 1.22

  Olymp. 87. 1. An. Mund. 3540. Ant. Chr. 432.
• † 1.23

  Milius kill'd by Servilius Hala, Master of the Horse.
• * 1.24

  P. 306.
• * 1.25

  Thucydides be∣gins his Histo∣ry.