|
This Battus left a son called Arcesilaus, who, when he came to the
throne, had dissensions with his brothers, which ended in their
quitting him and departing to another region of Libya, where, after
consulting among themselves, they founded the city, which is still
called by the name then given to it, Barca. At the same time they
endeavoured to induce the Libyans to revolt from Cyrene. Not long
afterwards Arcesilaus made an expedition against the Libyans who had
received his brothers and been prevailed upon to revolt; and they,
fearing his power, fled to their countrymen who dwelt towards the
east. Arcesilaus pursued, and chased them to a place called Leucon,
which is in Libya, where the Libyans resolved to risk a battle.
Accordingly they engaged the Cyrenaeans, and defeated them so
entirely that as many as seven thousand of their heavy-armed were slain
in the fight. Arcesilaus, after this blow, fell sick, and, whilst
he was under the influence of a draught which he had taken, was
strangled by Learchus, one of his brothers. This Learchus was
afterwards entrapped by Eryxo, the widow of Arcesilaus, and put to death.
|
|