(), a Macedonian officer in the service of
Antigonus Doson, king of Macedonia, who had risen to so high a place in the confidence of that
monarch that the latter appointed him, by his last will, to command the royal troops in the
Peloponnese during the minority of Philip V. (Plb. 4.6, 87.) In this position we find him in B. C.
221, assisting the Achaean praetor Timoxenus in reducing the strong post of Clarium,
which had been occupied by the Aetolians; and again, in B. C. 220,
co-operating with Aratus against the in-roads of the Aetolians, which terminated in the battle
of Caphyae and the destruction of Cynaetha. (Id. 4.6, 10, 19.) In B. C.
218, when Philip in person led an army into the Peloponnese, we once more find Taurion
mentioned as rendering efficient assistance to his youthful sovereign in the invasion of Elis.
So great indeed was the reputation and influence' which he now enjoyed, that Apelles deemed it
absolutely necessary, for the furtherance of his ambitious designs, to remove Taurion from the
important post which he held, an object which he sought to effect under the pretext of
attaching him more closely to the king's person. His designs were, however, detected, and
Philip gave a fresh proof of his confidence in Taurion by placing under his command the troops
whose fidelity had been corrupted by Leontius. (Id. 4.80, 87, 5.27.) From this time we find
him retaining the chief direction of the war in the Peloponnese, as well as rendering other
important services: thus, in B. C. 217, we field him sent, together
with Aratus, to treat with the Aetolians at Naupactus. He had, however, already displayed some
jealousy of the Achaean leader, and appears to have done his best to inflame the growing
enmity of Philip towards Aratus, until he at length lent his aid to the young king to remove
his former friend and counsellor by means of secret poison, B. C.
214. (Id. 5.92. 95, 103, 8.14; Plat. Arat. 52.) The part taken by
Taurion in this transaction, is sufficient evidence of his character; and it is to him, in
conjunction with Demetrius the Pharian, that Polybius imputes the blame of perverting and
corrupting the naturally good disposition of Philip. (Plb. 9.23.)