Histories

If he gained their friendship he thought he would easily become master of the seas, as truly he would have been. On land he supposed himself to be by much the stronger, and he accordingly reckoned that thus he would have the upper hand of the Greeks. This chanced to be the prediction of the oracles which counseled him to make the Athenians his ally. It was in obedience to this that he sent his messenger.

This Alexander was seventh in descent from Perdiccas, who got for himself the tyranny of Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia in the way that I will show. Three brothers of the lineage of Temenus came as banished men from Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos to +Illyria (region (general)), Europe Illyria, Gauanes and Aeropus and Perdiccas; and from +Illyria (region (general)), Europe Illyria they crossed over into the highlands of Macedonia (region (general)), EuropeMacedonia till they came to the town Lebaea.

There they served for wages as thetes in the king's household, one tending horses and another oxen. Perdiccas, who was the youngest, tended the lesser flocks. Now the king's wife cooked their food for them, for in old times the ruling houses among men, and not the common people alone, were lacking in wealth.