Le'ptines
6. A Syrian Greek, who assassinated with his own hand at Laodiceia, Cn. Octavius, the chief of the Roman deputies, who had been sent to examine into the state of affairs in Syria.
This murder took place during the short reign of Antiochus Eupator (B. C. 162), and not without the connivance, as was supposed, of Lysias, the minister and governor of the young king.
As soon as Demetrius had established himself on the throne, wishing to conciliate the favour of the Romans, he caused Leptines, who, far from denying the deed, had the audacity to boast of it publicly, to be seized, and sent as a prisoner to Rome: but the senate refused to receive him, being desirous, as we are told, to reserve this cause of complaint as a public grievance, instead of visiting it on the head of an individual. (
Plb. 31.19,
32.4,
6,
7; Appian,
App. Syr. 46,
47; Diod.
Exc. Legat. xxxi. p. 526; Cic.
Philipp. 9.2.)
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E.H.B]
