Livy, Periochae 111-115

Titus Livius or Livy (59 BCE - 17 CE): Roman historian, author of the authorized version of the history of the Roman republic.

A large part of Livy's History of Rome since the Foundation is now lost, but fortunately we have an excerpt, called the Periochae, which helps us reconstruct the general scope. This translation was made by Jona Lendering.

Chapter
111
112
113
114
115
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

From Book 112 (which is the fourth dealing with the civil war)

[112.1] Itnote tells about the panic and flight of the members of the defeated party to various parts of the world.


[112.2] When Gnaeus Pompey went to Egypt, he was, by order of king Ptolemy (Pompey's own pupil) but at the instigation of Pothinus and the king's influential teacher Theodotus, murdered in a small bark, before he could set foot ashore, by Achillas, who had been commanded to commit this crime.


[112.3] Pompey's wife Cornelia and his son Sextus Pompeius escaped to Cyprus.


[112.4] When Caesar arrived in pursuit on the third day, Theodotus showed him Pompey's head and ring, but Caesar was offended and wept.


[112.5] Without running any risks he entered a riotous Alexandria.


[112.6] Caesar, who had been made dictator, restored Cleopatra as queen of Egypt and he won through - at great personal risk - when Ptolemy attacked him, following the advice of the very men who had advised him to kill Pompey.


[112.7] When Ptolemy made his escape, his ship capsized in the Nile.


[112.8] Itnote also contains an account of the difficult march of Marcus [Porcius] Cato and his legions across the African desert, and an unsuccessful war against [king] Pharnacesnote waged by Gnaeus Domitius.