Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 42

1
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsei">θέσει</w> <w lemma="teta%2Fxqai">τετάχθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%29kei%2Fnhs">τἀκείνης</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frata">πέρατα</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsei">θέσει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkra">ἄκρα</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnh">κείνη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xerro%2Fnhso%2Fs">χερρόνησός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dsos:">νῆσος·</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="poreuto%2Fs">πορευτός</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plwto%2Fs">πλωτός</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sxh%3Dma">σχῆμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fgwnon">τρίγωνον</w>, <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="korufai%5C">κορυφαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gwniw%3Dn">γωνιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fwn">ἀκρωτηρίων</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnousi">λαμβάνουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="neu%3Don">νεῦον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="a%29natei%3Dnon">ἀνατεῖνον</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fxunos">Πάχυνος</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dtai">καλεῖται</w>,
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="keklime%2Fnon">κεκλιμένον</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzei">ὁρίζει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dekadu%2Fo">δεκαδύο</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelwria%2Fs">Πελωριάς</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftraptai">τέτραπται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnois">προκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fois">ἀκρωτηρίοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w>, <w lemma="die%2Fxon">διέχον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>, <w lemma="neu%2Fei">νεύει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%5Cs">χειμερινὰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w>, <w lemma="diairei%3D">διαιρεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cn">Λιβυκὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%3D%7Con">Σαρδῷον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilu%2Fbaion">Λιλύβαιον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="o%28mw%2Fnumos">ὁμώνυμος</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="tei%2Fxesi%2F">τείχεσί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="h%29sfalisme%2Fnhn">ἠσφαλισμένην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrw%7C">τάφρῳ</w> <w lemma="baqei%2Fa%7C">βαθείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tena%2Fgesin">τενάγεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnas">λιμένας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsplous">εἴσπλους</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenos">δεόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunhqei%2Fas">συνηθείας</w>.
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<w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosstratopedeu%2Fsantes">προσστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrw%7C">τάφρῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="dialabo%2Fntes">διαλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcanto">ἤρξαντο</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fgein">προσάγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenon">κείμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgon">πύργον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cn">Λιβυκὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
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<w lemma="proskataskeua%2Fzontes">προσκατασκευάζοντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parektei%2Fnontes">παρεκτείνοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%5Cs">κατασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgous">πύργους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fbalon">κατέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kriokopei%3Dn">κριοκοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w>.
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<w lemma="ginome%2Fnhs">γινομένης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%3D">ἐνεργοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktikh%3Ds">καταπληκτικῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgwn">πύργων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ponou%2Fntwn">πονούντων</w> <w lemma="a%29n%27">ἀν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29reipome%2Fnwn">ἐρειπομένων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibaino%2Fntwn">ἐπιβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>,
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<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxura%5C">ἰσχυρὰ</w> <w lemma="diatroph%5C">διατροπὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fplhcis">κατάπληξις</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnois">πολιορκουμένοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politikou%3D">πολιτικοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29imi%2Flkwn">Ἰμίλκων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fleipe">παρέλειπε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dunatw%3Dn">δυνατῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntoikodomw%3Dn">ἀντοικοδομῶν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntimetalleu%2Fwn">ἀντιμεταλλεύων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsan">τυχοῦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dxe">παρεῖχε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐπιπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirw%3Dn">ἐγχειρῶν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnaito">δύναιτο</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flous">παραβόλους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstato">συνίστατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="sumplokai%3Ds">συμπλοκαῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29wqo%2Ftwn">εἰωθότων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptein">πίπτειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcesi">παρατάξεσι</w>.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>, then, as a whole occupies the same position with regard to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and its extremity that the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> occupies with regard to Greece
and its extremity, the difference lying in this, that the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> is a peninsula whereas <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> is an island, the communication being in the one case by land and in the other by sea.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> is triangular in shape, the apices of all three angles being formed by capes.
The cape that looks to the south and stretches out into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a> is called Pachynus,
that on the north forms the extremity of the western coast of the Strait; it is about twelve stades distant from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and is called Pelorias.
The third looks towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> itself, and is favourably situated as a base for attacking the promontories in front of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, from which it is distant about one thousand stades. It is turned to the south-west, separating the Libyan from the Sardinian Sea, and its name is <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>.
On the cape stands the city of the same name, of which the Romans were now opening the siege. It is excellently defended both by walls and by a deep moat all round, and on the side facing the sea by shoaly water, the passage through which into the harbour requires great skill and practice.
The Romans encamped by this city on either side, fortifying the space between their camps with a trench, a stockade, and a wall. They then began to throw up works against the tower that lay nearest the sea on the Libyan side,
and, gradually advancing from the base thus acquired and extending their works, they succeeded at last in knocking down the six adjacent towers,
and attacked all the others at once with battering rams. The siege was now so vigorously pursued and so terrifying, each day seeing some of the towers shaken or demolished
and the enemy's works advancing further and further into the city, that the besieged were thrown into a state of utter confusion and panic, although, besides the civil population, there were nearly ten thousand mercenaries in the town.
Their general, Himilco, however, omitted no means of resistance in his power, and by counter-building and counter-mining caused the enemy no little difficulty.
Every day he would advance and make attempts on the siege works, trying to succeed in setting them on fire, and with this object was indeed engaged by night and day in combats of so desperate a character, that at times more men fell in these encounters than usually fell in a pitched battle.