A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Τηλεκλῆς), was one of the ambassadors sent by the Achaeans to Rome, in B. C. 160, to solicit the restoration of the remnant of the 1000 exiles, who had been taken by the Romans to Italy, in B. C. 167, after the conquest of Macedonia. Telecles and his colleague Xenon, were especially enjoined to intercede on behalf of Polybius and Stratius, and to use towards the Roman senate no language but that of supplication. Their prayer was refused, and, in B. C. 155, Telecles and Xenon were sent again to Rome on the same mission. On this occasion the senate was more favourable to them, and there would have been a Majority for granting their request, had it not been for the manoeuvring of A. Postumius (the praetor who presided) in putting the question. (Plb. 32.7, 33.1.) In the latter of these passages Polybius calls Telecles τὸν Αἰλεάτην, hilt the conjectural substitution of Τεγεάτην is highly plausible.

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