Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/283

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THEBANS IN ASIA. 2y. ihe moment immediately preceding their ruin since we find him henceforward master of Thermopylae, and speedily opening his communications with Thessaly. 1 Besides this extension of domin- ion to the north and east of Phokis, Onomarchus also invaded Bce- otia. The Thebans, now deprived of their northern allies, did not at first meet iiim in the field, so that he was enabled to capture Orchomenus. But when he proceeded to attack Chjeroneia, they made an effective effort to relieve the place. They brought out their forces, and defeated him, in an action not very decisive, yet sufficient to constrain him to retire into Phokis. Probably the Thebans were at this time much pressed, and prevented from acting effectively against the Phokians, by want of money. We know at least that in the midst of the Phokian war they hired out a force of 5000 hoplites commanded by Pammenes, to Artabazus the revolted Phrygian satrap. Here Pammenes with his soldiers acquired some renown, gaining two important victories over the Persians. 9 The Thebans, it would seem, having no fleet and no maritime dependencies, were less afraid of giving offeree to the Great King than Athens hac 1 been, when she interdicted Chares from aiding Artabazus, and acquiesced in the unfavorable pacification which terminated the Social War. How long Pam- menes and the Thebans remained in Asia, we are not informed. But in spite of the victories gained by them, Artabazus was not 1 Diodor. xvi. 33. His account of the operations of Onomarchus is, as asual, very meagre slf 6e rrjv Tro^e/iiav e/ifiaXuv, Qpoviov /J.EV eKncliiopKf/- sa E^7iv6paTco6iaaTo, 'A/j.ij>iaael de KaTaTr/.Tj^a/ievof, ruf 6' kv Aupievai TTO- /.f irooV7]ea rr/v %upav avruv edijuaev. That Thronium, with Alponus and Niksea, were the three places which commanded the pass of Thermopylae and that all the three were in pos- session of the Phokians immediately before they were conquered by Philip of Macedon in 346 u. c. we know from JEschines, Fals. Leg. p. 286. c. 41. ..... ;r/3e(j/3f Trpdf fyiof (the Athenians) r/Wov en &UKEUV, /3orj^Eiv avrolf

  • e7ivovTE f, KO.I enayye?*.?i6[j.Evoi irapaSuaetv ' A^TTUVOV /cat Qpoviov ical Ninaiav,

tH TUV Trap66av ruv elf HiAaf ;^wpia Kvpia. In order to conquer Thronium, Onomarchus must have marched through and mastered the Epiknemidian Lokrians ; and though no place excepl Thiwnium is specified by Diodorus, t seems plain that Onomarchus can not have conquered Thronium alont.

  • Diodor. xvi. 34.

22*