Philip In Cephallenia
Just at that time the Aetolian Strategus Dorimachus
sent Agelaus and Scopas with five hundred Neo-Cretans note into
Elis; while the Eleans, in fear of Philip's attempting the siege
of Cyllene, were collecting mercenaries, preparing their own
citizens, and carefully strengthening the defences of Cyllene.
When Philip saw what was going on, he stationed a force at
Dyme, consisting of the Achaean-mercenaries, some of the
Cretans serving with him, and some of the Gallic horse,
together with two thousand picked Achaean infantry. These he
left there as a reserve, as well as an advance guard to prevent
the danger of an attack from Elis; while he himself, having
first written to the Acarnanians and Scerdilaidas, that each of
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their towns should man such vessels as they had and meet him
at Cephallenia, put to sea from Patrae at the time arranged, and
arrived off Pronni in Cephallenia. But when he saw that this
fortress was difficult to besiege, and its position a contracted
one, he coasted past it with his fleet and came
to anchor at Palus. note Finding that the country
there was full of corn and capable of supporting
an army, he disembarked his troops and encamped close to
the city: and having beached his ships close together, secured
them with a trench and palisade, and sent out his Macedonian
soldiers to forage. He himself made a personal inspection of the
town, to see how he could bring his siege-works and artillery to
bear upon the wall. He wished to be able to use the place as a
rendezvous for his allies; but he was also desirous of taking it:
first, because he would thereby deprive the Aetolians of their
most useful support,—for it was by means of Cephallenian
ships that they made their descents upon the Peloponnese, and
ravaged the sea-boards of Epirus and Acarnania,—and,
secondly, that he might secure for himself and his allies a
convenient base of operations against the enemy's territory.
For Cephallenia lies exactly opposite the Corinthian Gulf, in
the direction of the Sicilian Sea, and commands the northwestern district of the Peloponnese, and especially Elis; as well
as the south-western parts of Epirus, Aetolia, and Acarnania.
