"The Last of the Greeks."

Philopoemen is the last character in Greek history of the old heroic type, and so is called "the last of the Greeks." He was born in Arcadia, 252 B.C., of a noble family, and was carefully educated in Crete. During the troublesome times that followed the death of Alexander the Great, 323 B.C., several small states of Achaia formed a league or confederacy for mutual protection. Philopoemen was chosen commander-in-chief of the Achaean league in 208 B.C., a position which he held eight times. It was his policy to put down all internal dissensions and feuds in order to prevent the Romans from interfering in Greek affairs. But his plans were baffled by the fickleness of his countrymen and the aggressiveness of the Roman senate. However, he achieved many brilliant victories, and compelled the Spartans to join the Achaean league, which did much towards the establishment of an united Greece. When the Messenians revolted against the league, Philopoemen was an old man and sick in bed, yet he arose immediately and took his place at the head of the confederate army. During the battle he was taken prisoner and condemned to drink the poisoned cup. As it was handed to him he asked the bearer if he knew what had become of the Achaean cavalry, and especially of his friend Lycortas. The answer was "They have retired in safety." "Then I die not altogether unhappy," said the aged general as he emptied the cup and died, B.C. 183. Statues of Philopoemen were erected in most of the Greek cities. Greece became a Roman province in 146 B.C.