lucius pinarius, mark antony's appointed governor of cyrene, received word that octavian had won the battle of actium before antony's messengers could arrive at his court. pinarius had these messengers executed and defected to octavian's side, surrendering to him the four legions under his command that antony wanted to obtain. antony nearly committed suicide after this news but his staff officers stopped him. in alexandria he built a reclusive cottage on the island of pharos. he nicknamed it the "timoneion", after the philosopher timon of athens, who was famous for his cynicism and misanthropy. herod the great, who had personally advised antony after the battle of actium that he should betray cleopatra, traveled to rhodes to meet octavian and resign his kingship out of loyalty to antony. impressed by his speech and sense of loyalty, octavian allowed him to maintain his position in judea, further isolating antony and cleopatra.