The appearance of Antigonus with an army before Argos implies a series of events, which are scarcely noticed by any of the authors who have preserved fragments of the history of this period. Pausanias says the most, when he mentions that, while Pyrrhus was occupied with the invasion of Greece, Antigonus recovered the Macedonian cities. Pyrrhus, as we have seen, had given some offence to the national feelings, and even without such an occasion, it would not have been surprising that a revolution should have taken place during his absence. But the recovery of places in Macedonia cannot have been the first or chief object that engaged the attention of Antigonus. For the present all he wanted was an army to enable him to meet his rival in Greece, and in this period nothing was easier than to raise one. There were every where military adventurers ready to flock to any standard which held out a prospect of prey or plunder. It is probable that, as soon as he had collected a sufficient force, he began his march, reserving the settlement of Macedonia for his future leisure. After the fall of Pyrrhus, the greater part of his army, which was chiefly composed of Macedonians, seems to have passed into the service of Antigonus.

Greece was now permitted to enjoy another short interval of repose, while Philip returned to Macedonia, where his presence was needed to protect his north-west frontier against the inroads of Scerdilaidas. He was fully occupied in this quarter during the rest of the summer of 217, and in the ensuing winter he increased his navy with 200 new galleys built on the Illyrian model. In the spring he embarked his forces, and sailed round Peloponnesus into the Adriatic. Though Italy was uppermost in his thoughts, so as to haunt his dreams, he thought it necessary, before he crossed the channel, to secure his dominions more effectually against Scerdilaidas, and for this purpose resolved to make an expedition to the coast of Illyria. He expected, it seems, that the Romans would send succours to Scerdilaidas, as in fact the Illyrian, when he heard of Philip's maritime preparations, had requested them to do; and he therefore waited for some time between Cephallenia and Leucas, to ascertain the movements of the Roman fleet. But having learnt that it was still at Lilybæum, he sailed up toward Apollonia, and had anchored near the mouth of the Aous, when he received advice that Roman galleys had been seen at Rhegium bound for Apollonia. Believing that the whole Roman fleet was at hand, he gave immediate orders for retreat, and, as if chased by a victorious enemy, pushed forward day and night until he reached Cephallenia.

obj-d>Biertes Rapitel. 227 – 221

obj-d>Drittes Rapitel 275 – 262

obj-d>3meites Rapitel 247 – 239

obj-d>smeites Rapitel 280–275

obj-d>Drittes Rapitel. 239 – 227

obj-d>nacbtráge und Berbesserungen

obj-d>Die bellenisticben Solonien des Dstens