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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;John Anthony, post: 2140774, member: 42773&quot;]The matter between Antiochus IV and Gaius Popillius Laenas, in Polybius&#039; words...</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;27 1 At the time when Antiochus approached Ptolemy and meant to occupy Pelusium, Caius Popilius Laenas, the Roman commander, on Antiochus greeting him from a distance and then holding out his hand, handed to the king, as he had it by him, the copy of the senatus-consultum, and told him to read it first, not thinking it proper, as it seems to me, to make the conventional sign of friendship before he knew if the intentions of him who was greeting him were friendly or hostile. 4 But when the king, after reading it, said he would like to communicate with his friends about this intelligence, Popilius acted in a manner which was thought to be offensive and exceedingly arrogant. 5 He was carrying a stick cut from a vine, and with this he drew a circle round Antiochus and told him he must remain inside this circle until he gave his decision about the contents of the letter. 6 The king was astonished at this authoritative proceeding, but, after a few moments&#039; hesitation, said he would do all that the Romans demanded. Upon this Popilius and his suite all grasped him by the hand and greeted him warmly. 7 The letter ordered him to put an end at once to the war with Ptolemy. 8 So, as a fixed number of days were allowed to him, he led his army back to Syria, deeply hurt and complaining indeed, but yielding to circumstances for the present.&quot; Polybius, <i>Histories</i>, xxix, 27.</p><p><br /></p><p>Poor Antiochus was told to take his toys and go home. You don&#039;t mess with Rome! I can just see him on the march back to Syria. Razza-frazza...stupid Romans...won&#039;t let me kick Ptolemy&#039;s butt...grumble mumble.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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