Seleucia
Every detail of these transactions was known to the king:
who, while sending frequent threatening messages to Achaeus,
was now concentrating all his efforts on the preparations for
the war against Ptolemy. note Having accordingly
mustered his forces at Apameia just before
spring, he summoned his friends to advise with
him as to the invasion of Coele-Syria. After many suggestions
had been made in respect to this undertaking, touching the
nature of the country, the military preparation required, and
the assistance to be rendered by the fleet,—Apollophanes of
Seleucia, whom I mentioned before, put an abrupt end to all
these suggestions by remarking that "it was folly
to desire Coele-Syria and to march against that,
while they allowed Seleucia to be held by
Ptolemy, which was the capital, and so to speak,
the very inner shrine of the king's realm. note Besides the disgrace
to the kingdom which its occupation by the Egyptian monarchs
involved, it was a position of the greatest practical importance,
as a most admirable base of operations. Occupied by the
enemy it was of the utmost hindrance to all the king's designs;
for in whatever direction he might have it in his mind to move
his forces, his own country, owing to the fear of danger from
this place, would need as much care and precaution as the
preparations against his foreign enemies. Once taken, on the
-- 411 --
other hand, not only would it perfectly secure the safety of
the home district, but was also capable of rendering effective
aid to the king's other designs and undertakings, whether by
land or sea, owing to its commanding situation." His words
carried conviction to the minds of all, and it was resolved
that the capture of the town should be their first step. For
Seleucia was still held by a garrison for the Egyptian kings;
and had been so since the time of Ptolemy Euergetes, who
took it when he invaded Syria to revenge the murder of
Berenice.
