ABSTRACT
Chremonides, however, does not seem to have played a decisive political role before the outbreak of the war which was already known by his name in ancient times. The Chremonidean war had been sought by men of moderate tendencies, friends of Demochares; and their defeat, more than the triumph of any particular party, meant that Athens was finally losing all importance as a political power. Athens had to face Macedon practically alone, and endured a two-year siege at the end of which she capitulated. Even if people admit that the Macedonian garrison remained in control of the Piraeus, the position of Athens seems to have been relatively favourable. The anarchy that prevailed in Macedonia obviously helped to foster that illusion, as did the relative stability now achieved in the East; but the Celtic invasion was to provide Antigonos Gonatas, hitherto a 'king without a kingdom' with the opportunity to become master of Macedonia.
