Classical Studies 2902B

After Issus; Phoenicia and Egypt. The Agis war in Greece

[Please read the important information about the mid-term test that is to be found on the first screen of this course website]

We got to the Battle of Issus last time, but things were somewhat rushed at the end; so, a few minutes will be devoted to re-visiting information and arguments about chronology in 333 BC.

After Issus: A. and the Persian royal family; advance to Damascus and thereafter down the coast towards Tyre, Gaza and eventually Egypt. Two sieges in 322—for a total of ten months (siege of Tyre took seven months and the siege of Gaza two to three). Was the considerable time devoted to these justified? See A.’s speech before the siege of Tyre, as reported by Arrian (2.17 = Romm pp. 59-60): huge efforts involved and huge loss of life, espec. on Tyrian side (for detailed account, see Arrian 3.18-24 = Romm pp. 60-68). Result was a sort of “terror lesson” to Persian fleet-recruitment areas similar to sack of Thebes in Greece. Siege of Gaza was another v. nasty episode, born probably of frustration that another long siege was necessary so soon after Tyre.

Visit to Egypt: Nov. 332 to late spring of 331. This whole period was of immense importance to A. psychologically—he may have been crowned/installed as Pharaoh at Memphis on about 14^th November, 332 (Cartledge p. 150; Green believes it implicitly): if true….its consequences. Thereafter A. went to Naucratis, great Greek trading-post on W. part of Nile delta; A. decided to establish a new and better-sited centre: hence Alexandria. Thereafter he went, as result of a “pothos”, to Siwah in W. desert; Arrian talks about journey there and describes the place, but says very little about consultation of the oracle of Ammon (main reason for A.’s going there). This matter will be discussed in more detail later—on 30^th March.

In late spring of 331 A. returned to Tyre and prepared to resume pursuit of Darius.

The Agis War: background on Sparta’s losses of territory between Leuctra in 371 and death of Philip II. Agis III (reigned 338 to ?330) aimed to restore Sparta’s fortunes in A.s absence by recovering Messenia. Started negotiations with Persians during their naval campaign in Aegean (334-333), but these fizzled somewhat after news arrived of Issus and Persian withdrawal; but he got some money and ships from them and attacked Crete, where he established a mercenary base. A. tried not to declare war on Sparta (because of “pan Hellenic crusade”), but Agis started war in summer of 331: reasons why this was a good time for Sparta. Some areas of Peloponnese did join Agis, but Athens stayed aloof. Agis eventually had 20,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry and laid siege to Megalopolis (why important?). In spring of 330 Antipater moved S., accumulating forces en route—eventually had about 40,000 men. Hard-fought battle near Megalopolis, and Agis eventually perished. Aftermath of this war/revolt. Discussion of chronological problems.