Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 22

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsantes">συνεγγίσαντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gegono%5Cs">γεγονὸς</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmptwma">σύμπτωμα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Agna%2Fion">Γνάιον</w> <w lemma="parauti%2Fka">παραυτίκα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="diepe%2Fmponto">διεπέμποντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fion">Γάιον</w> <w lemma="%2Abi%2Flion">Βίλιον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenon">ἡγούμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pezh%3Ds">πεζῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmenon">ἀνέμενον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fontes">ἀκούοντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto">ἐγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%5Cn">παρασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="naumaxei%3Dn">ναυμαχεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="fau%2Flwn">φαύλων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duskinh%2Ftwn">δυσκινήτων</w>, <w lemma="u%28poti%2Fqetai%2F">ὑποτίθεταί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqhma">βοήθημα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piklhqe%2Fntas">ἐπικληθέντας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakas">κόρακας</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w>.
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<w lemma="stu%3Dlos">στῦλος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Frra%7C">πρώρρᾳ</w> <w lemma="stroggu%2Flos">στρογγύλος</w> <w lemma="ei%28sth%2Fkei">εἱστήκει</w>, <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiw%3Dn">ὀργυιῶν</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="triw%3Dn">τριῶν</w> <w lemma="palaistw%3Dn">παλαιστῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fmetron">διάμετρον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="troxili%2Fan">τροχιλίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxen">εἶχεν</w>, <w lemma="perieti%2Fqeto">περιετίθετο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kli%3Dmac">κλῖμαξ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikarsi%2Fais">ἐπικαρσίαις</w> <w lemma="sani%2Fsi">σανίσι</w> <w lemma="kaqhlwme%2Fnh">καθηλωμένη</w>, <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="podw%3Dn">ποδῶν</w> <w lemma="tetta%2Frwn">τεττάρων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiw%3Dn">ὀργυιῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="trh%3Dma">τρῆμα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sanidw%2Fmatos">σανιδώματος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fmhkes">παράμηκες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fbaine">περιέβαινε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="stu%3Dlon">στῦλον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftas">πρώτας</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakos">κλίμακος</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29rguia%2Fs">ὀργυιάς</w>. <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxen">εἶχεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dru%2Ffakton">δρύφακτον</w> <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Fran">ἑκατέραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimh%2Fkh">ἐπιμήκη</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="go%2Fnu">γόνυ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fratos">πέρατος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Frmosto">προσήρμοστο</w> <w lemma="sidhrou%3Dn">σιδηροῦν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fperon">ὕπερον</w> <w lemma="a%29pwcusme%2Fnon">ἀπωξυσμένον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="daktu%2Flion">δακτύλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flon">ὅλον</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnesqai">φαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sitopoiikai%3Ds">σιτοποιικαῖς</w> <w lemma="mhxanh%2Fsesin">μηχανήσεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="daktu%2Flion">δακτύλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29nede%2Fdeto">ἐνεδέδετο</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flws">κάλως</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29mbola%5Cs">ἐμβολὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fwn">πλοίων</w> <w lemma="e%29cai%2Frontes">ἐξαίροντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakas">κόρακας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="stu%2Flw%7C">στύλῳ</w> <w lemma="troxili%2Fas">τροχιλίας</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fesan">ἀφίεσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fstrwma">κατάστρωμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fas">ἀλλοτρίας</w> <w lemma="new%5Cs">νεὼς</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Drran">πρῶρραν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiperia%2Fgontes">ἀντιπεριάγοντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="prospiptou%2Fsas">προσπιπτούσας</w> <w lemma="e%29mbola%2Fs">ἐμβολάς</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="sani%2Fsi">σανίσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="katastrwma%2Ftwn">καταστρωμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29mpage%2Fntes">ἐμπαγέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakes">κόρακες</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sundh%2Fsaien">συνδήσαιεν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nau%3Ds">ναῦς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pla%2Fgiai">πλάγιαι</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Floien">παραβάλοιεν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flais">ἀλλήλαις</w>, <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29peph%2Fdwn">ἐπεπήδων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Drran">πρῶρραν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Frakos">κόρακος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon:">ἔφοδον·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ske%2Fpazon">ἐσκέπαζον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qurew%3Dn">θυρεῶν</w> <w lemma="probolai%3Ds">προβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28po%2Fmenoi">ἑπόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plagi%2Fwn">πλαγίων</w> <w lemma="h%29sfa%2Flizon">ἠσφάλιζον</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cs">πλευρὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dru%2Ffakton">δρύφακτον</w> <w lemma="u%28pertiqe%2Fmenoi">ὑπερτιθέμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Ftus">ἴτυς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth%7C">τοιαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="kexrhme%2Fnoi">κεχρημένοι</w> <w lemma="pa">πα</w>
After this the Romans approached to coast of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and learning of the disaster that had befallen Gnaeus, at once communicated with Gaius Duilius, the commander of the land forces, and awaited his arrival.
At the same time, hearing that the enemy's fleet was not far distant, they began to get ready for sea-battle.
As their ships were ill-built and slow in their movements, someone suggested to them as a help in fighting the engines which afterwards came to be called "ravens".
They were constructed as follows: On the prow stood a round pole four fathoms in height and three palms in diameter.
This pole had a pulley at the summit and round it was put a gangway made of cross planks attached by nails, four feet in width and six fathoms in length.
In this gangway was an oblong hole,<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note2"><emph rend="bold">They were constructed as follows . . . . In this gangway was an oblong hole:</emph>The gangway (36 feet long) was composed of two parts united by a joint, the near part (12 feet long), which always remained horizontal, and the far part (24 feet long) which could be drawn up at right angles to the near part, thus reaching the top of the pole (also 24 feet long) and remaining vertical until lowered. The whole could be moved round the pole which pierced it at the junction of the two parts.</note>and it went round the pole at a distance of two fathoms from its near end. The gangway also had a railing on each of its long sides as high as a man's knee.
At its extremity was fastened an iron object like a pestle pointed at one end and with a ring at the other end, so that the whole looked like the machine for pounding corn.
To this ring was attached a rope with which, when the ship charged an enemy, they raised the ravens by means of the pulley on the pole and let them down on the enemy's deck, sometimes from the prow and sometimes bringing them round when the ships collided broadsides.
Once the ravens were fixed in the planks of the enemy's deck and grappled the ships together, if they were broadside on, they boarded from all directions but if they charged with the prow, they attacked by passing over the gangway of the raven itself two abreast.
The leading pair protected the front by holding up their shields, and those who followed secured the two flanks by resting the rims of their shields on the top of the railing.
Having, then, adopted this device, they awaited an opportunity for going into action.