MoagĕTes of Cibyra
Moagĕtes was Tyrant of Cibyra, a cruel and crafty man,
whose career deserves somewhat more than a passing reference. . . .
When Cnaeus Manlius was approaching Cibyra and had
Coss. Cn. Manlius Vulso, M. Fulvius Nobilior, B. C. 189; Moagĕtes reduced to submission. |
sent Helvius to find out the intentions of
Moagĕtes, the latter begged him by ambassadors not to damage the country, because he was
a friend of Rome, and ready to do anything
that was required of him; and, at the same
time, he offered Helvius a compliment of fifteen
talents. In answer to this, Helvius said that he would refrain
from damaging the territory; but that as to the general question
Moagĕtes must communicate with the Consul, for he was
close behind with his army. Moagĕtes accordingly sent ambassadors to Cnaeus, his own brother being one of them.
When the Consul met them in the road, he addressed them
in threatening and reproachful terms, asserting that "Not only
had Moagĕtes shown himself the most determined enemy of
Rome, of all the princes in Asia, but had done his very best
to overthrow their empire, and deserved punishment rather
than friendship."
1 Terrified by this display of anger, the ambassadors abstained from delivering the rest of the message
with which they were charged, and merely begged him to have
an interview with Moagĕtes: and when Cnaeus consented they
returned to Cibyra. Next morning the Tyrant came out of
the town accompanied by his friends, displaying his humility
by a mean dress and absence of all pomp; and, in conducting
his defence, descanted in melancholy terms on his own helplessness
and the poverty of the towns under his rule (which consisted of Cibyra, Syleium, and the town in the Marsh), and
entreated Cnaeus to accept the fifteen talents. Astonished at
his assurance, Cnaeus made no answer, except that, "If he did
not pay five hundred talents, and be thankful that he was
allowed to do so, he would not loot the country, but he would
storm and sack the city." In abject terror Moagĕtes begged
him not to do anything of the sort; and kept adding to his
offer little by little, until at last he persuaded Cnaeus to take
one hundred talents, and one thousand medimni of corn, and
admit him to friendship.
2 . . .