Antigonus and the Greeks

Antigonus lacked any institutional means of controlling the Greeks, such as the League of Corinth, so he resorted to more repressive measures. Even under the kings, the Greek states had considerable local freedom, and the pace of local political life scarcely slackened in the third century. But many of the states were impoverished, so that they became dependent on handouts from the kings, and came also to rely on their wealthy citizens to supply money and hold political offices. Antigonus’s measures were focused largely on the Peloponnese, where he imposed or supported sole rulers (“tyrants”), and installed military garrisons as well. Much of the Peloponnese became effectively occupied territory. At the same time, he was attacking Ptolemaic possessions in Asia Minor. But resentment built up in Greece, and an alliance between Ptolemy, Athens, and the Peloponnesians led to the Chremonidean War (268-262). I go into as much detail as can be recovered about this war, which Antigonus resoundingly won, and the naval battle of Cos against Ptolemy that followed and limited Egyptian encroachment on the Aegean. In celebration, Antigonus enhanced the sacred island of Delos with festivals and a magnificent stoa.