Gaius Popillius Laenas
Gaius Popillius Laenas was one of the two Roman consuls in 172 BC.
He was sent as an envoy to prevent a war between Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Kingdom of Syria and Egypt. On being confronted with the Roman demands that he abort his attack on Alexandria, Antiochus played for time; Popillius Laenas is supposed to have drawn a circle around the king in the sand with his cane, and ordered him not to move out of it until a firm answer had been given. The Syrians withdrew.
Cicero is one of the sources for this story in his Philippics (8.8).
Referenced By
172 BC | List of Ancient Romans | List of Republican Roman Consuls | List of Roman consuls | List of the Roman Consuls
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