in the second division between the phalanx and the
left wing of heavy cavalry, and, when these gave way,
the cuirassiers who had already fallen into disorder
also fled. The phalanx, which had just allowed
the light troops to pass through and was preparing
to advance against the Roman legions, was hampered
by the attack of the cavalry in flank, and compelled
to stand still and to form front on both sides—a
movement which the depth of its disposition favoured.
Had the heavy Asiatic cavalry been at hand, the battle
might have been restored; but the left wing was shattered,
and the right, led by Antiochus in person, had driven
before it the little division of Roman cavalry opposed
to it, and had reached the Roman camp, which was with
great difficulty defended from its attack. In
this way the cavalry were at the decisive moment absent
from the scene of action. The Romans were careful
not to assail the phalanx with their legions, but
sent against it the archers and slingers, not one
of whose missiles failed to take effect on the densely-crowded
mass. The phalanx nevertheless retired slowly
and in good order, till the elephants stationed in
the interstices became frightened and broke the ranks.
Then the whole army dispersed in tumultuous flight;
an attempt to hold the camp failed, and only increased
the number of the dead and the prisoners. The
estimate of the loss of Antiochus at 50,000 men is,
considering the infinite confusion, not incredible;
the legions of the Romans had never been engaged,
and the victory, which gave them a third continent,
cost them 24 horsemen and 300 foot soldiers.
Asia Minor submitted; including even Ephesus, whence
the admiral had hastily to withdraw his fleet, and
Sardes the residence of the court.
Conclusion of Peace
Expedition against the Celts of Asia Minor
Regulation of the Affairs of Asia Minor
The king sued for peace and consented to the terms
proposed by the Romans, which, as usual, were just
the same as those offered before the battle and consequently
included the cession of Asia Minor. Till they
were ratified, the army remained in Asia Minor at the
expense of the king; which came to cost him not less
than 3000 talents (730,000 pounds). Antiochus
himself in his careless fashion soon consoled himself
for the loss of half his kingdom; it was in keeping
with his character, that he declared himself grateful
to the Romans for saving him the trouble of governing
too large an empire. But with the day of Magnesia
Asia was erased from the list of great states; and
never perhaps did a great power fall so rapidly, so
thoroughly, and so ignominiously as the kingdom of
the Seleucidae under this Antiochus the Great.
He himself was soon afterwards (567) slain by the
indignant inhabitants of Elymais at the head of the
Persian gulf, on occasion of pillaging the temple
of Bel, with the treasures of which he had sought
to replenish his empty coffers.