Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/390

Rh 378 PITIION. Indian provinces, apparently those bordering on the satrapy of Philip. (Id. ib. 15.) Almost imme- diately after this we find him detached with a con- eiderable army to reduce the Indian king Musica- nus, a service which he successfully performed, ^ind brought the chief himself prisoner to Alexander. He again bore an important part in the descent of the Indus, during which he held the separate com- mand of a body of cavalry that marched along the right bank of the river, and rejoined the main army at Pattala. (Arr. Anab. vi. 17, 20; Curt, ix, 8. §16.) From this time we hear no more of him during the life of Alexander : he doubtless remained in his satrapy, the government of which was confirmed to him botii in the first partition of the provinces im- mediately on the king's death, and in the subse- quent arrangements at Triparadeisus, B. c. 321. (Diod. xviii. 3, 39 : Dexippus ap. Phot p. 64, b. ; Arrian. ibid. p. 71, b ; Curt. x. 10. § 4 ; Justin, xiii. 4.) It is remarkable that we do not find him taking any part in the war between Eumenes and Antigonus, and it seems probable that he had at that period been dispossessed of his government by Eudemus, who had established his power over great part of the Indian satrapies. But it is clear that he was unfavourably disposed towards Eume- nes, and after the f;ill of that general, B. c. 316, Pithon was rewarded by Antigonus with the im- portant satrapy of Babylon. From thence how- ever he was recalled in b. c. 314, in order to form one of the council of experienced officers who were selected by Antigonus to assist and control his son Demetrius, to whom he had for the first time entrusted the command of an army. Two years later we again find him filling a similar situation aud united with the youthful Demetrius in the command of the army in Syria. But he in vain opposed the impetuosity of the young prince, who gave battle to Ptolemy at Gaza, notwithstanding all the remonstrances of Pithon and the other old generals. A complete defeat was the consequence, and Pithon himself fell on the field of battle, B. c. 312. (Diod. xix. bQ, 69, 82, 85.) 2. Son of Crateuas or Crateas, a Macedonian of Eordaea, in the service of Alexander, whom we find holding the important post of one of the seven --~iect officers called Somatophylaces, the imme- and spv-iiards of the king's person. (Arr. Anab. vi. the countr^^, ^ye have no information as to the time ance that ti)]jtained, or the services by which he deavour to distinguished position, though, as al- Iriends to prcned, it is not always possible to say In the same ye.- the son of Agenor is the person little respect wh.r the campaigns of Alexander. He family. Urgulaniig the officers in close attendance mother, owed Piscing his last illness (Id. vii. 26 ; when she refused tv-d took a considerable part in before the praetor, Plowed his decease, B. c. 323. of Livia, and insisted s, he Avas the first to propose Tiberius, at the commehe officers that Perdiccas and thought it advisable toippointed regents and guard- yet he was not of a teii-Jng, the expected child of waited for a favourable dsputes between the cavalry self upon his haughty si^d a prominent place among he considered his powrmer. (Curt. x. 7. §§ 4, 8 ; Q. Granius appeared in, a.) His services on this Piso, charging him with e)tten by Perdiccas, who in the emperor's life ; but .nces assigned to Pithon the trial came on (Tac. J?2>,Iedia, (Curt. x. 10. § 4 ; probably the same as theajy. phot. p. 69, a ; Dexip- PITHON. jius, ibid. p. 64, a.) Shortly afterwards he was en- trusted by the regent with the charge of the Mace- donian troops destined to reduce the revolted Greek mercenaries in the upper s;itrapies ; a ser- vice which he accomplished with complete success, and having defeated the insurgents in a decisive battle, granted a free pardon and promise of safety to the survivors. This act of clemenc}^ we are told was secretly designed to attach these troops to himself; but Perdiccas, who suspected his ambi- tious projects, had given private orders to the con- trary, and the unhappy Greeks had no sooner laid down their arms than they were all massacred by the Macedonians. (Diod. xviii. 4, 7 ; Trog. Pomp. Prol. xiii.) It is probable that from this time Pithon had little attachment to the regent, but he made no show of discontent, and rejoined Perdiccas, whom he accompanied on his last expedition to Egypt, B.C. 321. Here, however, the dissatisfaction which soon arose in the anny [Perdiccas] offered a tempting opening to his ambition, and he was the first to put himself at the head of the mutineers, and break out into open insurrection. After the death of Perdiccas the regencj' was entrusted for a time by the advice of Ptolemy to Pithon and Ar- rhidaeus conjointly, but they soon showed them- selves unworthy of so important a trust, and the intrigues of Eurydice compelled them to resign their office even before the arrival of Antipater. (Diod. xviii. 36, 39 ; Arrian. ap. Phot. p. 71, a.) In the distribution of the provinces that followed, Pithon retained his former government of Media, with which, however, he seems to have received, either at this time or shortly after, a more general command over the adjoining provinces of Upper Asia. (Arr. I.e. p. 71, b ; Diod. xviii. 39, xix. 14 ; Dro3'scn, Helknism. vol. i. p. J 52.) Here his am- bitious and restless spirit soon led him to engage in fresh projects : and he took an opportunity, oa Avhat pretext we know not, to dispossess Philip of his satrapy of Parthia, and establish his brother Eudemus in his stead. But this act of aggression at once aroused against him a general confederacy of all the neighbouring satraps, who united their forces, defeated Pithon in a pitched battle, and drove him out of Parthia. Pithon hereupon took refuge with Seleucus at Bab3'lon, who promised to support him, and the two parties were preparing for war, when the approach of Eum.enes and Anti- gonus with their respective armies drew off their attention. The confederate satraps immediately espoused the cause of the former, while Pithon and Seleucus not only rejected all the overtures of Eumenes, but endeavoured to excite an insurrec- tion among the troops of that leader. Failing in this, as well as in their attempts to prevent him from crossing the Tigris and effecting a junction with the satraps, they summoned Antigonus in all haste to their assistance, who advanced to Babj'lon, and there united his forces with those of Seleucus and Pithon in the spring of B.C. 317. (Diod. xix. 12, 14, 15, 17.) During the following campaigns of Antigonus against Eumenes, Pithon rendered the most im- portant services to the former general, who appears to have reposed the utmost confidence in his mili- tary abilities, and assigned him on all important " occasions the second place in the command. Thus we find him commanding the whole left wing of the army of Antigonus in both the decisive actions ;