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

PYRRHUS. PYRRH US. 611
and drove his brother Antipater out of Macedonia, who brought him the island of Corcyra as a dowry
B. C. 294, though it appears that the latter was But Lanassa, offended with the attention which
subsequently allowed to retain a small portion of Pyrrhus paid to his barbarian wives, had withthe country. (Thirlwall's Greece, vol. viii. p. 16.) drawn to her principality of Corcyra, which she
Pyrrhus had greatly increased his power by the now bestowed upon Demetrius together with her
large accession of territory which he had thus hand. Pyrrhus accordingly returned to Epeirus
gained, and he still further strengthened himself by more incensed than ever against Demetrius. The
forming an alliance with the Aetolians; but the latter had previously withdrawn into Macedonia.
rest of Macedonia unexpectedly fell into the hands At the beginning of the following year, B. c. 288,
of a powerful neighbour. Alexander had applied Pyrrhus took advantage of a dangerous illness of
to Demetrius for assistance at the same time as he Demetrius to invade Macedonia. He advanced as
sent to Pyrrhus for the same purpose; but as the far as Edessa without meeting with any opposition;
latter was the nearest at hand, he had restored but when Demetrius was able to put himself at
Alexander to his kingdom before Demetrius could the head of his troops, he drove his rival out of the
arrive at the scene of action. Demetrius, however, country without difficulty. But as he had now
was unwilling to lose such an opportunity of ag- formed the vast design of recovering the whole of
grandizement; he accordingly left Athens, and his father's dominions in Asia, he hastened to conreached Macedonia towards the end of the year clude a peace with Pyrrhus, in order to continue
B. C. 294. He had not been there many days be- his preparations undisturbed. His old enemies,
fore he put Alexander to death, and thus became Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus, once more
king of Macedonia. Between two such powerful entered into a league against him, and resolved to
neighbours and such restless spirits, as Demetrius crush him in Europe before he had time to cross
and Pyrrhus, jealousies and contentions were sure over into Asia. They easily persuaded Pyrrhus to
to arise. Each was anxious for the dominions of break his recent treaty with Demetrius, and join
the other, and the two former friends soon became the coalition against him. Accordingly, in the
the most deadly enemies. Deidameia, who might spring of B. c. 287, while Ptolemy appeared with a
have acted as a mediator between her husband and powerful fleet off the coasts of Greece, Lyijmachus
her brother, was now dead. The jealousies between invaded the upper and Pyrrhus the lower provinces
the two rivals at length broke out into open war of Macedonia at the same time. Demetrius first
in B. C. 291. It was during this year that Thebes marched against Lysimachus, but alarmed at the
revolted a second time against Demetrius, probably growing disaffection of his troops, and fearing that
at the instigation of Pyrrhus; and while the Ma- they might go over to Lysimachus, who had been
cedonian monarch proceeded in person to chastise one of the veteran generals and companions of Alexthe rebellious inhabitants, Pyrrhus effected a diver- ander, he suddenly retraced his steps and proceeded
sion in their favour by invading Thessaly, but was against Pyrrhus, who had already advanced as far
compelled to retire into Epeirus before the superior as Beroea and had taken up his quarters in that city.
forces of Demetrius. In B. C. 290 Thebes surren- But Pyrrhus proved a rival as formidable as Lvsidered, and Demetrius was thus at liberty to take machus. The kindness with which he had treated
vengeance on Pyrrhus and his Aetolian allies. Ac- his prisoners, and his condescension and affability
cordingly, he invaded Aetolia in the spring of B.C. to the inhabitants of Beroea, had won all hearts;
289, and after overrunning and ravaging the country and accordingly, when Demetrius drew near, his
almost without opposition, he marched into Epeirus, troops deserted him in a body and transferred
leaving Pantauchus with a strong body of his troops their allegiance to Pyrrhus. Demetrius was obliged
to keep the Aetolians in subjection. Pyrrhus ad- to fly in disguise, and leave the kingdom to his
vanced to meet him; but as the two armies took dif- rival. Pyrrhus, however, was unable to obtain
ferent roads, Demetrius entered Epeirus and Pyrrhus possession of the whole of Macedonia: LysimaAetolia almost at the same time. Pantauchus im- chus claimed his share of the spoil, and the kingmediately offered him battle, in the midst of which dom was divided between them. But Pyrrhus
he challenged the king to single combat. This was did not long retain his portion; the Macedonians
immediately accepted by the youthful monarch; preferred the rule of their old general Lysimachus;
and in the conflict which ensued, Pyrrhus bore his and Pyrrhus was accordingly driven out of his
enemy to the ground, and would have killed him newly acquired kingdom; thus leaving Lysimachus
on the spot, had he not been rescued by his friends. master of the entire country. It is doubtful
The Macedonians, dismayed by the fall of their how long Pyrrhus reigned in Macedonia. Dexipleader, took to flight and left Pyrrhus master of pus and Porphyry (apud Euseb. Arm. p. 329, ed.
the field. This victory, however, was attended Aucher; apud Syncell. p. 266, a.) state that it was
with more important advantages than its immediate only seven months, which would place the expulfruits. The impetuous movements and daring sion of Pyrrhus at the end of B. C. 287, or the
valour of the Epeirot king reminded the veterans beginning- of 286; but as other writers relate
in the Macedonian army of the great Alexander, (Plnt. Pyrr. 12; Paus. i. 10. ~ 2) that this hapand thus paved for Pyrrhus his accession to the pened after the defeat of Demetrius in Syria, which
Macedonian throne. Demetrius meailtime had did not take place till the middle of 286, the reign
found no one to resist him in Epeirus, and during of Pyrrhus in Macedonia was probably somewhat
his expedition into this country he also obtained longer. (Comp. Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, vol. iii.
possession of Corcyra. After the death of Antigone, note 813.)
Pyrrhus, in accordance with the custom of the For the next few years Pyrrhus appears to have
monarchs of his age, had married three wives, in reigned quietly in Epeirus'without embarking in
order to strengthen his power by a close connection any new enterprize. But a life of inactivity was
with foreign princes. Of these wives one was a insupportable to him, and he pined for fresh scenes
Paeonian princess, another an Illyrian, and a third of action in which he might gain glory and acLanassa, the daughter of Agathocles of Syracuse, quire dominion. At length, in B. C. 281, the long
RR 2