The War of the Two Leagues

The Achaean and Macedonian armies defeated the Spartans at Sellasia. Antigonus burst a blood vessel from joy and died. Cleomenes fled to Egypt, where he killed himself and his children rather than become a slave. Tyrants returned to Greek cities despite Aratus's protests. He realized Greece would never be free because of his own mistake. The Aetolians championed freedom and defeated the Achaeans, who again begged Macedon for help. This War of the Two Leagues lasted years. The Macedonian king poisoned Aratus and took over the league himself. Spartans and Aetolians allied and asked Rome for help. Rome defeated Macedon; Philip had to give his son as hostage. Sparta then fell under the tyrant Nabis, who had a cunning torture device: a statue resembling his wife, dressed magnificently but hiding knives. When rich men refused to give up their wealth, he led them to "visit his wife"—the statue's arms closed around them, pressing them against hidden blades until they surrendered their money or died.