Polybius, Histories

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Book 1 - Chapter 56

1
<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="katasth%2Fsantes">καταστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalou%2Fmenon">ἐπικαλούμενον</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frisan:">ἐνεχείρισαν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="paralabw%5Cn">παραλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="porqh%2Fswn">πορθήσων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>. <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%29ktwkaide%2Fkaton">ὀκτωκαιδέκατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="katasu%2Fras">κατασύρας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alokri%2Fda">Λοκρίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abrettianh%5Cn">Βρεττιανὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pople%2Fwn">ἀποπλέων</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormi%3Dtin">Πανορμῖτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalamba%2Fnei">καταλαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aei%28rkth%3Ds">Εἱρκτῆς</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Ferukos">Ἔρυκος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apano%2Frmou">Πανόρμου</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fthti">ἐπιτηδειότητι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xronismo%2Fn">χρονισμόν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fros">ὄρος</w> <w lemma="peri%2Ftomon">περίτομον</w> <w lemma="e%29canesthko%5Cs">ἐξανεστηκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perikeime%2Fnhs">περικειμένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fn">ἱκανόν</w>. <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fmetros">περίμετρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnw">ἄνω</w> <w lemma="stefa%2Fnhs">στεφάνης</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpei">λείπει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w>, <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="periexo%2Fmenos">περιεχόμενος</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fbotos">εὔβοτος</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gewrgh%2Fsimos">γεωργήσιμος</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pelagi%2Fous">πελαγίους</w> <w lemma="pnoia%5Cs">πνοιὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenos">κείμενος</w>, <w lemma="qanasi%2Fmwn">θανασίμων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fmoiros">ἄμοιρος</w>.
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<w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="krhmnoi%3Ds">κρημνοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29prosi%2Ftois">ἀπροσίτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fk">ἔκ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaian">μεσόγαιαν</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fkontos">παρήκοντος</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fghs">ὀλίγης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="braxei%2Fas">βραχείας</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmena">δεόμενα</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="masto%2Fn">μαστόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29kropo%2Flews">ἀκροπόλεως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="skoph%3Ds">σκοπῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuou%3Ds">εὐφυοῦς</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.
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<w lemma="kratei%3D">κρατεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnos">λιμένος</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frou">εὐκαίρου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Adrepa%2Fnwn">Δρεπάνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fou">Λιλυβαίου</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmon">δρόμον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdatos">ὕδατος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffqonon">ἄφθονον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w>.
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<w lemma="proso%2Fdous">προσόδους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="tritta%5Cs">τριττὰς</w> <w lemma="dusxerei%3Ds">δυσχερεῖς</w>, <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsas">καταστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntexo%2Fmenos">ἀντεχόμενος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="e%28auto%5Cn">ἑαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="dedwkw%2Fs">δεδωκώς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikrou%5Cs">μικροὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntas">τυχόντας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fasen">παρεσκεύασεν</w>.
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<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmw%2Fmenos">ὁρμώμενος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akumai%2Fwn">Κυμαίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>,
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<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="parastratopedeusa%2Fntwn">παραστρατοπεδευσάντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormitw%3Dn">Πανορμιτῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flous">ποικίλους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="sunesth%2Fsato">συνεστήσατο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29niautou%2Fs">ἐνιαυτούς</w>. <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gra">γρα</w>
The Carthaginians shortly afterwards appointed Hamilcar surnamed Barcas to the command and entrusted naval operations to him.
He started with the fleet to ravage the Italian coast (this, I should say, was in the eighteenth year of the war)
and after laying waste Locris and the Bruttii quitted those parts and descended with his whole fleet on the territory of Panormus. Here he seized on a place called Hercte<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note7"><emph rend="bold">Hercte:</emph>Now Monte Pellegrino.</note>lying near the sea between Eryx and Panormus, and thought to possess peculiar advantages for the safe and prolonged stay of an army.
It is an abrupt hill rising to a considerable height from the surrounding flat country. The circumference of its brow is not less than a hundred stades and the plateau within affords good pasturage and is suitable for cultivation, being also favourably exposed to the sea-breeze and quite free of animals dangerous to life.
On the side looking to the sea and on that which faces the interior of the island, this plateau is surrounded by inaccessible cliffs, while the parts between require only a little slight strengthening.
There is also a knoll on it which serves for an acropolis as well as for an excellent post of observation over the country at the foot of the hill.
Besides this Hercte commands a harbour very well situated for ships making the voyage from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Drepana&groupId=544&placeId=1023">Drepana</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> to put in at, and with an abundant supply of water.<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note8"><emph rend="bold">a harbour very well situated. . .:</emph>This cannot be the harbour of Palermo, which was in the hands of the Romans, and must be looked for on the opposite side of Monte Pellegrino.</note>
The hill has only three approaches, all difficult, two on the land side and one from the sea.
Here Hamilcar established his quarters, at great risk indeed, since he had neither the support of any of their towns nor any prospect of support from elsewhere, but had thrown himself into the midst of the enemy. Notwithstanding this, the peril to which he put the Romans, and the combats to which he forced them, were by no means slight or insignificant.
For in the first place he would sally out with his fleet from this place, and devastate the coast of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> as far as Cumae,
and next, after the Romans had taken up a position on land in front of the city of Panormus and at a distance of about five stades from his own camp, he harassed them by delivering during almost three years constant and variously contrived attacks by land. These combats I am unable to describe in detail here.