Diodorus Siculus - Macedonians vs Greeks

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 Once again we will quote an excerpt from the works of the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus.

In an earlier post we wrote about how Diodorus separated Macedonians from Greeks based on "race".

Today's example fits seamlessly into Diodorus' view. In addition, the following quotes come from the same work and the same book as the example mentioned above.

Brief info about Diodorus Siculus

Diodorus Siculus was an ancient Greek historian who lived in the 1st century BC. Almost nothing is known about his life.

He came from Agyrion (Agira) in Sicily and spent a long time in Rome and Egypt (during the time of the 180th Olympiad, i.e. in the period 60/59 to 57/56 BC).

Diodorus' historical work, written in Greek, is called Diodori Siculi Bibliotheca historica and is a universal history in 40 books, of which books 1–5, 11–16 and 18–20 have been preserved.

As far as we know, it is the most comprehensive historical work written by a Greek in antiquity and which has been handed down to us, at least in part, and at the same time forms the "conclusion of Hellenistic historiography".

Macedonians vs Greeks on the battlefield

Today, modern Greeks like to claim that the ancient Macedonians were actually nothing other than Greeks. History, however, as in our example of Seneca, offers countless legacies that clearly contradict and refute such claims.

As we will see below, from a passage by Seneca from his History, Book 18 (Chapters 17 and 18).

There he clearly differentiates between Macedonians and Greeks when he reports on a battle. When Craterus, who came to the aid of Antipater, defeated the Greeks and ended the Lamian War. The differentiation is particularly clear in section 17.4, when Seneca reports on the casualties of the battle from both camps.

Below you can read the passages published in volume 9 of the 1947 edition of the Loeb Classical Library. The chapter is subtitled "How Craterus, going to the aid of Antipater, defeated the Greeks and ended the Lamian War"


17.1 The Greeks who were encamped against them at this time were far inferior in numbers; for many of them, despising the enemy because of their former good fortune, had gone away to their own cities to  p61 look after their private affairs. 

17.2 Since many soldiers were absent from duty for this reason, there remained in camp only twenty-five thousand foot soldiers and thirty-five hundred cavalry. They placed their chief hope of victory in the latter, because the men were brave and the ground was level.

17.3 At last Antipater began to draw up his forces each day and challenge the Greeks to battle. For a while these waited for their men to return from their cities, but since time was pressing, they were forced to come out and stake all. They drew up their lines, placing the cavalry in front of the phalanx of infantry, since they were eager to decide the battle by means of this arm. 

17.4 When the cavalry had met in battle and the Thessalian horsemen were getting the advantage because of their valour, Antipater led out his own phalanx and, rushing upon the infantry of the enemy, began to make great slaughter. The Greeks, since they were not able to withstand the weight and number of the enemy, immediately withdrew to the rough ground, carefully keeping their ranks. Thus they occupied the higher ground and easily repulsed the Macedonians thanks to their possession of the superior position. 

17.5 Although the Greek cavalry had gained the advantage, as soon as the horsemen learned of the withdrawal of the infantry, they at once retired toward them. Then, after such a combat as I have described, the battle was broken off, as the scales of victory swung in favour of the Macedonians. More than five hundred of the Greeks were killed in the battle, and one hundred and thirty of the Macedonians. 

18.1 Antipater, after he had destroyed the alliance of the Greeks by this device, led all his forces against the Athenians. The people, bereft of the aid of their allies, were in great perplexity. All turned to  Demades and shouted that he must be sent as envoy to Antipater to sue for peace; but, although he was called on by name to give advice, he did not respond.

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