Pausanias Analysis

Not far from the marketplace there is a theater, and beside it pedestals which formerly bore bronze images; the statues themselves no longer remain. Upon one of these pedestals there is an elegiac inscription stating that this was the statue of Philopoemen. This Philopoemen is remembered by the Greeks to an exceptional and indeed to the greatest degree, both for the wisdom he manifested and for the boldness he showed by his deeds.

As regards noble lineage, Philopoemen's father Craugis was second to none among the Arcadians at Megalopolis. But when Craugis died while Philopoemen was still an infant boy, a Mantinean named Cleander served as his guardian, a man who had fled Mantinea and settled in Megalopolis owing to a domestic misfortune, and who had previous guest-friendship ties with the household of Craugis. It is said that Philopoemen studied under various teachers, among whom were Megalophanes and Ecdelus; these men are said to have been pupils of Arcesilaus of Pitane.

In terms of bodily size and physical strength he excelled beyond any of the Peloponnesians, but the appearance of his face was ugly. He disdained to train for athletic crown-contests, but cultivated his own land and did not neglect to rid it even of wild beasts. They say he also used to read books of the sophists popular among the Greeks as well as any works dealing with military history and books providing instruction in military tactics. He willingly arranged his entire way of life around the thought and deeds of Epaminondas, striving to imitate him in every respect, though he could not equal Epaminondas in everything; for Epaminondas’ character possessed many virtues, especially a remarkable gentleness in moments of anger, whereas the Arcadian had a temperament rather prone to passion.

But when Cleomenes captured Megalopolis, Philopoemen was not dismayed by the unexpected calamity; instead, he rescued the two most vulnerable groups among the population, namely the women and children, bringing them safely into Messene, since at that time the Messenians were both allies and friendly to them. Now, among those who had escaped, there were some whom Cleomenes was trying to persuade to reconsider their daring stance and to come to terms and make peace agreements with the Megalopolitans, so that they might return to their own homes. But Philopoemen convinced the citizens collectively to return home only fully armed and to avoid entering into agreements or treaties altogether.

When the battle at Sellasia took place against Cleomenes and the Lacedaemonians, in which the Achaeans with Arcadians from all their cities fought alongside Antigonus, who had brought an army from Macedonia, Philopoemen at that time was posted among the horsemen. However, when he saw that the decisive issue would largely depend upon the infantry, he voluntarily became a foot soldier. Fighting in a manner worthy of renown, he was wounded by one of his opponents, who drove a spear right through both his thighs.

Nevertheless, although restrained even to such a degree, he bent his knees and struggled forward with such force that he broke the spear shaft against his legs in the movement. After the Lacedaemonians and Cleomenes were overcome, and Philopoemen had returned to the camp, the physicians removed from both his thighs the spear-tip from one thigh and the butt-spike from the other. When Antigonus learned of this and saw his remarkable bravery, he was eager to persuade Philopoemen to accompany him into Macedonia.

He, indeed, had little care for Antigonus; sailing instead to Crete—for the island was then troubled by civil war—he was appointed commander of mercenary troops. Upon his return to Megalopolis, he was immediately chosen by the Achaeans to command their cavalry, and soon proved them the finest horsemen among the Greeks. Later, while the Achaeans and their allies fought around the river Larissus against the Eleans and the Aetolians aiding them out of kinship, he first personally slew Demophantus, commander of the enemy cavalry, and afterwards routed the rest of the cavalry of both the Aetolians and the Eleans.