PHIL'OPCE'MEN ( Lat., from Gk. Phi/opointen) (u.c. 252-183). The most illustri ous statesman and general of Greece in the period of her decline, the great object of whose life was to establish the independence of his country on a firm and lasting basis. He was horn at Megalopolis, in Arcadia, of a noble family. At an early age he lost his father, and was brought up by a wealthy citizen of Jlantinea. named Cleander, who secured for him a careful education. He received instruction from the academic philosophers Eedemus and Demo phanes. His first experience in warfare was gained in the border raids which took place between the Arcadians and Laconians, and in B.C. 222 he with a few others defended Megalopolis against the attack of the Spartan King, Cleo menes. In the following year, when the Mace donian King Antigonus came to the assistance of the Ach.eans, Philopremen joined him at the head of a band of horse, and distinguished him self in the battle of Sellasia 221), in which the power of Sparta was completely broken. Philoptemen now went to Crete, where lie lived for several years; on his return in 210 he \A":1s appointed commander of the Aelnean horse, and in the expedition of 209 against Elis distin guished himself for his bravery, slaying with his own hand the Elean leaner, Demophant us. In 20S lie was chosen strategus or comma nder-in-chief of the Ach:can League. a position which he held
ei!it times in all. He at once proceeded to intro duce reforms into the diseipline and armor of the soldiers, and soon, by these means and by his personal influence, made the army a most ef fective instrument of r. In 207 he utterly defeated the Spartans under Maehanidas, and at the Nemean festival which followed he was proclaimed liberator of Greece. In 201 he de feated Nabis. who had succeeded Maehanida as tyrant of Sparta, and soon afterwards made another voyage to Crete. Returning to the Pelo ponnesus in 194, he was appointed strategus in 192, and again defeated Nabis. Shortly after he compelled Sparta to enter the Aehrean League, and when she revolted in ISS lie took the town, razed the walls. and eompelled her to adopt the Aeh:van laws. Ile was in his seventieth year sick in bed when news was brought him that the Messenians had revolted from the League: he im mediately left his bed and took command of the army. In the battle that ensued he was taken and Deinoerates, the Messenian com mander, sent him a eup of poisoned wine, widen he drank. Consult: Plutarch's Life of Philo pu in(); Freeman. History of federal Govern Ho at In Go m 1, owl I tolll (2d ed., London and New York, 13'm31: Mahaffy, Gumpfrc (New York, 1888).