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[56] From thence they sailed to Brundusium, which was garrisoned by five cohorts of Octavius' troops. The citizens closed their gates against Ahenobarbus, as an old enemy, and against Antony, as one introducing an enemy. Antony was indignant. Considering this a pretence, and that he was in fact shut out by Octavius' garrison at the latter's instance, he drew a ditch and palisade across the isthmus that connects the town with the mainland. The city is situated on a peninsula which fronts a crescent-shaped harbor. Now the people coming from the mainland could no longer reach the rising ground on which the city stands, as it had been cut off and walled in. Antony also surrounded the harbor, which is large, and the islands in it, with towers planted closely together. He sent forces along the coasts of Italy, whom he ordered to seize the advantageous positions. He called upon Pompeius to move against Italy with his fleet and to do whatever he could. Pompeius, with alacrity, despatched Menodorus with a numerous fleet and four legions of soldiers, who seized Sardinia, which belonged to Octavius, and two legions in it, who were panic-stricken at this agreement between Pompeius and Antony. In Italy Antony's men captured the town of Sipuntum of Ausonia.1 Pompeius besieged Thurii and Consentia and ravaged their territory with his cavalry.

1 Sipuntum was in Apulia. The word Ausonia was an old Greek designation applied vaguely to southern Italy.

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hide References (5 total)
  • Cross-references to this page (5):
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), CONSE´NTIA
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), SARDI´NIA
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), SIPONTUM
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), THU´RII
    • Smith's Bio, Menas
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