When Philosophers Led Armies: The Disastrous Athenian Expedition to the Island of Delos
In 88 BC, Athens defected to the King of Pontus, sparking a conflict that saw a philosopher-led army attempt to suppress a pro-Roman rebellion on Delos. The mission ended in a humiliating nighttime slaughter, proving that intellectual prowess does not always translate to the brutal realities of ancient warfare.
The conflict began in 89 BC when Roman general Manius Aquilius attempted to invade the kingdom of Pontus, located in northern Anatolia. The king, Mithridates VI Eupator, responded with a devastating counter-attack that swept away Roman forces and conquered the entire province of Asia within months. These events triggered a political shift in Athens, where the peripatetic philosopher Athenion convinced the city to break its alliance with Rome and align with Mithridates, promising solutions to debt and social unrest.
Delos, an Athenian island and the ancient world's primary slave market, remained loyal to Rome. To quell this rebellion, Athenion dispatched another philosopher, Apellicon of Teos, to lead an expeditionary force. Despite his ownership of Aristotle's library, Apellicon lacked military experience. Upon landing, his troops failed to establish watchtowers or guards. A Roman naval commander named Orbius exploited this negligence, launching a surprise night attack that killed or captured most of the Athenian force. Orbius celebrated his victory by erecting a trophy and an altar on the beach.
The Roman triumph was fleeting. A large Pontic army led by Archelaus soon arrived in Greece, and his lieutenant, Menophanes, was ordered to secure Delos. Following the massacre of Italians in Asia, known as the Asian vespers, Delos suffered a similar fate, with up to 20,000 Italians slaughtered. Archelaus seized the island's treasures and transferred them to Aristion, an epicurean philosopher. Aristion was then sent to Athens with 2,000 men, where he replaced the disgraced Athenion as tyrant. Apellicon eventually escaped to Athens, where he died in 86 BC, the same year the Roman general Sulla seized the city and claimed his library.
Source: Battle of Delos
