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in that of Poseidon （Neptune） in the isle of Calaurea； near Troezen。 But the satellites of Antipater； under the guidance of a Thurian named Archias who had formerly been an actor； tore them from their sanctuaries。 Hyperides was carried to Athens； and it is said that Antipater took the brutal and cowardly revenge of ordering his tongue to be cut out； and his remains to be thrown to the dogs。 Demosthenes contrived at least to escape the insults of the tyrannical conqueror。 Archias at first endeavoured to entice him from his sanctuary by the blandest promises； But Demosthenes； forewarned； it is said； by a dream； fixing his eyes intently on him； exclaimed； 〃Your acting； Archias； never touched me formerly； nor do your promises now。〃 And when Archias began to employ threats； 〃Good；〃 said Demosthenes； 〃now you speak as from the Macedonian tripod； before you were only playing a part。 But wait awhile； and let me write my last directions to my family。〃 So taking his writing materials； he put the reed into his mouth； and bit it for some time； as was his custom when composing； after which he covered his head with his garment and reclined against a pillar。 The guards who accompanied Archias； imagining this to be a mere trick； laughed and called him coward； whilst Archias began to renew his false persuasions。 Demosthenes； feeling the poison workfor such it was that he had concealed in the reed now bade him lead on。 〃You may now；〃 said he； 〃enact the part of Creon； and cast me out unburied； but at least； O gracious Poseidon； I have not polluted thy temple by my death which Antipater and his Macedonians would not have scrupled at。〃 But whilst he was endeavouring to walk out； he fell down by the altar and expired。
The history of Alexander's successors is marked from first to last by dissension； crimes； and unscrupulous ambition。 It is only necessary for the purpose of the present work to mention very briefly the most important events。
Alexander on his death…bed is said to have given his signet…ring to Perdiccas； but he had left no legitimate heir to his throne； though his wife Roxana was pregnant。 On the day after Alexander's death a military council was assembled； in which Perdiccas assumed a leading part； and in which； after much debate； an arrangement was at length effected on the following basis： That Philip Arrhidaeus； a young man of weak intellect； the half…brother of Alexander （being the son of Philip by a Thessalian woman named Philinna）； should be declared king； reserving however to the child of Roxana if a son should be born； a share in the sovereignty： that the government of Macedonia and Greece should be divided between Antipater and Craterus： that Ptolemy should preside over Egypt and the adjacent countries： that Antigonus should have Phrygia Proper； Lycia； and Pamphylia： that the Hellespontine Phrygia should be assigned to Leonnatus： that Eumenes should have the satrapy of Paphlagonia and Cappadocia； which countries； however； still remained to be subdued： and that Thrace should be committed to Lysimachus。 Perdiccas reserved for himself the command of the horse…guards； the post before held by Hephaestion； in virtue of which he became the guardian of Philip Arrhidaeus； the nominal sovereign。 It was not for some time after these arrangements had been completed that the last rites were paid to Alexander's remains。 They were conveyed to Alexandria； and deposited in a cemetery which afterwards became the burial…place of the Ptolemies。 Nothing could exceed the magnificence of the funeral car； which was adorned with ornaments of massive gold； and was so heavy； that it was more than a year in being conveyed from Babylon to Syria； though drawn by 84 mules。 In due time Roxana was delivered of a son； to whom the name of Alexander was given； and who was declared the partner of Arrhidaeus in the empire。 Roxana had previously inveigled Statira and her sister Drypetis to Babylon； where she caused them to be secretly assassinated。
Perdiccas possessed more power than any of Alexander's generals； and he now aspired to the Macedonian throne。 His designs； however； were not unknown to Antigonus and Ptolemy ； and when he attempted to bring Antigonus to trial for some offence in the government of his satrapy； that general made his escape to Macedonia； where he revealed to Antipater the full extent of the ambitious schemes of Perdiccas； and thus at once induced Antipater and Craterus to unite in a league with him and Ptolemy； and openly declare war against the regent。 Thus assailed on all sides； Perdiccas resolved to direct his arms in the first instance against Ptolemy。 In the spring of B。C。 321 he accordingly set out on his march against Egypt； at the head of a formidable army； and accompanied by Philip Arrhidaeus； and Roxana and her infant son。 He advanced without opposition as far as Pelusium； but he found the banks of the Nile strongly fortified and guarded by Ptolemy； and was repulsed in repeated attempts to force the passage of the river； in the last of which； near Memphis； he lost great numbers of men by the depth and rapidity of the current。 Perdiccas had never been popular with the soldiery； and these disasters completely alienated their affections。 A conspiracy was formed against him； and some of his chief officers murdered him in his tent。
The death of Perdiccas was followed by a fresh distribution of the provinces of the empire。 At a meeting of the generals held at Triparadisus in Syria； towards the end of the year 321 B。C。； Antipater was declared regent； retaining the government of Macedonia and Greece； Ptolemy was continued in the government of Egypt； Seleucus received the satrapy of Babylon； whilst Antigonus not only retained his old province； but was rewarded with that of Susiana。
Antipater did not long survive these events。 He died in the year 318； at the advanced age of 80； leaving Polysperchon； one of Alexander's oldest generals； regent； much to the surprise and mortification of his son Cassander； who received only the secondary dignity of Chiliarch； or commander of the cavalry。 Cassander was now bent on obtaining the regency； but seeing no hope of success in Macedonia； he went over to Asia to solicit the assistance of Antigonus。
Polysperchon； on his side； sought to conciliate the friendship of the Grecian states； by proclaiming them all free and independent； and by abolishing the oligarchies which had been set up by Antipater。 In order to enforce these measures； Polysperchon prepared to march into Greece； whilst his son Alexander was despatched beforehand with an army towards Athens to compel the Macedonian garrison under the command of Nicanor to evacuate Munychia。 Nicanor； however； refused to move without orders from Cassander； whose general he declared himself to be。 Phocion was suspected of intriguing in favour of Nicanor； and being accused of treason； fled to Alexander； now encamped before the walls of Athens。 Alexander sent Phocion to his father； who sent him back to Athens in chains； to be tried by the Athenian people。 The theatre； where his trial was to take place； was soon full to overflowing。 Phocion was assailed on every side by the clamours of his enemies； which prevented his defence； from being heard； and he was condemned to death by a show of hands。 To the last Phocion maintained his calm and dignified； but somewhat contemptuous bearing。 When some wretched man spat upon him as he passed to the prison； 〃Will no one；〃 said he； 〃check this fellow's indecency？〃 To one who asked him whether he had any message to leave for his son Phocus； he answered； 〃Only that he bear no grudge against the Athenians。〃 And when the hemlock which had been prepared was found insufficient for all the condemned； and the jailer would not furnish more unless he was paid for it； 〃Give the man his money；〃 said Phocion to one of his friends； 〃since at Athens one cannot even die for nothing。〃 He died in B。C。 317； at the age of 85。 The Athenians afterwards repented of their conduct towards Phocion。 His bones； which had been cast out on the frontiers of Megara； were brought back to Athens； and a bronze statue was erected to his memory。
Whilst Alexander was negotiating with Nicanor about the surrende