Page:History of Greece Vol XII.djvu/313

 SPARTAN MOVF.MENTS AGAINST ALKX.ANDF.R. 281 It was not from Athens, but from Sparta, that anti-Macidon* ian movements now took rise. In the decisive battle unsuccessfully fought by Athens and Thebes at Chajroneia against Philip, the Spartans had not been .'oncerned. Their king Archidamus, — who had been active conjointly with Athens in the Sacred "War, trying to uphold the Phokians against Philip and the Thebans, — had afterwards withdrawn himself from Central Greece to assist the Tarentines in Italy, and had been slain in a battle against the Messapians.* He was succeeded by his son Agis, a brave and enterprising man, under whom the Spartans, though abstaining from hostili- ties against Philip, resolutely declined to take part in the synod at Corinth, whereby the Macedonian prince was nominated Leader of the Greeks ; and even persisted in the same denial on Alexander's nomination also. When Alexander sent to Athens three hundred panoplies after his victory at the Granikus, to be dedicated in the temple of Athene, he expressly proclaimed in the inscription, that they were dedicated " by Alexander and the Greeks, excefthig the Laced<Emonians"'^ -A-gis took the lead in trying to procure Persian aid for anti-Macedonian operations in Greece. Towards the close of summer 333 b. c, a little before the battle of Issus, he visited the Persian admirals at Chios, to solicit men and money for intended action in Peloponnesus.** At that moment, they were not zealous in the direction of Greece, anticipating (as most Asiatics then did) the complete destruction of Alexander in Kilikia. As soon, however, as the disaster of Issus became known, they placed at the disposal of Agis thirty talents and ten triremes ; which he employed, under his brother Agesilaus, in making himself master of Krete — feeling that no movement in Greece could be expected at such a discouraging crisis. Agis himself soon afterwards went to that island, having denies it, saying that Euxenippus had never been in Macedonia, nor ever conversed with any Macedonian who came to Athens. Even boys at school (says Hyperides) know the names of the corrupt orators, or servile flatterers, who serve Macedonia — Euxenippus is not among them (p 11, 12). 1 Plutarch, Camill. 19 ; Diodnr. xvi. 88 ; Plutarcli, A- is, 3. ^ Arrian, ii. 13, 4 • 24*
 * Arrian, i. 16, 11 : compare Pausan. vii. 10, I.