Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 11

1
<w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fsanto">ἐβουλεύσαντο</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29ku%2Frwse">ἐκύρωσε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmhn">γνώμην</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%2Fsas">ῥηθείσας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>. <w lemma="e%29do%2Fkei">ἐδόκει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fan">ἀλογίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%2Fnois">Μαμερτίνοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="i%29sorropei%3Dn">ἰσορροπεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="bohqei%2Fas">βοηθείας</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frousin">συμφέρουσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="tetrume%2Fnoi">τετρυμένοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmwn">πολέμων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosdeo%2Fmenoi">προσδεόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pantodaph%3Ds">παντοδαπῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29panorqw%2Fsews">ἐπανορθώσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="r%28hqei%3Dsi">ῥηθεῖσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="sumfe%2Frein">συμφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstois">ἑκάστοις</w> <w lemma="w%29felei%2Fas">ὠφελείας</w> <w lemma="prodh%2Flous">προδήλους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknuo%2Fntwn">ὑποδεικνυόντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3Dn">στρατηγῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrinan">ἔκριναν</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="kurwqe%2Fntos">κυρωθέντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fgmatos">δόγματος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fmou">δήμου</w>, <w lemma="proxeirisa%2Fmenoi">προχειρισάμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Ftwn">ὑπάτων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="%2Aklau%2Fdion">Κλαύδιον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w>, <w lemma="keleu%2Fsantes">κελεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%3Dnoi">Μαμερτῖνοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxonta">κατέχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fbalon">ἐξέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kataplhca%2Fmenoi">καταπληξάμενοι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paralogisa%2Fmenoi:">παραλογισάμενοι·</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappion">Ἄππιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pespw%3Dnto">ἐπεσπῶντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frizon">ἐνεχείριζον</w>.
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<w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nestau%2Frwsan">ἀνεσταύρωσαν</w>, <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantes">νομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29bou%2Flws">ἀβούλως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fndrws">ἀνάνδρως</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fsqai">προέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kro%2Fpolin:">ἀκρόπολιν·</w>
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<w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="nautikh%3D%7C">ναυτικῇ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelwria%2Fda">Πελωριάδα</w> <w lemma="stratopedeu%2Fsantes">στρατοπεδεύσαντες</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3D%7C">πεζῷ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmati">στρατεύματι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asu%2Fneis">Σύνεις</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnas">καλουμένας</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fkeinto">προσέκειντο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnh%7C">Μεσσήνῃ</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwn">Ἱέρων</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fnta">παρόντα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frous">βαρβάρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29kbalei%3Dn">ἐκβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fqetai">τίθεται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="sunqh%2Fkas">συνθήκας</w>.
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakousw%3Dn">Συρακουσῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin:">πόλιν·</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsas">καταστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="qate%2Frou">θατέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Axalkidiko%5Cn">Χαλκιδικὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fros">ὄρος</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkleise">ἀπέκλεισε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29co%2Fdou">ἐξόδου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappios">Ἄππιος</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="peraiwqei%5Cs">περαιωθεὶς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="porqmo%5Cn">πορθμὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dken">ἧκεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="proshreiko%2Ftas">προσηρεικότας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sullogisa%2Fmenos">συλλογισάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxra%2Fn">αἰσχράν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pisfalh%3D">ἐπισφαλῆ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%2Fntwn">ἐπικρατούντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="diepresbeu%2Feto">διεπρεσβεύετο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frous">ἀμφοτέρους</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29cele%2Fsqai">ἐξελέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amamerti%2Fnous:">Μαμερτίνους·</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fxontos">προσέχοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>,
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<w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29panagkazo%2Fmenos">ἐπαναγκαζόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkrine">ἔκρινε</w> <w lemma="diakinduneu%2Fein">διακινδυνεύειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirei%3Dn">ἐγχειρεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fois">Συρακοσίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29cagagw%5Cn">ἐξαγαγὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Ftace">παρέταξε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dna">ἀγῶνα</w> <w lemma="sugkataba%2Fntos">συγκαταβάντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws:">βασιλέως·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="diagwnisa%2Fmenos">διαγωνισάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Fthsen">ἐπεκράτησεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katedi%2Fwce">κατεδίωξε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29%2Fappios">Ἄππιος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="skuleu%2Fsas">σκυλεύσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29panh%3Dlqen">ἐπανῆλθεν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amessh%2Fnhn">Μεσσήνην</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ie%2Frwn">Ἱέρων</w> <w lemma="o%29tteusa%2Fmeno%2Fs">ὀττευσάμενός</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhse">ἀνεχώρησε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w>
and, even at the end, the Senate did not sanction the proposal for the reason given above, considering that the objection on the score of inconsistency was equal in weight to the advantage to be derived from intervention.
The commons, however, worn out as they were by the recent wars and in need of any and every kind of restorative, listened readily to the military commanders, who, besides giving the reasons above stated for the general advantageousness of the war, pointed out the great benefit in the way of plunder which each and every one would evidently derive from it. They were therefore in favour of sending help;
and when the measure had been passed by the people they appointed to the command one of the Consuls, Appius Claudius, who was ordered to cross to Messene.
The Mamertines, partly by menace and partly by stratagem, dislodged the Carthaginian commander, who was already established in the citadel, and then invited Appius to enter, placing the city in his hands.
The Carthaginians crucified their general, thinking him guilty of a lack both of judgement and of courage in abandoning their citadel.
Acting for themselves they stationed their fleet in the neighbourhood of Cape Pelorias, and with their land forces pressed Messene close in the direction of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sunes&groupId=989&placeId=1747">Sunes</a>.
Hiero now, thinking that present circumstances were favourable for expelling from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> entirely the foreigners who occupied Messene, made an alliance with the Carthaginians, and quitting <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> with his army
marched towards that city. Pitching his camp near the Chalcidian mountain on the side opposite to the Carthaginians he cut off this means of exit from the city as well.
Appius, the Roman consul, at the same time succeeded at great risk in crossing the Straits by night and entering the city.
Finding that the enemy had strictly invested Messene on all sides and regarding it as both inglorious and perilous for himself to be besieged,
as they commanded both land and sea, he at first tried to negotiate with both, desiring to deliver the Mamertines from the war.
But when neither paid any attention to him, have decided perforce to risk an engagement
and in the first place to attack the Syracusans. Leading out his forces he drew them up in order of battle, the king of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> readily accepting the challenge.
After a prolonged struggle Appius was victorious and drove the whole hostile force back to their camp.
After despoiling the dead he returned to Messene. Hiero, divining the final issue of the whole conflict, retreated in haste after nightfall to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>.