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

318 PIIILOPOEMEN. PLI ILOPOEMEN.
powers, the ill success of the Roman arms in the became a brave, virtuous, and energetic youth.
ensuing campaign gave the preponderance to the He early proposed to himself Epaminondas as his
Macedonian party, and the following year (B. c. model; but though he succeeded in imitating the
168) Philophron and Theaetetus were unable to activity and contempt of riches of his great model,
prevent the favourable reception given to the am- his vehemence of temper prevented him from obbassadors of Perseus and Gentius (Id. xxvii. li, taining the amiable manners and winning temper
xxviii. 2, 14, xxix. 5). Embassies were then des- which characterised the Theban. From his earliest
patched by the Rhodians to the belligerent parties years Philopoemen showed a great fondness for
to endeavour to bring about a peace between them, the use of arms, and took great pleasure in all
a step which gave great offence to the Romans; warlike exercises. As soon as he had reached the
and after the victory of Aemilius Paulus, Philo- age of military service, he eagerly engaged in the
phron was despatched in all haste to Rome, toge- incursions into Laconia, which were then frequently
ther with Astymedes, to deprecate the wrath of made, and in these he greatly distinguished himthe senate. The ambassadors themselves were self, being the first to march out and the last to
received with favour, but the Rhodians were return. When he was not employed in war, he
deprived of the possession of Caria and Lycia, and divided his time between the chase, the transaction
compelled to withdraw their garrisons from Caunus of public business, the cultivation of his estate, and
and Stratoniceia. (Id. xxx. 4, 5, 19.) [E.H.B.] the study of philosophy and literature. After
PHILOPOEMEN (,LAo7rogtA71w). 1. Son of spending part of the day in the city, he usually
Craugis, of Megalopolis in Arcadia, was one of the walked to an estate which he had about two or
few great men that Greece produced in the decline three miles from Megalopolis, where he slept, and
of her political independence. His contemporaries rose early to work at the farm, after which he relooked up to him as the greatest man of their day, turned again to the city. His studies were chiefly
and succeeding ages cherished his memory with deep directed to the art of war, and his favourite books
veneration and love. Thus we find Pausanias saying were the Tactics of Evangelus, and the History of
(viii. 52. ~ 1), that Miltiades was the first, and Alexander's campaigns.
Philopoemen the last benefactor to the whole of The name of Philopoemen first occurs in history
Greece, and an admiring Roman exclaiming, " that in B. c. 222, when he was thirty years of age. In
he was the last of the Greeks" (Plut. Philop. that year Cleomenes, king of Sparta, the great
1). ~ The great object of Philopoemen's life was to enemy of the Achaean league, seized Megalopolis,
infuse among the Achaeans a military spirit, and and laid it in ruins. The Spartans surprised Methereby to establish their independence on a firm galopolis in the night, and took possession of the
and lasting basis. To this object he devoted all market-place before the alarm had become general
the energies of his mind; and he pursued it among the inhabitants. As soon as it became
throughout his life with an enthusiasm and perse- known that the Spartans were in the city, most of
verance, which were crowned with far greater the citizens fled towards Messene; but Philopoesuccess than could have been anticipated, consider- men and a few kindred spirits offered a gallant
ing the times in which he lived. His predecessor resistance to the enemy, and their determined and
Aratus, who was the founder of the Achaean desperate valour gave such employment to the
league, was a man of little military ability, and Spartans, as to enable the citizens to escape in
had chiefly relied on negotiation and intrigue for safety. Early in the following spring, B.c. 221,
the accomplishment of his objects and the extension Antigonus, the Macedonian king, came down into
of the power of the league. lie had accordingly the Peloponnesus to the assistance of the Achaeans.
not cared to train a nation of soldiers, and had in Eager to revenge his country, Philopoemen joined
consequence been more or less dependent upon him with a thousand foot and a body of horse,
Macedonian troops in his wars with Sparta and which Megalopolis placed under his command, and
other enemies, thereby making himself and his at the head of which he fought in the celebrated
nation to a great extent the subjects of a foreign battle of Sellasia, in which Cleomenes was utterly
power. Philopoemen, on the contrary, was both defeated, and by which peace was for a time rea brave soldier and a good general; and the pos- stored to Greece. The successful issue of this
session of these qualities enabled him to make the battle was mainly owing to the courage and abiliAchaean league a really independent power in ties of Philopoemen, who had charged at the head
Greece.. of the Megalopolitan cavalry without orders, and
Philopoemen was born about B. C. 252, since he had thus saved one wing of the army from defeat.
was in his seventieth year at the time of his death The horse of Philopoemen was killed under him,
in B.C. 183 (Plut. Philop. 18). His family was but he continued to fight on foot, and did not
one of the noblest in all Arcadia, but he lost his leave the field even when both his sides had been
father, who was one of the most distinguished men struck through with a javelin. His conduct in
at Megalopolis, at an early age, and was brought this battle at once conferred upon Philopoemen
up by Cleander, an illustrious citizen of Mantineia, the greatest reputation. Antigonus was anxious
who had been obliged to leave his native city, and to take him into his service, and offered him a
had taken refuge at Megalopolis, where he con- considerable command; but this he declined, as he
tracted an intimate friendship with Craugis. As still hoped to secure the independence of his
Philopoemen grew up, he received instruction from country, and was unwilling to become the servant
Ecdemus and Demophanes (called Eclemus and of a foreign power. But as there was no longer
Megalophanes in Pausanias, viii. 49. ~ 2), both of any war in Greece, and he was desirous of acwvhom had studied the Academic philosophy inder quiring additional military experience, he set sail
Arcesilaus, and had taken an active part in expell- for Crete, where war was then waging between
ing the tyrants from Megalopolis and Sicyon, as the cities of Cnossus and Lyttus. Cnossus was
well as in other political events of their time. supported by the Aetolians, and Philopoemen acUnder their teaching and guidance Philopoemen cordingly espoused the side of Lyttus, and suc