A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

11.34 NABIS. NABIS.
-with the Romans we are not informed, but we find had robbed the men. (Polyb. xvii. 17; Liv. xxxii.
him included as one of the allies of the Romans in 40.)
the treaty made between them and Philip in the Upon the representations of the commissioners
*year B. c. 204. (Liv. xxix. 12.) The impunity employed in settling the affairs of Greece after the'with which Nabis pursued the course which has conclusion of the war with Philip, the Roman
been described for two or three years encouraged senate took into consideration the question of peace
him to form greater projects. An opportunity or war with Nabis, and finally referred the matter
soon presented itself. Some Boeotians induced to Flamininus. He laid it before a congress of the
one of the grooms of Nabis to abscond with them, allies at Corinth when war was unanimously decarrying off the most valuable of his horses. The creed. Pythagoras, who was at once brother-infugitives were pursued, and overtaken at Megalo- law and son-in-law of Nabis, and was in command
polis. The pursuers were allowed to carry off the at Argos, prevented the Romans from getting the
horses and groom; but when they attempted to lay city into their possession without a siege; and
hands on the' Boeotians also, they were hindered Flamininus, by the advice of Aristaenus, chose
by the people and magistrates of the town, and rather to carry the war into Laconia. With a
compelled to quit it. Nabis seized upon this as a powerful force he descended to the banks of the
pretext for making inroads into the territory of Eurotas. Nabis strengthened the defences of:Megalopolis. These he followed up by seizing the Sparta, and struck terror into his subjects by the
city of Messene, though he was at the time in sanguinary execution of eighty suspected citizens.
alliance with the Messenians. (Polyb. xvi. 13.) His troops sustained some losses in engagements
Philopoemen, by his private influence, collected tLe with the enemy, and Gythium, the arsenal of
forces of Megalopolis, and marched to Messene, Sparta, was taken. Nabis, though reinforced by
upon which Nabis evacuated the town, and hastily Pythagoras, was fain to solicit an interview with
returned into Laconia (in the latter part of B. c. Flamininus. A conference ensued which lasted
202, or the beginning of B. c. 201). In B. c. 201 two'days, a long account of which is given by Livy
Philopoemen became Achaean praetor, and in the (xxxiv. 30-33). A truce was granted, that
third year of his office he collected the forces of the Nabis might consult his friends, and Flamininus
Achaean league with the greatest'possible secresy his allies. The latter could only be induced to
at Tegea, drew the mercenaries of Nabis into an consent to peace at all by the representations
ambush on the borders of Laconia, at a place called which' Flamininus made to them of the magnitude
Scotitas, and defeated them with great slaughter. of the contributions which he should be obliged to
For the rest of the year Nabis was compelled to lay upon them for the expenses of the war. The
keep within his own borders. (Polyb. xiii 8, terms offered were such as Nabis refused to accept,
xvi. 36, 37; Paus. iv. 29. ~ 10, viii. 50. ~ 5.) As and the negotiations were broken off. But being
soon as Philopoemen was replaced by other and more closely pressed by the besieging army, and
inferior leaders, Nabis renewed his attacks upon the city having been nearly carried by assault,
Megalopolis, and, according to Plutarch (Philop. Nabis was compelled to implore peace, which was
p. 363), reduced them to such distress, that they granted on the former conditions, according to
were compelled to sow corn in the streets of their which he was to evacuate all the places he held
city, to avoid starvation. It was at this juncture, beyond Laconia, to give up to the Romans the
wvhen the Achaean army had been disbanded, and ports of Laconia, and the whole of his navy, to
the contingents had not been fixed for the different confine himself to Laconia, to give up to the exiles
states, that Philip undertook to repel Nabis, on their wives and children, and pay 500 talents'
condition that the Achaeans would help him to de- This treaty was ratified by the Roman senate;
fend Corinth and some other places. As his object and amongst other hostages, Armenas, the son of
was evidently to involve the Achaeans in his con- Nabis, was sent to Rome, where he died some time
test with the Romans, his offer was prudently de- after. The Argives, meantime, had expelled the
cined, and the assembly at which it was made garrison of Nabis from their city, B. C. 195. (Liv.
was dismissed, after a decree had been passed for xxxiv. 33-43; Polyb. xx. 13.)
levying, troops against Nabis. (Liv. xxxi. 25.) When the Aetolians, after the departure of
Philip now (B. c. 198), finding it inconvenient to Flamininus from Greece, were endeavouring to redefend Argos himself, instructed Philocles to give kindle the flames of war, they incited Nabis to
up the custody of the city to Nabis, who, after commence hostilities. He immediately began to
having betrayed the people into an open expression make attempts upon the maritime towns of La.
of the hatred they felt towards him, was admitted conia. The Achaeans, who had been constituted
by night into the city. He forthwith proceeded the' protectors of them, sent to Rome. Directions
to extort the money of the citizens by means were given by the senate to the praetor, Atilius, to
similar to those which he had found so successful at repel the aggressions of Nabis; but before his'Sparta; and then, to secure the support of at least arrival it was deemed necessary by the Achaeans,
one portion of the community, he proposed a decree who were again headed by Philopoemen, at once to'for the cancelling of debts, and for a fresh partition relieve Gythium. The attempts of Philopoemen to
of the lands. (Liv. xxxii. 38, &c.) Having pro- effect this by sea failed, to some extent, from his'cured an interview with Flamininus and Attalus, having placed his admiral, Tiso, on board a large
he agreed to grant a truce for four months to the ship which was utterly unseaworthy, and went to
Achaeans, and placed a body of his Cretans at the pieces at the first shock; and notwithstanding a
disposal of Flamininus. He then returned to favourable diversion by land, Gythium was taken
Sparta, leaving a garrison in Argos, and sent his by Nabis, and Philopoemen retired to Tegea. On
wife Apega in his place. She seems to have been re-entering Laconia, he was surprised by Nabis;
a fit helpmate for her husband, whom she even but through his skilful conduct, the forces of the'outdid at Argos, robbing and spoiling the women tyrant were defeated with great slaughter, and
of the city in much the same fashion as her husband Philopoemen ravaged Laconia unmolested for thirty