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

378 PITHON. PITHON.
Indian provinces, apparently those bordering on pus, ibid. p. 64, a.) Shortly afterwards he was enthe satrapy of Philip. (Id. ib. 15.) Almost imme- trusted by the regent with the charge of the Macediately after this we find him detached with a con- donian troops destined to reduce the revolted
siderable army to reduce the Indian king Musica- Greek mercenaries in the upper satrapies: a sernus, a service which he successfully performed, and vice which he accomplished with complete success,
brought the chief himself prisoner to Alexander. and having defeated the insurgents in a decisive
He again bore an important part in the descent of battle, granted a free pardon and promise of safety
the Indus, during which he held the separate com- to the survivors. This act of clemency we are told
mand of a body of cavalry that marched along the was secretly designed to attach these troops to
right bank of the river, and rejoined the main army himself; but Perdiccas, who suspected his ambiat Pattala. (Arr. Anab. vi. 17, 20; Curt. ix. 8. tious projects, had given private orders to the con~ 16.) trary, and the unhappy Greeks had no sooner laid
From this time we hear no more of him during down their arms than they were all massacred by
the life of Alexander: he doubtless remained in his the Macedonians. (Diod. xviii. 4, 7; Trog.
satrapy, the government of which was confirmed to Pomp. Prol. xiii.)
him both in the first partition of the provinces im- It is probable that from this time Pithon had
mediately on the king's death, and in the subse- little attachment to the regent, hut he made no
quent arrangements at Triparadeisus, B. C. 321. show of discontent, and rejoined Perdiccas, whom
(Diod. xviii. 3, 39: Dexippus ap. PLot. p. 64, b.; he accompanied on his last expedition to Egypt,
Arrian. ibid. p. 71, b; Curt. x. 10. ~ 4; Justin. xiii. B. c. 321. Here, however, the dissatisfaction which
4.) It is remarkable that we do not find him soon arose in the army [PERDICCAS] offered a
taking any part in the war between Eumenes and tempting opening to his ambition, and he was the
Antigonus, and it seems probable that he had at first to put himself at the head of the mutineers,
that period been dispossessed of his government by and break out into open insurrection. After the
Eudemus, who had established his power over death of Perdiccas the regency was entrusted for a
great part of the Indian satrapies. But it is clear time by the advice of Ptolemy to Pithon and Arthat he was unfavourably disposed towards Eume- rhidaeus conjointly, but they soon showed themnes, and after the fall of that general, B. c. 316, selves unworthy of so important a trust, and the.
Pithon was rewarded by Antigonus with the im- intrigues of Eurydice compelled them to resign
portant satrapy of Babylon. From thence how- their office even before the arrival of Antipater.
ever he was recalled in B. c. 314, in order to form (Diod. xviii. 36, 39; Arrian. ap. Phot. p. 71, a.)
one of the council of experienced officers who were In the distribution of the provinces that followed,
selected by Antigonus to assist and control his Pithon retained his former government of Media,
son Demetrius, to whom he had for the first time with which, however, he seems to have received,
entrusted the command of an army. Two years either at this time or shortly after, a more general
later we again find him filling a similar situation command over the adjoining provinces of Upper
and united with the youthful Demetrius in the Asia. (Arr. 1. c. p. 71, b; Diod. xviii. 39, xix. 14;
command of the army in Syria. But he in vain Droysen, Hellenism. vol. i. p. 152.) Here his amopposed the impetuosity of the young prince, who bitious and restless spirit soon led him to engage
gave battle to Ptolemy at Gaza, notwithstanding in fresh projects: and he took an opportunity, on
all the remonstrances of Pithon and the other old what pretext we know not, to dispossess Philip of
generals. A complete defeat was the consequence, his satrapy of Parthia, and establish his brother
and Pithon himself fell on the field of battle, B. c. Eudemus in his stead. But this act of aggression
312. (Diod. xix. 56, 69, 82, 85.) at once aroused against him a general confederacy
2. Son of Crateuas or Crateas, a Macedonian of of all the neighbouring satraps, who united their
Eordaea, in the service of Alexander, whom we find forces, defeated Pithon in a pitched battle, and
holding the important post of one of the seven drove him out of Parthia. Pithon hereupon took
select officers called Somatophylaces, the imme- refuge with Seleucus at Babylon, who promised to
diate guards of the king's person. (Arr. Anab. vi. support him, and the two parties were preparing
28.) But we have no information as to the time for war, when the approach of Eumenes and Antiwhen he obtained, or the services by which he gonus with their respective armies drew off their
earned, this distinguished position, though, as al- attention. The confederate satraps immediately
ready mentioned, it is not always possible to say espoused the cause of the former, while Pithon and
whether he or the son of Agenor is the person Seleucus not only rejected all the overtures of
spoken of during the campaigns of Alexander. He Eumenes, but endeavoured to excite an insurrecis mentioned among the officers in close attendance tion among the troops of that leader. Failing in
upon the king during his last illness (Id. vii. 26; this, as well as in their attempts to prevent him
PIut. Alex. 76), and took a considerable part in from crossing the Tigris and effecting a junction
the events that followed his decease, B. c. 323. with the satraps, they summoned Antigonus in all
According to Curtius, he was the first to propose haste to their assistance, who advanced to Babylon,
in the assembly of the officers that Perdiccas and and there united his forces with those of Seleucus
Leonnatus should be appointed regents and guard- and Pithon in the spring of B. C. 317. (Diod. xix.
ians of the infant king, the expected child of 12, 14, 15, 17.)
Roxana: and in the disputes between the cavalry During the following campaigns of Antigonus
and infantry he assumed a prominent place among against Eumenes, I'ithon rendered the most imthe leaders of the former. (Curt. x. 7. ~~ 4, 8; portant services to the former general, who appears
Arrian. ap. Phot. p. 69, a.) His services on this to have reposed the utmost confidence in his milioccasion were not forgotten by Perdiccas, who in tary abilities, and assigned him on all important
the division of the provinces assigned to Pithon the occasions the second place in the command. Thus
important satrapy of Media. (Curt. x. 10. ~ 4; we find him commanding the whole left wing of
Diod. xviii. 3; Arrian. ap. Phot. p. 69, a; Dexip- the army of Antigonus in. both the decisive actions;