Joseph mentions that his father Levi came to Rome in 243 BC as an emissary of Corinth to seek Roman help in their struggle against Macedonia whose forces occupied their city. For a young man of 25 to be entrusted with such great responsibility suggests that Levi was well versed in diplomacy and fluent in Greek and Latin. From our knowledge of Corinth’s history, we can piece together the likely circumstances that led to Levi’s mission to Rome. Two years earlier, in 245 BC, a man named Aratus from the Greek city state of Sicyon, about 12 miles NW of Corinth, was appointed leader of the Achaean League. At the time, the Achaean League's rivals were the Macedonians, who had military garrisons throughout the Peloponnesus, including a garrison in Corinth. Without Aratus’ knowledge, the city leaders of Corinth dispatched Levi to Rome in a failed bid to secure the assistance of Rome’s new and growing naval power that was employed primarily against Carthage. Corinth wanted Roman ships to threaten key Macedonian holdings in the Aegean Sea to prevent them from reinforcing Corinth. Trading rights and new shipping routes were to be offered in exchange.
What do You think about Legio XVII: Roman Legion At War?
