Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/540

 514 HISTORY OF GREECE. during the proceeding year, bad been actually commenced ; Par menio and Attalus having been sent across to Asia with the first division, to be followed presently by himself with the remaining army. But Philip foresaw that during his absence danger might arise from the furious Olympias, bitterly exasperated by the re- cent events, and instigating her brother Alexander king of Epi- rus, with whom she was now residing. Philip indeed held a Macedonian garrison in Ambrakia, 1 the chief Grecian city on the Epirotic border ; and he had also contributed much to establish Alexander as prince. But he now deemed it essential to concili- ate him still farther, by a special tie of alliance ; giving to him in marriage Kleopatra, his daughter by Olyrapias. 2 For this mar- riage, celebrated at JEgse in Macedonia in August 336 B. c., Philip provided festivals of the utmost cost and splendor, com- memorating at the same time the recent birth of his son by Kleo- patra. 3 Banquets, munificent presents, gymnastic and musical matches, tragic exhibitions,* among which Neoptolemus the actor performed in the tragedy of Kinyras, etc. with every species of attraction known to the age were accumulated, in order to re- concile the dissentient parties in Macedonia, and to render the effect imposing on the minds of the Greeks ; who, from every city, sent deputies for congratulation. Statues of the twelve great gods, admirably executed, were carried in solemn procession into the theatre; immediately after them, the statue of Philip himself as a thirteenth god. 5 and the assassination of Philip. But I incline to think that the marriage with Kleopatra may well have taken place two years or more before that event, and that there may have been a daughter born before the son. Cer- tainly Justin distinguishes the two, stating that the daughter was killed by order of Olympias, and the son by that of Alexander (ix. 7 ; xi. 2). Arrian (iii. 6, 5) seems to mean Kleopatra the wife of Philip, though he speaks of Eurydike". 1 Diodor. xvii. 3. and bearing the same name as Philip's last wife was thus niece of the Epi- rotic Alexander, her husband. Alliances of that degree of kindred were then neither disreputable nor unfrequent. 3 Diodor. xvii. 2. 4 Josephus, Antiq. xix. 1, 13 ; Suetonius, Caligula, c. 57. See Mr. Clin- ton's Appendix (4) on the Kings of Macedonia, Fast. Hellen. p. 230, not*
 * This Kleopatra daughter of Philip, sister of Alexander the Great,
 * Diodcr. xvi. 92.