Philip Marches Through Laconia
While the Lacedaemonians were thus thoroughly
terrified at the unexpected danger, and at a loss what to do
to meet it, Philip encamped on the first day at Amyclae:
a place in Laconia about twenty stades from Lacedaemon,
exceedingly rich in forest and corn, and containing a temple
of Apollo, which is about the most splendid of all the
temples in Laconia, situated in that quarter of the city which
slopes down towards the sea. Next day the king descended
to a place called the Camp of Pyrrhus, note wasting the country as
-- 376 --
he went. note After devastating the neighbouring districts for the
two following days, he encamped near Carnium;
thence he started for Asine, and after some
fruitless assaults upon it, he started again, and thenceforth
devoted himself to plundering all the country bordering on
the Cretan Sea as far as Taenarum. note Then, once more
changing the direction of his march, he advanced
to Gythium, the naval arsenal of Sparta, which
possesses a safe harbour, and is about thirty stades from the
city. note Then leaving this on the right, he pitched
his camp in the territory of Helos, which of
all the districts of Laconia is the most extensive and most
beautiful. Thence he sent out foraging parties and wasted
the country with fire and sword, and destroyed the crops in it:
pushing his devastation as far as Acriae and Leucae, and
even to the district of Boeae.
