The veteran general proved himself
Shortly afterwards he murdered Polydorus (Po- worthy of the charge ; he repulsed the Aetolians
LYDORUS), and thus becanie sole Tagus.
Shortly afterwards he murdered Polydorus (Po- worthy of the charge ; he repulsed the Aetolians
LYDORUS), and thus becanie sole Tagus.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
2.
p.
323, vol.
iii.
pt.
1, scription on a base in the Acropolis at Athens, in
p. 562 ; Schmidt, Diatrib. in Dithyramb. pp. 121 1840, by Ross, who has thus restored it, [D]OAT-
-124 ; Kayser, Hist. Crit. Trag. Graec. pp. 318 MNHETOE KEN(XPAMIE] ENOIHAN. From
-322 ; Welcker, die Griech. Trag. pp. 1043, the form of the letters, Ross supposes the inscrip-
1044; Bartsch, de Chaeremone, p. 14 ; Bernhardy, tion to he of abou: the time of Praxiteles or Lysip-
Grundriss d. Gesch. d. Griech. Litt. vol. ii. pp. 554, pus. The only reason for the restoration of the
555. )
(P. S. ) name of the second of these artists, is the mention
POLYI'DUS, artists. 1. Besides the painter in Pliny (H. N. xxxiv. 8. s. 19. $ 27) of a statuary
and dithyrambic poet (see above), Vitruvius men- named Cenchramis, among those who made come.
tions the two following artists of this name, who dians and athletes. (Raoul-Rochette, Lettre à M.
may, however, rery possibly have been one and the Schorn, p. 390. )
[P. S. )
same person, since military engineers were often also POLY'MNIA or POLYHY'MNIA (Ilonúu-
architects.
via), a daughter of Zeus, and one of the nine
2. Of Thessaly, a military engineer, who made Muses. She presided over lyric poetry, and was
improvements in the covered battering-ram (testudo believed to have invented the lyre. (Hes. Theog.
arietaria) during Pbilip's siege of Byzantium, B. C. 78 ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. jii. 1. ) By Oeagrus
340. His pupils were Diades and Chaereas, who she became the mother of Orpheus. (Schol. I. c.
served in the campaigns of Alexander. (Vitruv. x. i. 23. ) In works of art she was usually represented
19. s. 13. $ 3, Schneider. )
in a pensive attitude. (Hirt, Mythol. Bilderl.
3. An architect, who wrote on the proportions p. 209 ; comp. MUSA E. )
(L. S. )
of the orders (praecepta symmetriarum, Vitruv. vii. POLYNEICES (IoAvvelkos), the son of De-
Praef. § 14).
[P. S. ] dipus and locaste, and brother of Eteocles and
POLYME’DE (Iloivuhan), a daughter of Au- Antigone. (Hom. Il. iv. 377 ; A DRASTUS. ) [L. S. ]
tolycus, was married to Aeson, and by him became POLYPHANTAS (Monúoartas), a general in
the mother of lason. (A pollod. i. 9. § 16 ; Tzetz. the service of Philip V. king of Macedonia,
ad Lyc. 175. ) A pollonius Rhodius (i. 233) calls during the war against the Romans and Aetolians.
her Alcimede. (Comp. Lason. ) [L. S. ] In B. c. 208 he was left together with Menippus
POLYME'LA (Tloa vunan). 1. A daughter in the Peloponnese to support the Achaeans with
of Peleus, and the wife of Menoetius, by whom a force of 2500 men ; and the following year
she became the mother of Patroclus. (Apollod. iri. (B. C. 207) was sent with a small force to the
13. $ 8. ) In some traditions she is called Phi- assistance of the Boeotians and Phocians. (Liv.
lomela. (PATROCLUS. )
xxvii. 32, xxviii. 5; Polyb. x. 42. ) [E. H. B. )
2. A daughter of Phylas, was married to Echecles, POLYPE MON Πολυπήμων), the name of
but became by Hermes the mother of Eudorus. three mythical personages. (Hom. Od. xxiv. 305;
(Hom. Il. xvi. 180, &c. )
Apollod. ii. 16. & 2; Paus. i. 38. $ 5). [L. S. )
## p. 469 (#485) ############################################
POLYSPERCHON.
469
POLYSPERCHON.
;
POLYPHE'MUS (Ponúonuos). 1. The ce- Anal. iv. 16, 22, 25, v. 11, 18, vi. 5, vii. 12 ;
lebrated Cyclops in the island of Thrinacia, was a Curt. v. 4. § 20, viii. 5. $ 2, 11. $1; Justin. xii. 10,
bon of Poseidon, and the nymph Thousa. For an 12. )
account of him see the article CYCLOPES.
In consequence of his absence from Babylon on
2. A son of Elatus or Poseidon and Hippea, this service at the time of Alexander's death, he
was one of the Lapithae at Larissa in Thessaly. appears to have been passed over in the arrange-
He was married to Laonome, a sister of Heracles, ments which followed that event, nor do we find
with whoin he was connected by friendship. He any mention of his name for some time afterwards,
was also one of the Argonauts, but being left bes but it seems certain that he must bave returned
hind by them in Mysia, he founded Cius, and fell with Craterus to Europe, and probably took part
against the Chalybes. (Hom. 11. i. 264 ; Schol. with him and Antipater in the Lamian war. In
ad Apollon. Rhod. i. 40, 1241, iv. 1470 ; Val B. C. 321, when the dissensions between Antipater
Flacc. i. 457 ; Apollod. i. 9. SS 16, 19. ) (L. S. ) and Perdiccns had broken out into actual hostilities,
POLYPHRON (Honúppww), the brother of and the former was preparing to follow Craterus
Jason of Pherae, Tagus of Thessily, succeeded into Asia, he entrusted to Polysperchon the chief
to the supreme power along with his brother command in Macedonia and Greece during his
Polydorus on the denth of Jason, in B. C. 370. absence.
The veteran general proved himself
Shortly afterwards he murdered Polydorus (Po- worthy of the charge ; he repulsed the Aetolians
LYDORUS), and thus becanie sole Tagus. He who had invaded Thessaly, and cut to pieces a
exercised his power with great cruelty, and con- Macedonian force under Polycles, defeated Menon
verted his office into a tyranny. He murdered of Pharsalus, and recovered the whole of Thessaly.
Polydamas of Pharsalus (POLYDAMAS), but was (Diod. xviii. 38 ; Justin. xiii
. 6. ) Though we do
murdered in his turn, B. C. 369, by his nephew not learn that he obtained any reward for these
Alexander, who proved, however, a still greater services during the lifetime of Antipater, it is evi-
tyrant. (ALEXANDER of PHERAL] (Xen. Hello dent that he enjoyed the highest place in the con-
vi. 4. &$ 33, 34 ; Plut. Pelop. c. 29. )
fidence of the regent, of which the latter gave a
POLYPOETES (IloAutoins). 1. A son of striking proof on his death bed, B. c. 319, by ap-
Apollo and Phthia. (Apollod. i. 7. § 6; comp. pointing Polysperchon to succeed him as regent
AETOLUS. )
and guardinn of the king, while he assigned to his
2. A son of Peirithous and Hippodameia, was own son Cassander the subordinate station of Chi-
one of the Lapithae, who joined the Greeks in the liarch. (Id. ib. 48. )
Trojan war, commanding the men of Argissa, Polysperchon was at this time one of the oldest of
Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone and Oloosson. (Hom. Il. the surviving generals of Alexander, and enjoyed
ii. 738, &c. , comp. ri. 29, xii. 129. ). At the in consequence the highest favour and popularity
funeral games of Patroclus, he gained the victory among the Macedonians ; but he was aware that
in throwing the iron ball
. (Il. xxiii. 836, &c. ) both Cassander and Antigonus were jealous of his
After the fall of Troy, Polypoetes and Leonteus elevation, and were beginning to form secret
are said to have founded the town of Aspendus in designs for the overthrow of his power. In order
Pamphylia. (Eustath. ad Hom. p. 334. ) [L. S. ) to strengthen himself against them be now made
POLYSPERCHON (Tovo népywr). I. Son overtures to Olympias, who had been driven frorn
of Simmias, a Macedonian of the province of Macedonia by Antipater, as well as to Eumenes,
Stymphaea, and a distinguished officer in the ser- whom he sought to raise up as a rival to Antigo-
vice of Alexander the Great Of his earlier ser- nus in Asia. At the same time he endeavoured to
vices we know nothing, but it is certain that he conciliate the Greek cities by proclaiming them all
was already a veteran and experienced warrior in free and independent, and abolishing the oligarchies
B. C. 332, when he was appointed to succeed Pto- which had been set up by Antipater. Nor were
lemy the son of Seleucus in the command of one of these measures unsuccessful : Olympias, though
the divisions of the phalanx. We afterwards find she still remained in Epeirus, lent all the support
him occupying the same post in the battle of Ar- of her name and influence to Polysperchon, while
bela, and lending the weight of his authority and Eumenes, who had escaped from his mountain
experience to support the proposition of Parmenion fastness at Nora, and put himself at the head of
before the action to attack the Persian camp by the Argy raspids, prepared to contend with Anti-
night (Arr. Anab. ii. 12, iii. 11 ; Diod. xvii. 57 ; gonus for the possession of Asia. While his most
Curt. iv. 13. $$ 7, 28, who inaccurately calls him formidable rival was thus occupied in the East, it
"Dux peregrini militis. ") In the subsequent cam- remained for Polysperchon himself to contend with
paigns in the upper provinces of Asia and India, Cassander in Greece. The restoration of the
he bore an important part, and his name is fre- democracy at Athens had attached that city to the
quently mentioned. Thus we find him associated cause of the regent, but Nicanor held possession of
with Coenus and Philotas at the passage of the the fortresses of Munychia and the Peiraeeus for
Pylae Persicae, and afterwards detached under Cassander, and refused to give them up notwith-
Craterus against the revolted chiefs in Paraeta- standing the repeated orders of Olympias. Here-
cene, accompanying Alexander on his expedition upon Polysperchon sent forward an army under
against the Assaceni, and reducing with his own his son Alexander into Attica, while he himself
division only the strong fortress of Nora. His followed with the royal family. They had
name occurs again at the passage of the Hydaspes, already advanced into Phocis when they were met
as well as in the descent of that river, on both by deputies from Athens, as well as by Phocion
which occasions he served under Craterus ; and and others of the oligarchical party who had fled
in B. C. 323 he was once more associated with that from the city. Both parties obtained a public
general as second in command of the army of hearing in the presence of the king, which ended
invalids and veterans, which the latter was ap- in Phocion and his companions being given up to
pointed to conduct home to Macedonia. (Arr. I the opposite party by the express order of Poly-
Hн 3
## p. 470 (#486) ############################################
470
POLYSPERCHON.
POLYSTRATUS.
met at
turn
:
sperchon, and sent to Athens to undergo the form perchon to his cause, by offering him the chief
of a trial. (Diod. xviii. 49, 54-58, 62, 64-66 ; command in the Peloponnese. The bribe was
Plut. Phoc. 31—34. For a more detailed account accepted, and for a short time Polysperchon and
of these transactions see Phocion. )
his son conjointly carried on the war in the Pelo
By the destruction of Phocion and his friends, ponnese against Cassander and the generals of
the regent hoped to have secured the adherence of Ptolemy. But before the end of the same year
the Athenians ; but while he was still in Phocis | Alexander was gained over by Cassander ; and
with the king (B. C. 318), Cassander himself un- Polysperchon, though he did not follow the ex-
expectedly arrived in Attica with a considerable ample of his son, and coalesce with his old enemy,
fleet and army, and established himself in the at least assumed a position hostile to Antigonus,
Peiraeeus. Hereupon Polysperchon advanced into as we find him in 313 defending Sicyon and
Attica and laid siege to the Peiraeeus, but finding Corinth against Telesphorus, the lieutenant of that
that he made little progress, he left his son Alex- general. (Id. ib. 60, 62, 64, 74. ) From this time
ander to continue the blockade, while he himself we lose sight of him till B. c. 310, when he again
advanced into the Peloponnese with a large army. assumed an important part by reviving the long-
Here be at first met with little opposition: almost forgotten pretensions of Heracles the son of Bar-
all the cities obeyed his mandates and expelled or sine (now the only surviving son of Alexander)
put to death the leaders of their respective oli- to the throne of Macedonia. Having induced the
garchies : Megalopolis alone refused submission, unhappy youth to quit his retirement at Pergamus,
and was immediately besieged by the regent him and join him in the Peloponnese, he persuaded the
self with his whole army. Polysperchon had | Aetolians to espouse his cause, and with their
apparently expected an easy victory, but the valour assistance raised a large army, with which he
of the citizens frustrated his calculations : all his advanced towards Macedonia. He was
attacks were repulsed, and after some time he found Trampyae in Stymphaea by Cassander, but the
himself compelled to raise the siege and withdraw latter, distrusting the fidelity of his own troops,
from the Peloponnese. Shortly afterwards his ad- | instead of risking an engagement, entered into
miral Cleitus, who had been despatched with a fleet secret negotiations with Polysperchon, and endea-
to the Hellespont, was totally defeated by that of voured by promises and flatteries to induce him to
Cassander under Nicanor, and his forces utterly abandon the pretender whom he had himself set
destroyed. (Diod. xviii. 68-72. )
up. Polysperchon had the weakness to give way,
These reverses quickly produced an unfavourable and the meanness to serve the purposes of Cassan-
the disposition of the Greek states towards , der by the assassination of Heracles at a banquet.
Polysperchon : and Athens in particular again (Diod. xx. 20—28. For further details and au-
abandoned his alliance for that of Cassander, who thorities, see HERACLES. ) It is satisfactory to
established an oligarchical government in the city know that Polysperchon did not reap the expected
under the presidency of Demetrius of Phalerus. reward of his crime : Cassander had promised him
(Id. ib. 74, 75. ). At the same time Eurydice, the the chief command of the Peloponnese, but this he
active and intriguing wife of the unhappy king certainly never obtained, though we find him at a
Arrhidaeus, conceived the project of throwing off later period possessing a certain footing in that
the yoke of the regent, and concluded an alliance country : he seems to have occupied a subordinate
with Cassander, while she herself assembled an and inglorious position. The last occasion on which
army with which she obtained for a time the his name occurs in history is in B. c. 303, when we
complete possession of Macedonia. But in the find him co-operating with Cassander and Prepe-
spring of 317 Polysperchon having united his laus against Demetrius (Diod. xx. 103), but no
forces with those of Aeacides king of Epeirus, notice of his subsequent fortunes or the period of
invaded Macedonia, accompanied by Olympias, his death has been transmitted to us. *
whose presence alone quickly determined the con- Polysperchon appears to have been a soldier of
test. [Olympias). During the subsequent events considerable merit, and to have been regarded by
Polysperchon plays but a subordinate part. We the Macedonians with favour as belonging to the
do not learn that he interposed to prevent the older race of Alexander's generals ; but he was
cruelties of Olympias, or to save the life of the altogether unequal to the position in which he
unhappy king, of whom he was the nominal found himself placed on the death of Antipater,
guardian: and though he afterwards occupied the and his weakness degenerated into the basest vil-
passes of Perrhaebia with an army, he was unable lany in such instances as the surrender of Phocion,
to prevent the advance of Cassander into Mace- and the assassination of Heracles.
donia, or to avert the fall of Pydna, which fell 2. A leader of mercenaries who joined with
into the hands of the enemy, while Polysperchon Leptines in the assassination of Callippus. (Plute
was still shut up in Perrhaebia. Here he was Dion, 58. ) (CALLIPPUS. ) (E. H. B. )
reduced to great straits by Cassander's general POLYSTEʻPHANUS (noAvotépavos),
Callas, and was besieged in the town of Azorus, Greek writer, possessed no small reputation, but
when the news of the death of Olympias (B. C. his writings were full of incredible tales. (Gell. ix.
316) caused him to despair of recovering his 4. ) Harpocration (s. v. doutpopópos) quotes a
footing in Macedonia, and he withdrew with a work of his tepl spnvæv.
small force into Aetolia. (Diod. xix. 11, 35, 36, POLY'STRATUS. 1. An eminent Epicurean
52. )
philosopher, who succeeded Hermarchus as head of
From thence he appears to have joined his son
Alexander in the Peloponnese, where we find him • Justin, by some inconceivable error, represents
in B. C. 315, when the altered position of affairs Polysperchon as killed in the war against Eume-
having united Cassander with Lysimachus, Ptolemy, nes, before the death of Antipater (xiii. 8): and
and Seleucus in a general coalition against Anti- again (xv. 1, init. ) alludes to him as dead before
gonus, the latter sought to attach the aged Polys- | the murder of Heracles the son of Barsine.
a
à
## p. 471 (#487) ############################################
POLYXENA.
471
POLYXENUS.
the sect, and was himself succeeded by Dionysius. POLYXE'NIDAS (Ilonuçevidas), a Rhodian,
(Diog. Laërt. x. 25. ) Valerius Maximus relates who was exiled from his native country, and en-
that Polystratus and Hippocleides were born on tered the service of Antiochus III. , king of Syria.
the same day, followed the sect of the same master We first find him mentioned in B. C. 209, when he
Epicurus, shared their patrimony in common, and commanded a body of Cretan mercenaries during
supported the school together, and at last died at the expedition of Antiochus into Hyrcania (Polyb.
the same moment in extreme old age. (i. 8. ext. x. 29). But in B. c. 192, when the Syrian king
§ 17. )
had determined upon war with Rome, and crossed
2. An epigrammatic poet, who had a place in over into Greece to commence it, Polyxenidas ob-
the Gurlund of Meleager. There are two of his tained the chief command of his fleet. After co-ope-
epigrams in the Greek Anthology, one of which is rating with Menippus in the reduction of Chalcis,
on the destruction of Corinth, which took place in he was sent back to Asia to assemble additional
B. c. 146. He must therefore have lived some forces during the winter. We do not hear any-
time within the seventy or eighty years preceding thing of his operations in the ensuing campaign,
the time of Melenger, and probably soon after the B. C. 191, but when Antiochus, after his defeat
taking of Corinth. A certain Polystratus, of Leto at Thermopylae, withdrew to Asia, Polyxenidas
polis in Egypt, is mentioned by Stephanus Byzan. was again appointed to command the king's main
timus (s. v. Antous tóxis), but there is nothing to fleet on the lonian coast. Having learnt that the
indicate whether he was the same person as the praetor C.
p. 562 ; Schmidt, Diatrib. in Dithyramb. pp. 121 1840, by Ross, who has thus restored it, [D]OAT-
-124 ; Kayser, Hist. Crit. Trag. Graec. pp. 318 MNHETOE KEN(XPAMIE] ENOIHAN. From
-322 ; Welcker, die Griech. Trag. pp. 1043, the form of the letters, Ross supposes the inscrip-
1044; Bartsch, de Chaeremone, p. 14 ; Bernhardy, tion to he of abou: the time of Praxiteles or Lysip-
Grundriss d. Gesch. d. Griech. Litt. vol. ii. pp. 554, pus. The only reason for the restoration of the
555. )
(P. S. ) name of the second of these artists, is the mention
POLYI'DUS, artists. 1. Besides the painter in Pliny (H. N. xxxiv. 8. s. 19. $ 27) of a statuary
and dithyrambic poet (see above), Vitruvius men- named Cenchramis, among those who made come.
tions the two following artists of this name, who dians and athletes. (Raoul-Rochette, Lettre à M.
may, however, rery possibly have been one and the Schorn, p. 390. )
[P. S. )
same person, since military engineers were often also POLY'MNIA or POLYHY'MNIA (Ilonúu-
architects.
via), a daughter of Zeus, and one of the nine
2. Of Thessaly, a military engineer, who made Muses. She presided over lyric poetry, and was
improvements in the covered battering-ram (testudo believed to have invented the lyre. (Hes. Theog.
arietaria) during Pbilip's siege of Byzantium, B. C. 78 ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. jii. 1. ) By Oeagrus
340. His pupils were Diades and Chaereas, who she became the mother of Orpheus. (Schol. I. c.
served in the campaigns of Alexander. (Vitruv. x. i. 23. ) In works of art she was usually represented
19. s. 13. $ 3, Schneider. )
in a pensive attitude. (Hirt, Mythol. Bilderl.
3. An architect, who wrote on the proportions p. 209 ; comp. MUSA E. )
(L. S. )
of the orders (praecepta symmetriarum, Vitruv. vii. POLYNEICES (IoAvvelkos), the son of De-
Praef. § 14).
[P. S. ] dipus and locaste, and brother of Eteocles and
POLYME’DE (Iloivuhan), a daughter of Au- Antigone. (Hom. Il. iv. 377 ; A DRASTUS. ) [L. S. ]
tolycus, was married to Aeson, and by him became POLYPHANTAS (Monúoartas), a general in
the mother of lason. (A pollod. i. 9. § 16 ; Tzetz. the service of Philip V. king of Macedonia,
ad Lyc. 175. ) A pollonius Rhodius (i. 233) calls during the war against the Romans and Aetolians.
her Alcimede. (Comp. Lason. ) [L. S. ] In B. c. 208 he was left together with Menippus
POLYME'LA (Tloa vunan). 1. A daughter in the Peloponnese to support the Achaeans with
of Peleus, and the wife of Menoetius, by whom a force of 2500 men ; and the following year
she became the mother of Patroclus. (Apollod. iri. (B. C. 207) was sent with a small force to the
13. $ 8. ) In some traditions she is called Phi- assistance of the Boeotians and Phocians. (Liv.
lomela. (PATROCLUS. )
xxvii. 32, xxviii. 5; Polyb. x. 42. ) [E. H. B. )
2. A daughter of Phylas, was married to Echecles, POLYPE MON Πολυπήμων), the name of
but became by Hermes the mother of Eudorus. three mythical personages. (Hom. Od. xxiv. 305;
(Hom. Il. xvi. 180, &c. )
Apollod. ii. 16. & 2; Paus. i. 38. $ 5). [L. S. )
## p. 469 (#485) ############################################
POLYSPERCHON.
469
POLYSPERCHON.
;
POLYPHE'MUS (Ponúonuos). 1. The ce- Anal. iv. 16, 22, 25, v. 11, 18, vi. 5, vii. 12 ;
lebrated Cyclops in the island of Thrinacia, was a Curt. v. 4. § 20, viii. 5. $ 2, 11. $1; Justin. xii. 10,
bon of Poseidon, and the nymph Thousa. For an 12. )
account of him see the article CYCLOPES.
In consequence of his absence from Babylon on
2. A son of Elatus or Poseidon and Hippea, this service at the time of Alexander's death, he
was one of the Lapithae at Larissa in Thessaly. appears to have been passed over in the arrange-
He was married to Laonome, a sister of Heracles, ments which followed that event, nor do we find
with whoin he was connected by friendship. He any mention of his name for some time afterwards,
was also one of the Argonauts, but being left bes but it seems certain that he must bave returned
hind by them in Mysia, he founded Cius, and fell with Craterus to Europe, and probably took part
against the Chalybes. (Hom. 11. i. 264 ; Schol. with him and Antipater in the Lamian war. In
ad Apollon. Rhod. i. 40, 1241, iv. 1470 ; Val B. C. 321, when the dissensions between Antipater
Flacc. i. 457 ; Apollod. i. 9. SS 16, 19. ) (L. S. ) and Perdiccns had broken out into actual hostilities,
POLYPHRON (Honúppww), the brother of and the former was preparing to follow Craterus
Jason of Pherae, Tagus of Thessily, succeeded into Asia, he entrusted to Polysperchon the chief
to the supreme power along with his brother command in Macedonia and Greece during his
Polydorus on the denth of Jason, in B. C. 370. absence.
The veteran general proved himself
Shortly afterwards he murdered Polydorus (Po- worthy of the charge ; he repulsed the Aetolians
LYDORUS), and thus becanie sole Tagus. He who had invaded Thessaly, and cut to pieces a
exercised his power with great cruelty, and con- Macedonian force under Polycles, defeated Menon
verted his office into a tyranny. He murdered of Pharsalus, and recovered the whole of Thessaly.
Polydamas of Pharsalus (POLYDAMAS), but was (Diod. xviii. 38 ; Justin. xiii
. 6. ) Though we do
murdered in his turn, B. C. 369, by his nephew not learn that he obtained any reward for these
Alexander, who proved, however, a still greater services during the lifetime of Antipater, it is evi-
tyrant. (ALEXANDER of PHERAL] (Xen. Hello dent that he enjoyed the highest place in the con-
vi. 4. &$ 33, 34 ; Plut. Pelop. c. 29. )
fidence of the regent, of which the latter gave a
POLYPOETES (IloAutoins). 1. A son of striking proof on his death bed, B. c. 319, by ap-
Apollo and Phthia. (Apollod. i. 7. § 6; comp. pointing Polysperchon to succeed him as regent
AETOLUS. )
and guardinn of the king, while he assigned to his
2. A son of Peirithous and Hippodameia, was own son Cassander the subordinate station of Chi-
one of the Lapithae, who joined the Greeks in the liarch. (Id. ib. 48. )
Trojan war, commanding the men of Argissa, Polysperchon was at this time one of the oldest of
Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone and Oloosson. (Hom. Il. the surviving generals of Alexander, and enjoyed
ii. 738, &c. , comp. ri. 29, xii. 129. ). At the in consequence the highest favour and popularity
funeral games of Patroclus, he gained the victory among the Macedonians ; but he was aware that
in throwing the iron ball
. (Il. xxiii. 836, &c. ) both Cassander and Antigonus were jealous of his
After the fall of Troy, Polypoetes and Leonteus elevation, and were beginning to form secret
are said to have founded the town of Aspendus in designs for the overthrow of his power. In order
Pamphylia. (Eustath. ad Hom. p. 334. ) [L. S. ) to strengthen himself against them be now made
POLYSPERCHON (Tovo népywr). I. Son overtures to Olympias, who had been driven frorn
of Simmias, a Macedonian of the province of Macedonia by Antipater, as well as to Eumenes,
Stymphaea, and a distinguished officer in the ser- whom he sought to raise up as a rival to Antigo-
vice of Alexander the Great Of his earlier ser- nus in Asia. At the same time he endeavoured to
vices we know nothing, but it is certain that he conciliate the Greek cities by proclaiming them all
was already a veteran and experienced warrior in free and independent, and abolishing the oligarchies
B. C. 332, when he was appointed to succeed Pto- which had been set up by Antipater. Nor were
lemy the son of Seleucus in the command of one of these measures unsuccessful : Olympias, though
the divisions of the phalanx. We afterwards find she still remained in Epeirus, lent all the support
him occupying the same post in the battle of Ar- of her name and influence to Polysperchon, while
bela, and lending the weight of his authority and Eumenes, who had escaped from his mountain
experience to support the proposition of Parmenion fastness at Nora, and put himself at the head of
before the action to attack the Persian camp by the Argy raspids, prepared to contend with Anti-
night (Arr. Anab. ii. 12, iii. 11 ; Diod. xvii. 57 ; gonus for the possession of Asia. While his most
Curt. iv. 13. $$ 7, 28, who inaccurately calls him formidable rival was thus occupied in the East, it
"Dux peregrini militis. ") In the subsequent cam- remained for Polysperchon himself to contend with
paigns in the upper provinces of Asia and India, Cassander in Greece. The restoration of the
he bore an important part, and his name is fre- democracy at Athens had attached that city to the
quently mentioned. Thus we find him associated cause of the regent, but Nicanor held possession of
with Coenus and Philotas at the passage of the the fortresses of Munychia and the Peiraeeus for
Pylae Persicae, and afterwards detached under Cassander, and refused to give them up notwith-
Craterus against the revolted chiefs in Paraeta- standing the repeated orders of Olympias. Here-
cene, accompanying Alexander on his expedition upon Polysperchon sent forward an army under
against the Assaceni, and reducing with his own his son Alexander into Attica, while he himself
division only the strong fortress of Nora. His followed with the royal family. They had
name occurs again at the passage of the Hydaspes, already advanced into Phocis when they were met
as well as in the descent of that river, on both by deputies from Athens, as well as by Phocion
which occasions he served under Craterus ; and and others of the oligarchical party who had fled
in B. C. 323 he was once more associated with that from the city. Both parties obtained a public
general as second in command of the army of hearing in the presence of the king, which ended
invalids and veterans, which the latter was ap- in Phocion and his companions being given up to
pointed to conduct home to Macedonia. (Arr. I the opposite party by the express order of Poly-
Hн 3
## p. 470 (#486) ############################################
470
POLYSPERCHON.
POLYSTRATUS.
met at
turn
:
sperchon, and sent to Athens to undergo the form perchon to his cause, by offering him the chief
of a trial. (Diod. xviii. 49, 54-58, 62, 64-66 ; command in the Peloponnese. The bribe was
Plut. Phoc. 31—34. For a more detailed account accepted, and for a short time Polysperchon and
of these transactions see Phocion. )
his son conjointly carried on the war in the Pelo
By the destruction of Phocion and his friends, ponnese against Cassander and the generals of
the regent hoped to have secured the adherence of Ptolemy. But before the end of the same year
the Athenians ; but while he was still in Phocis | Alexander was gained over by Cassander ; and
with the king (B. C. 318), Cassander himself un- Polysperchon, though he did not follow the ex-
expectedly arrived in Attica with a considerable ample of his son, and coalesce with his old enemy,
fleet and army, and established himself in the at least assumed a position hostile to Antigonus,
Peiraeeus. Hereupon Polysperchon advanced into as we find him in 313 defending Sicyon and
Attica and laid siege to the Peiraeeus, but finding Corinth against Telesphorus, the lieutenant of that
that he made little progress, he left his son Alex- general. (Id. ib. 60, 62, 64, 74. ) From this time
ander to continue the blockade, while he himself we lose sight of him till B. c. 310, when he again
advanced into the Peloponnese with a large army. assumed an important part by reviving the long-
Here be at first met with little opposition: almost forgotten pretensions of Heracles the son of Bar-
all the cities obeyed his mandates and expelled or sine (now the only surviving son of Alexander)
put to death the leaders of their respective oli- to the throne of Macedonia. Having induced the
garchies : Megalopolis alone refused submission, unhappy youth to quit his retirement at Pergamus,
and was immediately besieged by the regent him and join him in the Peloponnese, he persuaded the
self with his whole army. Polysperchon had | Aetolians to espouse his cause, and with their
apparently expected an easy victory, but the valour assistance raised a large army, with which he
of the citizens frustrated his calculations : all his advanced towards Macedonia. He was
attacks were repulsed, and after some time he found Trampyae in Stymphaea by Cassander, but the
himself compelled to raise the siege and withdraw latter, distrusting the fidelity of his own troops,
from the Peloponnese. Shortly afterwards his ad- | instead of risking an engagement, entered into
miral Cleitus, who had been despatched with a fleet secret negotiations with Polysperchon, and endea-
to the Hellespont, was totally defeated by that of voured by promises and flatteries to induce him to
Cassander under Nicanor, and his forces utterly abandon the pretender whom he had himself set
destroyed. (Diod. xviii. 68-72. )
up. Polysperchon had the weakness to give way,
These reverses quickly produced an unfavourable and the meanness to serve the purposes of Cassan-
the disposition of the Greek states towards , der by the assassination of Heracles at a banquet.
Polysperchon : and Athens in particular again (Diod. xx. 20—28. For further details and au-
abandoned his alliance for that of Cassander, who thorities, see HERACLES. ) It is satisfactory to
established an oligarchical government in the city know that Polysperchon did not reap the expected
under the presidency of Demetrius of Phalerus. reward of his crime : Cassander had promised him
(Id. ib. 74, 75. ). At the same time Eurydice, the the chief command of the Peloponnese, but this he
active and intriguing wife of the unhappy king certainly never obtained, though we find him at a
Arrhidaeus, conceived the project of throwing off later period possessing a certain footing in that
the yoke of the regent, and concluded an alliance country : he seems to have occupied a subordinate
with Cassander, while she herself assembled an and inglorious position. The last occasion on which
army with which she obtained for a time the his name occurs in history is in B. c. 303, when we
complete possession of Macedonia. But in the find him co-operating with Cassander and Prepe-
spring of 317 Polysperchon having united his laus against Demetrius (Diod. xx. 103), but no
forces with those of Aeacides king of Epeirus, notice of his subsequent fortunes or the period of
invaded Macedonia, accompanied by Olympias, his death has been transmitted to us. *
whose presence alone quickly determined the con- Polysperchon appears to have been a soldier of
test. [Olympias). During the subsequent events considerable merit, and to have been regarded by
Polysperchon plays but a subordinate part. We the Macedonians with favour as belonging to the
do not learn that he interposed to prevent the older race of Alexander's generals ; but he was
cruelties of Olympias, or to save the life of the altogether unequal to the position in which he
unhappy king, of whom he was the nominal found himself placed on the death of Antipater,
guardian: and though he afterwards occupied the and his weakness degenerated into the basest vil-
passes of Perrhaebia with an army, he was unable lany in such instances as the surrender of Phocion,
to prevent the advance of Cassander into Mace- and the assassination of Heracles.
donia, or to avert the fall of Pydna, which fell 2. A leader of mercenaries who joined with
into the hands of the enemy, while Polysperchon Leptines in the assassination of Callippus. (Plute
was still shut up in Perrhaebia. Here he was Dion, 58. ) (CALLIPPUS. ) (E. H. B. )
reduced to great straits by Cassander's general POLYSTEʻPHANUS (noAvotépavos),
Callas, and was besieged in the town of Azorus, Greek writer, possessed no small reputation, but
when the news of the death of Olympias (B. C. his writings were full of incredible tales. (Gell. ix.
316) caused him to despair of recovering his 4. ) Harpocration (s. v. doutpopópos) quotes a
footing in Macedonia, and he withdrew with a work of his tepl spnvæv.
small force into Aetolia. (Diod. xix. 11, 35, 36, POLY'STRATUS. 1. An eminent Epicurean
52. )
philosopher, who succeeded Hermarchus as head of
From thence he appears to have joined his son
Alexander in the Peloponnese, where we find him • Justin, by some inconceivable error, represents
in B. C. 315, when the altered position of affairs Polysperchon as killed in the war against Eume-
having united Cassander with Lysimachus, Ptolemy, nes, before the death of Antipater (xiii. 8): and
and Seleucus in a general coalition against Anti- again (xv. 1, init. ) alludes to him as dead before
gonus, the latter sought to attach the aged Polys- | the murder of Heracles the son of Barsine.
a
à
## p. 471 (#487) ############################################
POLYXENA.
471
POLYXENUS.
the sect, and was himself succeeded by Dionysius. POLYXE'NIDAS (Ilonuçevidas), a Rhodian,
(Diog. Laërt. x. 25. ) Valerius Maximus relates who was exiled from his native country, and en-
that Polystratus and Hippocleides were born on tered the service of Antiochus III. , king of Syria.
the same day, followed the sect of the same master We first find him mentioned in B. C. 209, when he
Epicurus, shared their patrimony in common, and commanded a body of Cretan mercenaries during
supported the school together, and at last died at the expedition of Antiochus into Hyrcania (Polyb.
the same moment in extreme old age. (i. 8. ext. x. 29). But in B. c. 192, when the Syrian king
§ 17. )
had determined upon war with Rome, and crossed
2. An epigrammatic poet, who had a place in over into Greece to commence it, Polyxenidas ob-
the Gurlund of Meleager. There are two of his tained the chief command of his fleet. After co-ope-
epigrams in the Greek Anthology, one of which is rating with Menippus in the reduction of Chalcis,
on the destruction of Corinth, which took place in he was sent back to Asia to assemble additional
B. c. 146. He must therefore have lived some forces during the winter. We do not hear any-
time within the seventy or eighty years preceding thing of his operations in the ensuing campaign,
the time of Melenger, and probably soon after the B. C. 191, but when Antiochus, after his defeat
taking of Corinth. A certain Polystratus, of Leto at Thermopylae, withdrew to Asia, Polyxenidas
polis in Egypt, is mentioned by Stephanus Byzan. was again appointed to command the king's main
timus (s. v. Antous tóxis), but there is nothing to fleet on the lonian coast. Having learnt that the
indicate whether he was the same person as the praetor C.
