Polydamas of Pharsalus

Family: Pharsalian · Role: proxenos and benefactor · First appears: Book 6, section 1, part 1/2

When Jason threatened to march against Pharsalus unless its people joined him willingly, Polydamas of Pharsalus reported the threat at Lacedaemon and sought assistance. The Lacedaemonians said they could not send sufficient aid and advised him to return and settle his affairs at home.

Back at Pharsalus, he asked Jason not to take the citadel from his keeping, offering his sons as hostages and promising to persuade the city to join Jason and support his appointment as Tagos. After they exchanged assurances, the Pharsalians were left in peace, and ere long Jason was appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians by general consent.

Relationship record

Life events

• Jason told Polydamas he would march against Pharsalus unless its people joined him willingly.(Book 6, section 1, part 1/2)
  • With: Jason
  • “he is minded to march against Pharsalus if we will not hearken to him”
• Polydamas reported Jason’s threat and sought assistance from the Lacedaemonians.(Book 6, section 1, part 1/2 · 📍 Lacedaemon)
  • With: Jason
  • “Accordingly he bade me demand assistance from you”
• The Lacedaemonians refused to send Polydamas sufficient aid and advised him to settle his affairs at home.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Lacedaemon)
  • “For the present they would not be able to send him sufficient aid: under the circumstances they advised him to go back and make the best settlement he could of his own affairs and those of his city.”
• Polydamas and Jason agreed that the citadel would remain in Polydamas’s keeping and Jason could take his sons as hostages.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Pharsalus)
  • With: Jason
  • “The citadel of Pharsalus he begged Jason not to force him to give up: his desire was to preserve it for those who had entrusted it to his safe keeping; his own sons Jason was free to take as hostages, and he would do his best to procure for him the voluntary adhesion of his city by persuasion, and in every way to further his appointment as Tagos of Thessaly.”
• The Pharsalians were left in peace, and Jason was appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians by general consent.(Book 6, section 1, part 2/2 · 📍 Pharsalus)
  • With: Jason
  • “Accordingly, after interchange of solemn assurances between the pair, the Pharsalians were let alone and in peace, and ere long Jason was, by general consent, appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians.”

Book 6, section 1, part 1/2

• with Jason (Jason threatened to subjugate Polydamas's city.) “Under cover of a treaty of peace he has lately conferred with me, and this is the substance of what he urged: 'Polydamas,' he said, 'if I chose I could lay your city at my feet, even against its will, as the following considerations will prove to you.”

Book 6, section 1, part 2/2

• with Jason (They exchanged assurances concerning the citadel and the voluntary adhesion of Pharsalus.) “Accordingly, after interchange of solemn assurances between the pair, the Pharsalians were let alone and in peace, and ere long Jason was, by general consent, appointed Tagos of all the Thessalians.”
• with Jason (Polydamas negotiated with Jason about the citadel and offered to support his appointment.) “The citadel of Pharsalus he begged Jason not to force him to give up: his desire was to preserve it for those who had entrusted it to his safe keeping; his own sons Jason was free to take as hostages, and he would do his best to procure for him the voluntary adhesion of his city by persuasion, and in every way to further his appointment as Tagos of Thessaly.”

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Extracted from the original text of Hellenica. Made with Rho MD.