Polybius, Histories
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Book 1 - Chapter 13

1
<w lemma="%2A%29afeme%2Fnous">Ἀφεμένους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fra">ὥρα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kefalaiwdw%3Ds">κεφαλαιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="proekqeme%2Fnous">προεκθεμένους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3D%7C">προκατασκευῇ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>.
2
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29si">εἰσι</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtai">πρῶται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenai">γενόμεναι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w>.
3
<w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="sunexh%5Cs">συνεχὴς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cs">Λιβυκὸς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos:">πόλεμος·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptei">συνάπτει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flka%7C">Ἀμίλκᾳ</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fba%7C">Ἀσδρούβᾳ</w> <w lemma="praxqe%2Fnta">πραχθέντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w>.
4
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth">πρώτη</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasis">διάβασις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fda">Ἰλλυρίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fa%7C">Ἰταλίᾳ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%5Cs">Κελτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnes">ἀγῶνες</w>.
5
<w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleomeniko%5Cs">Κλεομενικὸς</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenos">καλούμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29nhrgei%3Dto">ἐνηργεῖτο</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemos">πόλεμος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="katastrofh%5Cn">καταστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29poihsa%2Fmeqa">ἐποιησάμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fras">δευτέρας</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblou">βύβλου</w>.
6
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ato%5C">Τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29cariqmei%3Dsqai">ἐξαριθμεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Don">ἀναγκαῖον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fousi">ἀκούουσι</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w>.
7
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%28storei%3Dn">ἱστορεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="protiqe%2Fmeqa">προτιθέμεθα</w>, <w lemma="mnhsqh%3Dnai">μνησθῆναι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kefalaiwdw%3Ds">κεφαλαιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="proairou%2Fmeqa">προαιρούμεθα</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mellousw%3Dn">μελλουσῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28storei%3Dsqai">ἱστορεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w>.
8
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="kefalai%2Fwn">κεφαλαίων</w> <w lemma="yau%2Fontes">ψαύοντες</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyai">συνάψαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="teleuth%5Cn">τελευτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28mete%2Fras">ἡμετέρας</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3D%7C">ἀρχῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsei">προθέσει</w>.
9
<w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="sunexou%3Ds">συνεχοῦς</w> <w lemma="ginome%2Fnhs">γινομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w>, <w lemma="h%28mei%3Ds">ἡμεῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcomen">δόξομεν</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgws">εὐλόγως</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fptesqai">ἐφάπτεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="proi+storhme%2Fnwn">προϊστορημένων</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frois">ἑτέροις</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsin">φιλομαθοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fas">οἰκονομίας</w> <w lemma="eu%29maqh%3D">εὐμαθῆ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fan">ῥᾳδίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllonta">μέλλοντα</w> <w lemma="r%28hqh%2Fsesqai">ῥηθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fsomen">παρασκευάσομεν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>.
10
<w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pimele%2Fsteron">ἐπιμελέστερον</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="dielqei%3Dn">διελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftou">πρώτου</w> <w lemma="susta%2Fntos">συστάντος</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w>.
11
<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="poluxroniw%2Fteron">πολυχρονιώτερον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28losxereste%2Fras">ὁλοσχερεστέρας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="sunexeste%2Fras">συνεχεστέρας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzous">μείζους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frois">ἑκατέροις</w>.
12
<w lemma="au%29ta%2F">αὐτά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmata">πολιτεύματα</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ke%2Fraia">ἀκέραια</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29qismoi%3Ds">ἐθισμοῖς</w>, <w lemma="me%2Ftria">μέτρια</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxais">τύχαις</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Frisa">πάρισα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w>.
13
<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnois">βουλομένοις</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="sunqea%2Fsasqai">συνθεάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fmatos">πολιτεύματος</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγενομένων</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmwn">πολέμων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="poihte%2Fon">ποιητέον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fgkrisin">σύγκρισιν</w>.
Enough of such explanations. It is now time to come to my subject after a brief summary of the events included in these introductory Books.
To take them in order we have first the incidents of the war between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>.
Next follows the war in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> and next the achievements of the Carthaginians under Hamilcar and after under Hasdrubal.
At the same time occurred the first crossing of the Romans to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> and these parts of Europe, and subsequently to the preceding events their struggle with the Italian Celts.
Contemporary with this the so‑called Cleomenic war was proceeding in Greece, and with this war I wind up my Introduction as a whole and my second Book.
Now to recount all these events in detail is neither incumbent on me nor would it be useful to my readers;
for it is not my purpose to write their history but to mention them summarily as introductory to the events which are my real theme.
I shall therefore attempt by such summary treatment of them in their proper order to fit in the end of the Introduction to the beginning of the actual History.
Thus there will be no break in the narrative and it will be seen that I have been justified in touching on events which have been previously narrated by others, while this arrangement will render the approach to what follows intelligible and easy for students.
I shall, however, attempt to narrate somewhat more carefully the first war between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> for the possession of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>;
since it is not easy to name any war which lasted longer, nor one which exhibited on both sides more extensive preparations, more unintermittent activity, more battles, and greater changes of fortune.
The two states were also at this period still uncorrupted in morals, moderate in fortune, and equal in strength,
so that a better estimate of the peculiar qualities and gifts of each can be formed by comparing their conduct in this war than in any subsequent one.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
1.12.0 - 1.64.0
<p>The First Punic War</p>
1.13.2 - 1.13.5
<p>Here P. summarizes the contents of books i and ii: the First Punic War (264–241) is described in i. 13–64, the Mercenary War (241–238) in i. 65–88, Hamilcar's exploits in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> (237–229) in ii. 1, Hasdrubal's (228–221) in ii. 13 and 36; the First Illyrian War (229–228) in ii. 2–12; the Celtic Wars (225–222) in ii. 21–35; and the Cleomenean War (228–222)with a summary of earlier Achaean historyin ii. 37–70.</p>
1.13.10 - 1.14.1
<p>The 'war for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>' (cf. 20. 2) deserves special attention for three reasons:</p> <p>Its magnitude compared with other wars (§ 11). This is a commonplace already found in Thuc. i. 23 (on the Peloponnesian War).</p> <p>Because of their circumstances, it offers an unequalled opportunity of understanding the special characteristics of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> (§ 12). (For (1) and (2) see further 63. 4–64. 6.)</p> <p>Its previous historians have written as partisans (§ 1).</p> <p>In fact P. does not treat this war in any greater detail than the Illyrian War or the Mercenary War (Laqueur, 201).</p>
Specifics
1.13.1 - 1.13.1
<p> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κεφαλαιωδῶς προεκθεμένους</w>:</emph> for a discussion of this phrase see iii. 1. 5 n. </p>
1.13.9 - 1.13.9
<p> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐφάπτεσθαι</w>:</emph> 'to touch on' (cf. ii. 37. 5); not (as Laqueur, 201–3) 'to link up (my narrative with that of previous historians)' (which is rather <w lang="el-GR">συνάπτειν</w>/d&gt;: cf. § 8). <w lang="el-GR">οἱ φιλομαθοῦντες</w> are 'students of history': <milestone unit="page" n="63">[63]</milestone> cf. 65. 9, iii. 21. 9–10, where they are mentioned in contrast to statesmen. </p>
1.13.11 - 1.13.11
<p> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὔτε . . . πολυχρονιώτερον . . . πόλεμον</w>:</emph> cf. Diod. xxiii. 15. 4: <w lang="el-GR">διὸ καὶ συνέβη τὸν πόλεμον μακρότατον γενέσθαι τῶν μνημονευομένων</w> (probably from Philinus). </p>
1.13.12 - 1.13.12
<p> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀκμὴν ἀκέραια . . . τοῖς ἐθισμοῖς</w>:</emph> cf. vi. 51. 1–4. By the time of the Hannibalic War the Carthaginian constitution had degenerated. </p> <p> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μέτρια ταῖς τύχαις</w>:</emph> 'receiving but modest help from fortune' (so Schweighaeuser convincingly); cf. x. 5. 8, <w lang="el-GR">εἰς θεοὺς καὶ τύχας ἀναφέρουσι τὰς αἰτίας τῶν δι</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἀγχίνοιαν . . . ἐπιτελουμένων</w>. The important factor was the courage and constancy of the belligerents (for <w lang="el-GR">περιπετείας</w> in § 11 is 'disasters'). </p>

Commentary