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TIMAEUS: THE HISTORIES
Part 1

The Greek historian, banished from Sicily, traveled to Athens and soon joined the personal retinue of a prominent statesman, Chremonides Aithalidos Attikos. In 272 B.C. he began work on what would later become known as "The Histories", but which started off as the chronicles of the formation of the Koinon Hellenon, or Hellenic League, and the subsequent wars with Macedon.

Timaues of Sicily, historian and author of "The Histories".

Chremonides was a shameless, self-centered man who wasn’t much liked by those that knew him or had crossed paths with him. However he was a slick politician and a rhetorical expert who knew how to get what he wanted.

Chremonides of Athens, mastermind behind creation of the Hellenic League.

And what he wanted was protection against the encroaching Macedonians. He spread rumors that the Macedonian king, Antigonos, had grand plans of conquering all the Hellenes of the known world if he was successful in his campaign against Athens.

Antigonos, King of Macedonia, enemy of the Hellenes.

In the face of this growing threat from Macedon, Chremonides brought together the Greek city-states of Sparta and Rhodes, together with Athens, to form a coalition against Antigonos, who was now at the doorstep of his city.

The Koinon Hellenon; three formerly bitter rivals, joined together for common defense against the Macedonians.

Agathokles of Rhodes was an important politician and an influential man in the city. He was a main part of the talks for reaching an agreement and bringing together the city-states. However he was an old man by this time and wouldn’t play a major role in upcoming events, dying soon after the formation of the league in the fall of 272 B.C.

Agathokles of Rhodes, chief member of Rhodian participation in the League.

King Areus of Sparta was the other main component of the Hellenic League. Being a sharp man, he realized the need for Athens to retain its sovereignty over Macedon in order to keep his own city safe, and joined with Athens and Rhodes as the final piece of the puzzle. However, he demanded to be named Hegemon of the confederation if he was to include Sparta, which Chremonides and Agathokles reluctantly agreed to in order to finalize the treaty.

King Areus of Sparta, Hegemon of the Koinon Hellenon.

His son, Akrotatos, was named as his heir to this position in a brash move by King Areus. The boy was a superb administrator, acting as governor of Sparta in the absence of his father. He was considered a bit too welcoming to foreigners and would eventually become a subject of rumors and come under suspicion for having ties to the Macedonians.

Akrotatos, son of Areus, heir to the Spartan throne as well as Hegemon of the Hellenic League.


In the next few hours, we will be looking at the events that followed the creation of the Hellenic League, and especially the writings of Timaeus who chronicled in detail most of the battles that would take place in the ensuing wars.

Coming up, the first engagements of the conflict.



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