Quintus Cæcilius Metellus engages and conquers the Achæans, together
with the Bœotians and Chalcidians. Critolaus, their unsuccessful
general, poisons himself; in whose room, the Achæans choose as general,
Diæus, the chief promoter of the insurrection; he also is conquered, in
an engagement near Isthmos, and all Achaia reduced; Corinth was
demolished, by order of the senate, because violence had been done there
to the ambassadors. Thebes also, and Chalcis, for having furnished aid
to the Achæans, were destroyed. Lucius Mummius afforded in himself an
example of extreme forbearance, for, having all the vast wealth and
splendid ornaments of the opulent city of Corinth in his power, he took
none of them. Quintus Cæcilius Metellus triumphs, on account of his
victory, over Andriscus; likewise Publius Cornelius Scipio, for the
conquest of Carthage and Hasdrubal. [Y. R. 607. B. C. 145.] Viriathus,
in Spain, from a shepherd becomes a hunter, then leader of a band of
robbers; afterwards general of a powerful army, with which he possesses
himself of all Lusitania, having vanquished the prætor, Petilius, and
put his army to flight. Caius Plautius, the prætor, sent against him, is
equally unfortunate. So successful was his career, that, at length, it
was deemed necessary to send a consul, at the head of a consular army,
against him. Commotions in Syria, and wars between the kings in those
parts are recorded. Alexander, a man utterly unknown, and of an unknown
race, murders Demetrius, and usurps the crown in Syria: he is afterwards
slain by Demetrius, (son of the before-mentioned Demetrius,) aided by
Ptolemy, king of Egypt, whose daughter he had married. Ptolemy
grievously wounded in the head; dies of the operations intended for the
cure of his wounds; and is succeeded by his younger brother, Ptolemy,
king of Cyrene. Demetrius, by his cruelty towards his subjects, provokes
an insurrection; is vanquished by Diodotus, and flies to Seleucia, while
Diodotus claims the crown for Alexander, a child scarcely two years old.
Lucius Mummius triumphed over the Achæans, and so carried in his triumph
brazen standards, marble statues, and pictures.