Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 10 - Chapter 1

<head lang="la">I. Res Italiae</head><w lemma="%2A%29%2Fontwn">Ὄντων</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rhgi%2Fnwn">Ῥηγίνων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Franta">Τάραντα</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29li%2Fmenon">ἀλίμενον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Franti">Τάραντι</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnwn:">λιμένων·</w>

<w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftraptai">τέτραπται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>, <w lemma="neu%2Fei">νεύει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="poluanqrwpo%2Ftata">πολυανθρωπότατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fdwn">Ἑλληνίδων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanesta%2Ftas">ἐπιφανεστάτας</w>.

<w lemma="%2Abre%2Fttioi">Βρέττιοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleukanoi%5C">Λευκανοὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Adauni%2Fwn">Δαυνίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akalabroi%5C">Καλαβροὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteroi">ἕτεροι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kli%3Dma">κλῖμα</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fmontai">νέμονται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas:">Ἰταλίας·</w>

<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fdwn">Ἑλληνίδων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rh%2Fgion">Ῥήγιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akaulwni%2Fa">Καυλωνία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alokroi%5C">Λοκροὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akro%2Ftwn">Κρότων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ametapo%2Fntion">Μεταπόντιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqou%2Frioi">Θούριοι</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fxousi">ἐπέχουσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w>,

<w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="ferome%2Fnous">φερομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="o%28rmei%3Dn">ὁρμεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnwn">Ταραντίνων</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fsi">λιμέσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29mei%2Fyeis">ἀμείψεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29konomi%2Fas">οἰκονομίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxontas">κατέχοντας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w>.

<w lemma="tekmh%2Fraito">τεκμήραιτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akrotwnia%2Ftas">Κροτωνιάτας</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fas">εὐδαιμονίας</w>. <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnoi">ἐκεῖνοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qerinou%5Cs">θερινοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frmous">ὅρμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="braxei%3Da%2Fn">βραχεῖάν</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="prosagwgh%2Fn">προσαγωγήν</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="peripoih%2Fsasqai">περιποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="eu%29fui+%2Fan">εὐφυΐαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fnein">συγκρίνειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcio%2Fn">ἄξιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnwn">Ταραντίνων</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fsi">λιμέσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>.

<w lemma="te%2Ftaktai">τέτακται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnas">λιμένας</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w>.

<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iapugi%2Fas">Ἰαπυγίας</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asipou%3Dnta">Σιποῦντα</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="prosfero%2Fmenos">προσφερόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipe%2Fras">ἀντιπέρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqormisqei%5Cs">καθορμισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Frant%27">Τάραντ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%2Fn">ὑπερβολήν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="sunexrh%3Dto">συνεχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29llaga%5Cs">ἀλλαγὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metaqe%2Fseis">μεταθέσεις</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> [<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w>] <w lemma="e%29mpori%2Fw%7C:">ἐμπορίῳ·</w>

<w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Abrentesi%2Fnwn">Βρεντεσίνων</w> <w lemma="e%29kti%2Fsqai">ἐκτίσθαι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.

<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Fbios">Φάβιος</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flw%7C">μεγάλῳ</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fmenos">τιθέμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="parei%5Cs">παρεὶς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoi%2Fais">ἐπινοίαις</w>.

<head>I. Affairs of Italy</head>The distance from the Sicilian strait and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a> to Tarentum is more than two thousand stades, but all this side of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> has not a single harbour except those of Tarentum.

This part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> faces the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a> and verges towards Greece, and it contains most populous barbarian tribes and the most famous Greek cities,

being inhabited by the Bruttians, Lucanians, a portion of the Daunians, the Calabrians, and several other tribes, while on its coast lie <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, Caulonia, Locri, Croton, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metapontum&groupId=763&placeId=1383">Metapontum</a>, and Thurii,

so that those travelling either from Greece or from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> to any of the aforesaid places must of necessity anchor in the harbours of Tarentum, and make that city the seat of the exchange and traffic with all the inhabitants of this side of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>.

One can form some idea of the advantages of its situation from the prosperity of the people of Croton; for they, although they have but roadsteads suitable for the summer and though quite few ships put in there, have, it would seem, attained great wealth simply owing to the favourable situation of the place, which is in no way to be compared with the harbours and district of Tarentum.

Tarentum is also very favourably situated with respect to the harbours of the Adriatic even at the present day, and was still more so formerly.

For from the extremity of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Iapygia&groupId=642&placeId=1176">Iapygia</a>, as far as Sipontum, everyone coming from the opposite coast to put in to an Italian harbour crossed to Tarentum and used that as an emporium for the exchange and sale of merchandise,

the town of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Brundisium&groupId=411&placeId=762">Brundisium</a> having not yet been founded.

So that Fabius, regarding this enterprise as of great moment, neglected other matters and turned his whole attention to this. . . .

Walbank Commentary

Specifics

10.1.1 - 10.1.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">σταδίων . . . πλειόνων ἢ δισχιλίων</w>:</emph> really c. 2,500 stades, or nearly 290 English miles, from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, following the coast; the straits are another 100 stades (about 12 miles) further on. In xxxiv. 11. 10–11 ( = Strabo, vi. 261) P. reckons the distance from the straits to the Lacinian promontory as 1,300 stades (MS. 2,300), and from there to the Iapygian promontory as 700 (going directly across the gulf), which is about right. Pliny, Nat. hist. iii. 99, makes the distance across the Tarentine Gulf as 100 m.p., and the coastal distance 250 m.p. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀλίμενον . . . τὴν πλευρὰν . . . ταύτην</w>:</emph> Strabo (vi. 286) calls <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> as a whole <w lang="el-GR">ἀλίμενον κατὰ τὸ πλεῖστον</w>; and there is no harbour worthy of the name between Reggio and Taranto. Cf. Florus, i. 18. 3; Philipp, RE, 'Tarentinus sinus', cols. 2300–2; Nissen, It. Land. i. 95. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πλὴν τῶν ἐν Τάραντι λιμένων</w>:</emph> the Mare Grande, lying on the outer side of the city, and the harbour proper within the Mare Piccolo (cf. viii. 34. 3 n.); unless the plural is being used with a singular meaning (cf. 8. 2 n.).

10.1.2 - 10.1.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τέτραπται . . . εἰς τὸ Σικελικὸν πέλαγος</w>:</emph> in ii. 14. 5 the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a> is separated from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ionian Sea&groupId=650&placeId=1190">Ionian Sea</a> in the north by C. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cocynthus&groupId=483&placeId=906">Cocynthus</a> <milestone unit="page" n="189">[189]</milestone> (probably Punta di Stilo: see note ad loc.); see also i. 42. 4 n. Here P. seems to follow a different tradition which includes the Gulf of Tarentum in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a>.

10.1.3 - 10.1.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Βρέττιοι καὶ Λευκανοί</w>:</emph> the Oscan Bruttii occupied the toe of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> south of the R. Laus (mod. Laino). For their main towns cf. Livy, xxx. 19. 10; their capital was Consentia (Strabo, vi. 256). The Lucani were also Oscan, but considerably hellenized; their lands went from the Laus and Crathis to the R. Silarus, which eventually formed the border with Campania; to the east the R. Bradanus (mod. Bradano) separated them from Apulia and Calabria. See Hlsen, RE, 'Bruttii', cols. 907–11; Hönigmann, RE, 'Lucania', cols. 1541–2. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ τινα μέρη τῶν Δαυνίων</w>:</emph> MS. <w lang="el-GR">σαυνίτων, Δαυνίων</w> Gronovius. But the Daunii (cf. iii. 88. 3 n.) were as far away from the Gulf of Tarentum as the Samnites, and there is no evidence that a branch of this people inhabited the coastal district of the Gulf. Though accepted by Schweighaeuser, Hultsch, and Bttner-Wobst, Gronovius' emendation must be rejected. True, the Samnites too do not reach the Gulf of Tarentum; but if P. is thinking of the barbarian tribes as lying in the hinterland of the Greek cities, he might easily mention the Samnites along with the Bruttians and Lucanians; cf. Livy, xxxi. 7. 11, 'nec Tarentini modo oraque illa Italiae quam maiorem Graeciam uocant . . . sed Lucanus et Bruttius et Samnis ab nobis defecerunt'. Read therefore <w lang="el-GR">Σαυνιτῶν</w>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Καλαβροί</w>:</emph> part of the Messapian people (cf. ii. 24. 11 n., iii. 88. 3 n.). The name Calabria was gradually used for the whole of Messapia (cf. Hlsen, RE, 'Calabria', cols. 1325–6). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ πλείους ἕτεροι</w>:</emph> further evidence that P. is casting a wide net. If he can include the Samnites, he may here be thinking of the Peucetii in south Apulia, and other Iapygian or Messapian peoples. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῦτο τὸ κλῖμα . . . τῆς Ἰταλίας</w>:</emph> 'this district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>'; cf. v. 44. 6, vii. 6. 1 n.

10.1.4 - 10.1.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ῥήγιον κτλ</w>.:</emph> not mentioned in any logical order; following the coast round they are <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, Locri, Caulonia, Croton, Thurii, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metapontum&groupId=763&placeId=1383">Metapontum</a>.

10.1.5 - 10.1.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πρὸς πάντας</w>:</emph> some exaggeration; Tarentum will hardly have served as a mart for Sicilians trading with the more westerly cities, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>, Locri, Caulonia, and even Croton.

10.1.6 - 10.1.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐκ τῆς περὶ? Κροτωνιάτας . . . εὐδαιμονίας</w>:</emph> on the proverbial prosperity of Croton see above, vii. 1. 1 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">βραχεῖάν τινα . . . προσαγωγήν</w>:</emph> 'affording small opportunity for putting in'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὴν τῶν τόπων εὐφυΐαν</w>:</emph> 'owing to the favourable situation'; cf. ii. 68. 5, iii. 92. 11, iv. 38. 11 (of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>). Despite its poor facilities, it was a port of call for ships rounding the Lacinian promontory (cf. Dunbabin, 27). <milestone unit="page" n="190">[190]</milestone>

10.1.7 - 10.1.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τέτακται . . . καὶ πρὸς τοὺς κατὰ τὸν Ἀδρίαν λιμένας εὐφυῶς</w>:</emph> 'favourably situated in relation to the harbours of the Adriatic'; that is, harbours in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> and Epirus rather than in Apulia.

10.1.8 - 10.1.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀπὸ γὰρ ἄκρας Ἰαπυγίας ἕως εἰς Σιποῦντα</w>:</emph> 'from the Iapygian promontory as far as Sipontum every one coming from the opposite coast to put in to an Italian harbour crossed to Tarentum' (Paton). The expression is slightly awkward. The words <w lang="el-GR">ἀπὸ . . . Σιποῦντα</w> cannot be taken too closely with <w lang="el-GR">πρὸς Ἰταλίαν</w> both because of their position and because <w lang="el-GR">καθορμισθεὶς</w> would then be inaccurate: for those crossing from the opposite coast do not in fact put in at any harbour between Sipontum and the Iapygian promontory, but sail round to Tarentum. Hence the phrase <w lang="el-GR">ἀπὸ . . . Σιποῦντα</w> must be regarded as a general indication of the area of the Italian coast within which the conditions mentioned apply. This incidentally shows that Greek ships crossed the Adriatic so as to make landfalls at various points on the Italian coast between Sipontum and the Iapygian promontory, and did not restrict themselves to the shortest crossing; for in that case there is no point in mentioning Sipontum. Sipontum was a Daunian town on the southern slopes of Mons Garganus; for its importance as a minor port see Cic. Att. x. 7. 1; Itin. marit. 497; Strabo, vi. 284. But Nissen (Ital. Land. ii. 848) and Philipp (RE, 'Sipontum', col. 271) seem to have misunderstood the present passage when they quote it as evidence for maritime relations between Sipontum and Tarentum. On the Iapygian promontory, Cape S. Maria di Leuca, cf. ii. 14. 5 n., xxxiv. 11. 11.

10.1.9 - 10.1.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐδέπω . . . τὴν τῶν Βρεντεσίνων ἐκτίσθαι πόλιν</w>:</emph> <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Brundisium&groupId=411&placeId=762">Brundisium</a> was a Messapian town which the Romans took in 266 after the subjection of the Sallentini (Eutrop. ii. 17; Flor. i. 20; Zon. viii. 7). A Latin colony was founded there, at once according to Zonaras, in 244 according to Velleius (i. 14. 8; cf. Livy, ep. 19). It became the Roman base for shipping armies eastward during the third and second centuries; see above, ii. 11. 7, for the First Illyrian War. P. seems here to be referring to the sending of the Latin colony as 'the founding of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Brundisium&groupId=411&placeId=762">Brundisium</a>' (Beaumont, JRS, 1936, 176 n. 131); even so, his statement is false.

10.1.10 - 10.1.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὁ Φάβιος</w>:</emph> Q. Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, cos. A.U.C. 545 = 209 B.C.; see iii. 87. 6 n. The <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιβολή</w> is the recovery of Tarentum.

Polybius, Histories

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Walbank Commentary

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