Polybius, Histories

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A Meeting of the Achaean League Parliament

I have already stated that in the Peloponnese, while Philopoemen was still Strategus,

Philopoemen Achaean Strategus for two years running, from

the Achaean league sent an embassy to Rome on the subject of Sparta, and another to king Ptolemy to renew their ancient alliance.

May B. C. 189 to May B. C. 187.

Immediately after Philopoemen had been succeeded by

Aristaenus. May, B. C. 187 to May, B. C. 186.

Aristaenus as Strategus, the ambassadors of king Ptolemy arrived, while the league meeting was assembled at Megalopolis. King Eumenes also had despatched an embassy offering to give the Achaeans one hundred and twenty talents, on condition that it was invested and the interest used to pay the council of the league at the time of the federal assemblies.

Seleucus Philopator succeeded his father Antiochus the Great, B.C. 187. Business of the Achaean assembly. Letter from the Senate on the subject of Philopoemen's actions at Sparta.

Ambassadors came also from king Seleucus, to renew his friendship with them, and offering a present of a fleet of ten ships of war. But when the assembly got to business, the first to come forward to speak was Nicodemus of Elis, who recounted to the Achaeans what he and his colleagues had said in the Roman Senate about Sparta, and read the answer of the Senate; which was to the effect that the Senate disapproved of the destruction of the walls, and of the execution of the men put to death at Compasium, but that it did not rescind any arrangement made. No one saying a word for or against this, the subject was allowed to pass.

Next came the ambassadors from Eumenes, who renewed

The offer of Eumenes.

the ancestral friendship of the king with the Achaeans, and stated to the assembly the offer made by him. They spoke at great length on these subjects, and retired after setting forth the greatness of the king's kindness and affection to the nation.