415
The father of Antiochus, Seleucus Callinicus, sent to the Rhodians 200,000 medimni of wheat (104,000 hectolitres). (Polybius, V. 89.) In 556, Antiochus gave 540,000 measures of wheat to the Romans. (Polybius, XXII. 26, § 19.)
416
According to Strabo (XV. 3), wheat and barley produced there a hundredfold, and even twice as much, which is hardly probable.
417
Strabo, XVI. 2.
418
Athenæus, XII. 35, p. 460, ed. Schweighæuser.
419
Polybius, XXXI. 3. – There were seen in these festivals a thousand slaves carrying silver vases, the least of which weighed 1,000 drachmas; a thousand slaves carrying golden vases and a profusion of plate of extraordinary richness. Antiochus received every day at his table a crowd of guests whom he allowed to carry away with them in chariots innumerable provisions of all sorts. (Athenæus, V. 46, p. 311, ed. Schweighæuser.)
420
Polybius, V. 79.
421
Titus Livius, XXXVII. 37.
422
Strabo, XVI. 2.
423
Polybius, V. 70.
424
Titus Livius, XXXIII. 41. – Polybius, V. 59. – Strabo, XVI. 2.
425
Strabo, XVI. 2.
426
Strabo, XIV. 5.
427
In 558, Antiochus sent to sea a hundred covered vessels and two hundred light ships. (Titus Livius, XXXIII. 19.) – It is the greatest Syrian fleet mentioned in these wars. At the battle of Myonnesus, the fleet commanded by Polyxenus was composed of ninety decked ships (574). (Appian,
428
Herodotus, II. 177. – Diodorus Siculus, I. 31.
429
A measure great enough to make thirty loaves. (Franz,
430
Böckh,
431
Flavius Josephus,
432
Athenæus, V. p. 203.
433
Appian (
434
Polybius, V. 89.
435
Strabo, XVII. 1.
436
Strabo, XVII. 1.
437
Strabo, XVI. 4; XVII.
438
Strabo, XVII. 1.
439
Diodorus Siculus, III. 43.
440
Appian,
441
Theocritus,
442
Herodotus, IV. 199. The plateau of Barca, now desert, was then cultivated and well watered.
443
The most important object of commerce of the Cyrenaica was the
444
Diodorus Siculus, III. 49. – Herodotus, IV. 169. – Athenæus, XV. 22, p. 487; 38, p. 514. – Strabo, XVII. iii. 712. – Pliny,
445
Pindar,
446
Diodorus Siculus, XVII. 49.
447
Aristotle,
448
Josephus,
449
Ælian,
450
Strabo, XIV. 6. – Pliny,
451
Virgil,
452
Strabo, X. 4.
453
Polybius, XIII. 8.
454
Cretan mercenaries are found in the service of Flamininus in 557 (Titus Livius, XXXIII. 3), in that of Antiochus in 564 (Titus Livius, XXXVII. 40), in that of Perseus in 583 (Titus Livius, XLII. 51), and in the service of Rome in 633.
455
456
Polybius, XXX. 7, year of Rome 590.
457
Strabo, XIV. 2. The town of
458
This happened especially at the epoch when the famous Colossus of Rhodes fell, and when the town was violently shaken by an earthquake. Hiero, tyrant of Syracuse, Ptolemy, king of Egypt, Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia, and Seleucus, king of Syria, sent succours to the Rhodians. (Polybius, V. 88, 89.)
459
We see, in fact, with what care the Rhodians spared their allies on the coast of the Pontus Euxinus. (Polybius, XXVII. 6.)
460
Polybius, IV. 38.
461
Strabo, VII. 4.