Pausanias on Lysimachus
Lysimachus (361-281) was one of the Diadochi, the generals who contested the inheritance of Alexander the Great. After the king's death, he was made satrap of Thrace, and fruitlessly fought to enlarge his power. Nevertheless, he accepted the royal title in 305. In the next couple of years, he greatly expanded his power in the Greek world and conquered the rich country that is now Turkey. However, the wars in Thrace were less successful: both his son Agathocles and Lysimachus himself were captured. However, this was balanced by his successes in Asia, and he became very rich and powerful, and tried to conquer Macedonia, with some success. Eventually, he also conquered Thessaly.
His career is described by Pausanias, a Greek author who lived in the second century CE. The translation of Pausanias' Description of Greece 1.9.5-10 was made by M.M. Austin.
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[1.10.1] As long as Philip Arridaeus was king in Macedonia, and after him Cassander and his sons, Lysimachus remained on friendly terms with the Macedonians; but when the throne fell to Demetrius son of Antigonus, then Lysimachus, expecting war from Demetrius, decided to take the initiative. He knew that Demetrius like his father wished to extend his power, and he also saw that, though Demetrius had come to Macedonia at the invitation of Alexander son of Cassander, when he arrived he assassinated Alexander, and seized the throne of Macedonia in his place. |
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[1.10.2] For these reasons he engaged Demetrius in battle near Amphipolis and came within inches of being driven out of Thrace, but Pyrrhus came to his help and he secured Thrace and afterwards established his rule over the Nestian Macedonians;note Pyrrhus himself secured the greater part of Macedonia, having come with an army from Epirus and being for the present on good terms with Lysimachus. When Demetrius crossed over to Asia and made war on Seleucus, the alliance of Pyrrhus and Lysimachus held good as long as Demetrius' fortunes endured; but when Demetrius fell in the power of Seleucus, Lysimachus and Pyrrhus broke their friendship and went to war. Lysimachus fought against Antigonus the son of Demetrius and Pyrrhus himself, gained a decisive victory and took over Macedonia, forcing Pyrrhus to withdraw to Epirus. |
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[1.10.3] Now love is a frequent cause of disaster for men. Although Lysimachus was advanced in years and considered fortunate in his children, and although Agathocles his son had children of his own by Lysandra, Lysimachus nonetheless married Lysandra's sister Arsinoe.note This Arsinoe, fearing that on the death of Lysimachus her children would fall in the power of Agathocles, conspired, it is said, against Agathocles for those reasons. Historians have already related how Arsinoe fell in love with Agathocles, and they say that on being rejected by him she plotted his death. They say too that Lysimachus later got to know of his wife's criminal audacity, but could no longer do anything as he was by now completely abandoned by his friends. |
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[1.10.4] And so since Lysimachus let pass Arsinoe's murder of Agathocles, Lysandra took refuge with Seleucus together with her children and brothers. Alexander, a son of Lysimachus by an Odrysian woman, escaped with them to Seleucus. They all went up to Babylon and implored Seleucus to go to war against Lysimachus; at the same time Philetaerus, who had the charge of Lysimachus' treasure, incensed at the death of Agathocles and apprehensive as to his likely treatment by Arsinoe, seized Pergamon on the Caicus, and sent a messenger to place himself and the treasure in the hands of Seleucus. |
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[1.10.5] On hearing this Lysimachus quickly crossed to Asia and, taking the initiative in the war, engaged Seleucus in battle but suffered a total defeat and was killed. Alexander, his son by the Odrysian woman, after much entreaty of Lysandra recovered his body and later took it to the Chersonese and buried it. His tomb is still visible there between the village of Cardia and Pactye. |