Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 1 - Chapter 48

<w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnwn">πολιορκουμένων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntoikodomi%2Fais">ἀντοικοδομίαις</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnwn">χρωμένων</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lumai%2Fnesqai">λυμαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafqei%2Frein">διαφθείρειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%5Cs">παρασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29pegnwko%2Ftwn">ἀπεγνωκότων</w>,

<w lemma="gi%2Fnetai%2F">γίνεταί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmou">ἀνέμου</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsis">στάσις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousa">ἔχουσα</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fora%5Cn">φορὰν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mhxanhma%2Ftwn">μηχανημάτων</w> <w lemma="prosagwga%5Cs">προσαγωγὰς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="stoa%5Cs">στοὰς</w> <w lemma="diasaleu%2Fein">διασαλεύειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnous">προκειμένους</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgous">πύργους</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="basta%2Fzein">βαστάζειν</w>.

<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w> <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsante%2Fs">συννοήσαντές</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnikw%3Dn">Ἑλληνικῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fthta">ἐπιτηδειότητα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="diafqora%5Cn">διαφθορὰν</w> <w lemma="prosfe%2Frousi">προσφέρουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w>.

<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="decame%2Fnou">δεξαμένου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%28toima%2Fsantos">ἑτοιμάσαντος</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fan">χρείαν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzon">ἁρμόζον</w>, <w lemma="sustrafe%2Fntes">συστραφέντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskoi">νεανίσκοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="trittou%5Cs">τριττοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fbalon">ἐνέβαλον</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w>.

<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuasma%2Ftwn">κατασκευασμάτων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="pareskeuasme%2Fnwn">παρεσκευασμένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdi%2Fws">ῥᾳδίως</w> <w lemma="e%29mprhsqh%3Dnai">ἐμπρησθῆναι</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pneu%2Fmatos">πνεύματος</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w> <w lemma="fusw%2Fshs">φυσώσης</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgwn">πύργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mhxanhma%2Ftwn">μηχανημάτων</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="nomh%5Cn">νομὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cn">ἐνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praktikh%2Fn">πρακτικήν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Frkeian">ἐπάρκειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fprakton">ἄπρακτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxerh%3D">δυσχερῆ</w>.

<w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkplhcin">ἔκπληξιν</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fsta">παρίστα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bohqou%3Dsin">βοηθοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="sunnoh%3Dsai">συννοῆσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29poskotoume%2Fnous">ἀποσκοτουμένους</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="ferome%2Fnhs">φερομένης</w> <w lemma="lignu%2Fos">λιγνύος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="feyalu%2Fgwn">φεψαλύγων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kapnou%3D">καπνοῦ</w> <w lemma="poluplhqi%2Fas">πολυπληθίας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgous">ὀλίγους</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fllusqai">ἀπόλλυσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptein">πίπτειν</w>, <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnous">δυναμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29ggi%2Fsai">ἐγγίσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w>.

<w lemma="o%28%2Fsw%7C">ὅσῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzw">μείζω</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fan">δυσχρηστίαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="tosou%2Ftw%7C">τοσούτῳ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fwn">πλείων</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrhsti%2Fa">εὐχρηστία</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29nie%2Fntas">ἐνιέντας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w>.

<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29piskotou%3Dn">ἐπισκοτοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fptein">βλάπτειν</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29cefusa%3Dto">ἐξεφυσᾶτο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prowqei%3Dto">προωθεῖτο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ballo%2Fmenon">βαλλόμενον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="r%28iptou%2Fmenon">ῥιπτούμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bohqou%3Dntas">βοηθοῦντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="diafqora%5Cn">διαφθορὰν</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fstoxon">εὔστοχον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pegi%2Fneto">ἐπεγίνετο</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunora%3Dn">συνορᾶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29fie%2Fntas">ἀφιέντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="praktiko%5Cn">πρακτικὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfodra%5Cn">σφοδρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="plhgh%2Fn">πληγήν</w>, <w lemma="sunergou%2Fshs">συνεργούσης</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fllousi">βάλλουσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pneu%2Fmatos">πνεύματος</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w>.

<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pante%2Fleian">παντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="katafqora%3Ds">καταφθορᾶς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fseis">βάσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgwn">πύργων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="stu%2Fph">στύπη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kriw%3Dn">κριῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="puro%5Cs">πυρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29xreiwqh%3Dnai">ἀχρειωθῆναι</w>.

<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntwn">συμβάντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="poliorkei%3Dn">πολιορκεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fgnwsan">ἀπέγνωσαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi:">Ῥωμαῖοι·</w> <w lemma="peritafreu%2Fsantes">περιταφρεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="perilabo%2Fntes">περιλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fklw%7C">κύκλῳ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fas">ἰδίας</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="probalo%2Fmenoi">προβαλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fw%7C">Λιλυβαίῳ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peptwko%5Cs">πεπτωκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29coikodomhsa%2Fmenoi">ἐξοικοδομησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenon">ὑπέμενον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>.

The besieged were still counterbuilding energetically though they had renounced their effort to spoil or destroy the enemy's works,

when there arose a turbulent storm of wind, blowing with such violence and fury on the actual apparatus for advancing the engines, that it shook the protecting pent-houses from their foundations and carried away the wooden towers in front of these by its force.

During the gale it struck some of the Greek mercenaries that here was an admirable opportunity for destroying the works, and they communicated their notion to the general, who approved it and made all suitable preparations for the enterprise.

The soldiers in several bodies threw fire on the works at three separate points.

The whole apparatus being old and readily inflammable, and the wind blowing very strongly on the actual towers and engines, the action of the flames as they spread was most effective, whereas the efforts of the Romans to succour and save the works were quite the reverse, the task being most difficult.

The defenders were indeed so terrified by the outbreak that they could neither realize nor understand what was happening, but half blinded by the flames and sparks that flew in their faces and by the dense smoke, many of them succumbed and fell, unable even to get near enough to combat the actual conflagration.

The difficulties that the enemy encountered for these various reasons were immense, while the exertions of the incendiaries were correspondingly facilitated.

Everything that could blind or injure the enemy was blown into flame and pushed at them, missiles and other objects hurled or discharged to wound the rescuers or to destroy the works being easily aimed because the throwers could see in front of them, while the blows were most effective as the strong wind gave them additional force.

At the end the completeness of the destruction was such that the bases of the towers and the posts that supported the battering-rams were rendered useless by the fire.

After this the Romans gave up the attempt to conduct the siege by works, and digging a trench and erecting a stockade all round the city, at the same time building a wall round their own encampment, they left the result to time.

But the garrison of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> rebuilt the fallen portions of the wall and now confidently awaited the issue of the siege.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

1.12.0 - 1.64.0

The First Punic War

Specifics

1.48.2 - 1.48.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">γίνεταί τις ἀνέμου στάσις</w>:</emph> cf. 75. 8, ix. 25. 3, v. 5. 3, <w lang="el-GR">τῶν Ἐτησίων ἤδη στάσιν ἐχόντων</w>. Paton and Shuckburgh translate 'a storm of wind', 'a turbulent storm of wind', Schweighaeuser uenti tempestas but wrongly, as he later realized. <w lang="el-GR">ἀνέμου στάσις</w> has three meanings: the first, 'a dropping, cessation of the wind', may be neglected here; the second is that found in the three Polybian passages mentioned above, 'the direction, state of the wind' or simply 'the wind in a certain direction'. Finally, by a metaphor taken from civil discord, it may mean 'seditio uentorum, a squall'. This is the sense in Alcaeus, fg. 30 Diehl, <w lang="el-GR">ἀσυννέτημι τῶν ἀνέμων στάσιν</w> (which Heracleitus, alleg. Homer. 5, p. 6 ed. Bonn., took as an allegorical reference to the <w lang="el-GR">τυραννικαὶ ταραχαί</w> at Mytilene); so too Aesch. P.V., 1086, <w lang="el-GR">ἀνέμων πνεύματα . . . στάσιν ἀντίπνοον ἀποδεικνύμενα</w>. Similarly in Virgil (Aen. i. 148) the quelling of the storm by Neptune is likened to the calming of seditio in a city. But in all these examples there is a clash of winds; and this idea is quite inappropriate here, where the plan of the Greek mercenaries depends solely on the fact that the wind is blowing steadily from the city towards the Roman camp, so that it becomes an ally in spreading the fire and driving the smoke and sparks in the faces of the defenders (§ 6, <w lang="el-GR">ὑπὸ τῆς εἰς αὐτοὺς φερομένης λιγνύος)</w>. As Schweighaeuser points out in his commentary, the idea of force and violence is separately expressed and need not be present in <w lang="el-GR">στάσις</w>, which therefore means uenti directio. Suidas, S.V. <w lang="el-GR">στάσιν</w>, referring to this passage, says that the word is applied <w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ πνοῆς βιαίον ἀνέμον</w>; but there is no evidence for this meaning unless there are conflicting winds. Translate 'a steady wind' (correct in LSJ). Diod. xxiv. 1. 3 also records the incident. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς τῶν μηχανημάτων προσαγωγάς</w>:</emph> 'the apparatus for advancing the engines' (Paton): less satisfactory Schweighaeuser (in his note ad loc.), in ipsas machinas quae admouebantur. In xiv. 10. 9 the sense is abstract: <w lang="el-GR">προσαγωγάς τῶν ὀργάνων</w>, 'the bringing up of siege engines'; but here P. refers to uineae, etc., under shelter of which the engines were advanced. See next note. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς στοὰς διασαλεύειν</w>:</emph> uineas concutere. A uinea is a shed or penthouse to protect men of a besieging force. Caesar, BC, ii. 2. 3, similarly calls it a porticus. In xxi. 28. 4 P. refers to a <w lang="el-GR">στοά</w> which Livy, xxxviii. 7. 6, translates by uineae. See Veith in Kromayer– Veith, Heerwesen, 444. <milestone unit="page" n="111">[111]</milestone> <figure> <graphic url="1004.gif" scale="100%" /> </figure> THE BATTLE OF DREPANA. Based on Kromayer <milestone unit="page" n="112">[112]</milestone>

1.48.5 - 1.48.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν . . . νομὴν τοῦ πυρός</w>:</emph> 'the action of the flames' (Paton). For this metaphor of grazing cf. xi. 4. 4.

1.48.8 - 1.48.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπί τε τοὺς βοηθοῦντας καὶ τὴν τῶν ἔργων διαφθοράν</w>:</emph> 'against the rescuers and to secure the destruction of the works'. <w lang="el-GR">ἐπί</w> is used in two different senses.

1.48.9 - 1.48.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ στύπη τῶν κριῶν</w>:</emph> MS. <w lang="el-GR">τύπη</w> corrected by Scaliger; 'the beams of the rams', to which the battering-tip was affixed; arietum trabes, Schweighaeuser. Less likely is Paton, 'the posts that supported the battering-rams'.

1.48.10 - 1.48.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τεῖχος προβαλόμενοι</w>:</emph> on the previous Roman siege-works see 42. 8. It is difficult to believe that their own camp was not fortified until now, vi. 34. 1; and P. may perhaps have exaggerated a reference in Philinus to some reinforcement of the defences. Similarly for the circumvallation of the town (Meltzer, ii. 578); the discrepancy between this passage and 42. 8 is underestimated by Bung, 56.

Polybius, Histories

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Walbank Commentary

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