Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 10 - Chapter 27

<head lang="la">IV. Res Asiae</head><w lemma="%2A%29%2Festi">Ἔστι</w> <w lemma="toi%2Fnun">τοίνυν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fa">Μηδία</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29cioxrewta%2Fth">ἀξιοχρεωτάτη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="dunasteiw%3Dn">δυναστειῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%5Cs">ἀρετὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</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="i%28%2Fppwn:">ἵππων·</w>

<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cois">ζῴοις</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasan">ἅπασαν</w> <w lemma="xorhgei%3D">χορηγεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="basilika%5C">βασιλικὰ</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fmata">συστήματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppotrofiw%3Dn">ἱπποτροφιῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%2Fdois">Μήδοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitetra%2Ffqai">ἐπιτετράφθαι</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="perioikei%3Dtai">περιοικεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin">πόλεσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fsi">Ἑλληνίσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28fh%2Fghsin">ὑφήγησιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w>, <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sugkurou%2Fntwn">συγκυρούντων</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ekbata%2Fnwn">Ἐκβατάνων</w>.

<w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fktistai">ἔκτισται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fas">Μηδίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29%2Fceinon">Εὔξεινον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w>,

<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleion">βασίλειον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%2Fdwn">Μήδων</w>, <w lemma="plou%2Ftw%7C">πλούτῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="polutelei%2Fa%7C">πολυτελείᾳ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="dienhnoxe%2Fnai">διενηνοχέναι</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>.

<w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parw%2Freian">παρώρειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29oro%2Fnthn">Ὀρόντην</w>, <w lemma="a%29tei%2Fxistos">ἀτείχιστος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsa">οὖσα</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3D%7C">αὑτῇ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoi%2Fhton">χειροποίητον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w>, <w lemma="qaumasi%2Fws">θαυμασίως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="kateskeuasme%2Fnhn">κατεσκευασμένην</w>.

<w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleia">βασίλεια</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parasiwpa%3Dn">παρασιωπᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan:">ἀπορίαν·</w>

<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ai%28roume%2Fnois">αἱρουμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kplhktika%5Cs">ἐκπληκτικὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsewn">διηγήσεων</w> <w lemma="profe%2Fresqai">προφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fsews">αὐξήσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnois">εἰθισμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29cagge%2Fllein">ἐξαγγέλλειν</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsthn">καλλίστην</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnh">προειρημένη</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29labw%3Ds">εὐλαβῶς</w> <w lemma="prosporeuome%2Fnois">προσπορευομένοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzei">παρασκευάζει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fan">δυσχρηστίαν</w>.

<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleia">βασίλεια</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="perigrafh%2Fn">περιγραφήν</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kataskeuasma%2Ftwn">κατασκευασμάτων</w> <w lemma="polutelei%2Fa%7C">πολυτελείᾳ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29mfai%2Fnonta">ἐμφαίνοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kataballome%2Fnwn">καταβαλλομένων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w>.

<w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="culei%2Fas">ξυλείας</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="kedri%2Fnhs">κεδρίνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuparitti%2Fnhs">κυπαριττίνης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fan">οὐδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegumnw%3Dsqai">γεγυμνῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbainen">συνέβαινεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dokou%5Cs">δοκοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="fatnw%2Fmata">φατνώματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fonas">κίονας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="stoai%3Ds">στοαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peristu%2Flois">περιστύλοις</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3Ds">ἀργυραῖς</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrusai%3Ds">χρυσαῖς</w> <w lemma="lepi%2Fsi">λεπίσι</w> <w lemma="perieilh%3Dfqai">περιειλῆφθαι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kerami%2Fdas">κεραμίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29rgura%3Ds">ἀργυρᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w>.

<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="lepisqh%3Dnai">λεπισθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkou">Σελεύκου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Anika%2Fnoros">Νικάνορος</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>.

<w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="nao%5Cs">ναὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fnhs">Αἴνης</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmenos">προσαγορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fonas">κίονας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="kexruswme%2Fnous">κεχρυσωμένους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kerami%2Fdes">κεραμίδες</w> <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3D">ἀργυραῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sunete%2Fqeinto">συνετέθειντο</w>, <w lemma="pli%2Fnqoi">πλίνθοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrusai%3D">χρυσαῖ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgai">ὀλίγαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3D">ἀργυραῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenon">ὑπέμενον</w>.

<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xaraxqe%5Cn">χαραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="basiliko%5Cn">βασιλικὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28qroi%2Fsqh">ἡθροίσθη</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmisma">νόμισμα</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="lei%3Dpon">λεῖπον</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fwn">τετρακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w>. —

<head>IV. Affairs of Asia</head><head>Expedition of Antiochus against Arsaces</head>Media is the most notable principality in Asia, both in the extent of its territory and the number and excellence of the men and also of the horses it produces.

It supplies nearly the whole of Asia with these animals, the royal stud farms being entrusted to the Medes owing to the excellence of the pastures.

On its borders a ring of Greek cities was founded by Alexander to protect it from the neighbouring barbarians. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a> is an exception.

This city is situated in the northern part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> and commands that portion of Asia which borders on the Maeotis and Euxine.

It had always been the royal residence of the Medes and is said to have greatly exceeded all the other cities in wealth and the magnificence of its buildings.

It lies on the skirts of Mount Orontes and has no wall, but possesses an artificial citadel the fortifications of which are of wonderful strength.

Beneath this stands the palace, regarding which I am in doubt whether I should go into details or keep silence.

For to those who are disposed to recount marvellous tales and are in the habit of giving exaggerated and rhetorical reports of cet matters this city affords an admirable theme, but to such as approach with caution all statement which are contrary to ordinary conceptions it is a source of doubt and difficulty.

The palace, however, is about seven stades in circumference, and by the magnificence of the separate structures in it conveys a high idea of the wealth of its original founders.

For the woodwork was all of cedar and cypress, but no part of it was left exposed, and the rafters, the compartments of the ceiling, and the columns in the porticoes and colonnades were plated with either silver or gold, and all the tiles were silver.

Most of the precious metals were stripped off in the invasion of Alexander and his Macedonians, and the rest during the reigns of Antigonus and Seleucus the son of Nicanor,

but still, when Antiochus reached the place, the temple of Aene alone had the columns round it still gilded and a number of silver tiles were piled up in it, while a few gold bricks and a considerable quantity of silver ones remained.

From all the objects I have mentioned sufficient was collected to coin money with the king's effigy amounting to very nearly four thousand talents.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

10.27.1 - 10.31.15

Antiochus' expedition against Arsaces Two contiguous, but not continuous, fragmentsthere is a break in F after 27are from the res Asiae of Ol. 142, 3 = 210/09; see above, p. 15. The Parthians had recently conquered western <milestone unit="page" n="231">[231]</milestone> <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hyrcania&groupId=640&placeId=1172">Hyrcania</a>, Comisene, and Choarene to the south of the Caspian; and further east Euthydemus of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magnesia&groupId=729&placeId=1336">Magnesia</a> had seized Aria (cf. Holleaux, CAH, viii. 140 = tudes, v. 322). In autumn 210 (probably; cf. ix. 43 n.) Antiochus had sailed down the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Euphrates&groupId=138&placeId=377">Euphrates</a>; in the spring of 209 he was in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a>, in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, preparing his expedition. There is no evidence that the Parthians had seized <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>. P.'s sources for the whole of Antiochus' eastern expedition are obscure; against von Scala's argument (262) that he followed Zeno of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>, who had information from Polyxenidas (29. 6 n.), see Ullrich, 31–32. But either directly or indirectly P. seems to draw in part on an eyewitness (cf. 28. 3 n.), who took part in Antiochus' anabasis and subsequently published an account of it; he may be the 'mercenary source' detected earlier (cf. v. 40. 4–57. 8 n.). By this expedition Antiochus thoroughly re-established his position in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, where recently-found inscriptions from Nehavend attest the position of the Seleucids there in 193 (Robert, Hellenica, 7, 1949, 5–22; 8, 1949, 73–75; Bull. pig. 1950, no. 217; cf. Clairmont, Mus. Helv. 1949, 218–26; A. G. Roos, Mnem. 1950, 54–63; 1951, 70–72; Aymard, REA, 1949, 327–45; Edson, CP, 1954, 112–18).

10.27.0 - 10.31.0

on Antiochus' crossing of Mt. Elburz see Bar-Kochva, Seleucid Army, 142–5.

Specifics

10.27.1 - 10.27.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἡ Μηδία</w>:</emph> see v. 44. 4–11 on its character and extent; see now also Schmitt, Antiochos, 50–61. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν δυναστειῶν</w>:</emph> 'the principalities of Asia'. Historically <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> had been a separate kingdom, though now it was a Seleucid province. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν ἵππων</w>:</emph> cf. v. 44. 1 n. for the Nesaean horses of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, and the location there of the royal herds.

10.27.2 - 10.27.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ βασιλικὰ συστήματα τῶν ἱπποτροφιῶν</w>:</emph> 'the royal herds for breeding'; cf. v. 44. 1, <w lang="el-GR">τὰ . . . ἱπποφόρβια</w>. The phrase is awkward; but <w lang="el-GR">ἱπποτροφία</w> is commonly used in the plural, and Casaubon's <w lang="el-GR">ἱπποτροφείων</w>, 'stables', is no improvement. 〈 <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὴν τῶν τόπων</w></emph> 〉 <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εὐφυΐαν</w>:</emph> so, convincingly, Bttner-Wobst, comparing ii. 68. 5, iii. 92. 11, iv. 38. 11, x. 40. 11.

10.27.3 - 10.27.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περιοικεῖται δὲ πόλεσιν Ἑλληνίσι</w>:</emph> these, like the <w lang="el-GR">πόλεις ἀξιόλογοι</w>, which Alexander founded among the Cossaei (Diod. xvii. 111. 6; on the Cossaei see above, v. 44. 7 n.), will be military settlements, not full cities (cf. Tarn, Bactria, 8–9; for P.'s loose use of <w lang="el-GR">πόλις</w> cf. i. 72. 2, iii. 18. 1 n., iii. 60. 9. 5, xxv. 1). They were needed to secure what was to be the central province of the Seleucid realm (cf. E. Meyer, Blte, 19 n. 2) and the usual headquarters of the GovernorGeneral of the Upper Satrapies (Bengtson, Strat. ii. 78 ff., and especially 86 n. 2). There were, of course, full Greek cities in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, including Heracleia (Strabo, xi. 514; Ptol. vi. 2. 16; Amm. Marc. xxiii. 6. 39), <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a> Rhagiane (Strabo, xi. 524; Pliny, Nat. hist. vi. 43), which according to Isidore of Charax was in Choarene, east <milestone unit="page" n="232">[232]</milestone> of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Caspian Gates&groupId=445&placeId=827">Caspian Gates</a> (Stath. Parth. 8), <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laodiceia&groupId=664&placeId=1214">Laodiceia</a> (Strabo, xi. 524; Steph. Byz. S.V.), now identified as Nehavend (see above, 27. 1–31. 15 n.) and Charax (Isid. Char. Stath. Parth. 7; Amm. Marc. xxiii. 6. 43); and the two native towns <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a> and Rhagae were refounded as Greek cities named <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Epiphaneia&groupId=134&placeId=373">Epiphaneia</a> (Steph. Byz. s.v. <w lang="el-GR">Ἀγβάτανα</w>; i.e. a foundation of Antiochus IV) and Europus (Strabo, xi. 514; Ptol. vi. 2. 17; Amm. Marc. xxiii. 6. 39) respectively. But it is neither proved nor probable that any of these is earlier than Seleucus I, the attested founder of many. See Tscherikower, 99–101; and, on Seleucus I's foundations, App. Syr. 57. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πλὴν Ἐκβατάνων</w>:</emph> the capital of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, modern Hamadan; cf. Herod. i. 98 ff. on its foundation. Pliny's attribution to a Seleucus (Nat. hist. vi. 43) must be rejected in the light of the present passage; but Antiochus IV founded <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Epiphaneia&groupId=134&placeId=373">Epiphaneia</a> here (see last note). Herodotus (loc. cit.) describes a sevenfold fortification, each ring a different colour (perhaps with astrological significance; How and Wells, Commentary, ad loc., quoting Rawlinson, JRGS, 10, 1841, 127, for a parallel from the poet Nizami). Diodorus (xvii. 110. 7) makes the circuit of the city 250 stades, an exaggeration. There has been no excavation. On its wealth see, besides Herodotus, Ps.-Aristotle, de mundo, 6. 398 A. Pdech, Mthode, 568–70, argues that P. drew his description of the city from Callisthenes.

10.27.4 - 10.27.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐν δὲ τοῖς πρὸς τὰς ἄρκτους μέρεσι</w>:</emph> Hamadan lies on the main Baghdad–Teheran road, on the slopes of the Elvend range, which forms part of the ancient Mt. Zagrus (cf. v. 44. 4–11 n.); cf. § 6 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς περὶ? τὴν Μαιῶτιν καὶ τὸν Εὔξεινον μέρεσι</w>:</emph> true only in reference to P.'s distorted geographical picture of northern <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>. See above, v. 44. 4, where the Elymaeans, Aniaracae, Cadusii, and Matiani are placed in the north of the province, <w lang="el-GR">ὑπέρκειται δὲ τῶν συναπτόντων πρὸς τὴν Μαιῶτιν τοῦ Πόντου μερῶν</w>; cf. Schmitt, Antiochos, 60; Pdech, Mthode, 568–9.

10.27.6 - 10.27.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὑπὸ τὴν παρώρειαν τὴν παρὰ τὸν Ὀρόντην</w>:</emph> for the Orontes (mod. Elvend) cf. Diod. ii. 13. 7 (= Ctesias, FGH, 688 F 1 (13. 7)); Ptol. vi. 2. 4. Ammianus (xxiii. 6. 39) calls it Iasonius mons, but Ptolemy (loc. cit.) distinguishes between this and the Orontes. Pliny (Nat. hist. v. 98) calls it Oroandes, which Kiessling (RE, 'Hyrkania', col. 461) connects with the Iranian Arvant. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">θαυμασίως πρὸς ὀχυρότητα κατεσκευασμένην</w>:</emph> this casts doubt on Aelian's story (Var. hist. vii. 8) that Alexander had the citadel and its wall dismantled as an expression of grief after Hephaestion's death.

10.27.7 - 10.27.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ λέγειν κατὰ μέρος</w>:</emph> 'to say something' (not 'to go into details', as Paton); see ii. 40. 6 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔχει τιν᾿ ἀπορίαν</w>:</emph> P.'s embarrassment is due to the fact that such <w lang="el-GR">τοπογραφίαι</w> are part of the stock-in-trade of the rhetorical historian, who uses them to work up his material <w lang="el-GR">(ἐξεργάζεσθαι)</w> in an exciting <milestone unit="page" n="233">[233]</milestone> way (cf. xxix. 12. 4; Avenarius, 147–8). Where such accounts further the understanding of historical events, they form a valuable adjunct to the narrative (cf. i. 41. 7, iii. 36. 1–5, v. 21. 6–7, x. 9. 8); but here their only justification lies in the details of § 13.

10.27.8 - 10.27.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰς ἐκπληκτικὰς τῶν διηγήσεων</w>:</emph> cf. xv. 36. 1, where sensational accounts are also associated with <w lang="el-GR">αὔξησις</w>; ii. 61. 1, <w lang="el-GR">μετ᾿ αὐξήσεως καὶ διαθέσεως</w> (of Phylarchus)hence Schweighaeuser's convincing correction of the MS. <w lang="el-GR">διαβάσεως</w> here (Lex. Polyb. s.v. <w lang="el-GR">διάθεσις</w>; in text and commentary, following Ernestus, he had read <w lang="el-GR">διατάσεως)</w>. See above, Vol. I, pp. 8–9; ii. 56. 11–12 n.; Ziegler, RE, 'Polybios (1)', cols. 1504–6. M. Hadas, Hellenistic Culture (New York, 1959), 168, instances the elaborate description of the palace at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a> with which the book of Judith opens. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς δ᾿ εὐλαβῶς προσπορευομένοις κτλ</w>.:</emph> i.e. himself.

10.27.9 - 10.27.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">σχεδὸν ἕπτα σταδίων</w>:</emph> nearly 6furlongs. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν κατὰ μέρος κατασκευασμάτων</w>:</emph> 'of the separate buildings'; the palace was probably a complex of structures. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τῶν ἐξ ἀρχῆς καταβαλλομένων εὐκαιρίαν</w>:</emph> 'the wealth of its original founders'.

10.27.10 - 10.27.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ φατνώματα</w>:</emph> 'the compartments of the ceiling' (Paton); cf. Callixenus, FGH, 627 F 2 (= Athen. v. 25); IGR, iv. 556. From the resemblance in shape the word is derived from <w lang="el-GR">φάτνη</w>, 'manger' (which also has this meaning; see references in LSJ). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">λεπίσι περιειλῆφθαι</w>:</emph> 'plated'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κεραμίδας</w>:</emph> 'roof-tiles'.

10.27.11 - 10.27.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ Μακεδόνων ἔφοδον</w>:</emph> Alexander entered <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a> in 330 in pursuit of Darius after Gaugamela, and lodged the Persian treasure in its citadel (Arr. Anab. iii. 19. 5–8). This Strabo (xv. 731) makes 180,000, and Iustinus (xii. 1. 3) 190,000 talents; it was not, however, all from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a>, though it may have included the metals mentioned here. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιγόνου καὶ Σελεύκου τοῦ Νικάνορος δυναστείαν</w>:</emph> Seleucus I and Antigonus Monophthalmus'. As Larsen, CP, 1969, 43, points out, P. is treating Seleucus I and Antigonus I as Alexander's successors; cf. Errington, CR, 1969, 167–8. The title Nicanor is found elsewhere (cf. Euseb. Chron. i. 249 Schoene, 'Seleukus autem aduersum barbaros profectus uicit, et rex declarabatur; atque inde Nikanor uocatus est, id est uictor'; the same reading is found in the Armenian version, 117 Karst); but it seems to be a manuscript error for the cult title Nicator (cf. Sthelin, RE, 'Seleukos (2)', col. 1233), the usual form and the one known from inscriptions and papyri (e.g. OGIS, 233, l. 2 from Antioch in Persis; <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dura&groupId=547&placeId=1026">Dura</a> Parchments, 25, l. 19 from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dura&groupId=547&placeId=1026">Dura</a>; OGIS, 245, l. 10, from Seleucia-in-Pieria; cf. OGIS, 263, l. 4, 413; CIG, iv. 6856). The sanctuary around Seleucus' tomb was called the <w lang="el-GR">Νικατόρειον</w> (App. Syr. 63), and apparently Seleucus was deified by Antiochus I (Tarn, Hell. Civ. 50). On Seleucid cult see Bikerman, 236 ff.; for the meaning <milestone unit="page" n="234">[234]</milestone> of the title, which obviously indicates a conqueror, cf. App. Syr. 57; Amm. Marc. xiv. 8. 5, xxiii. 6. 3; Euseb. loc. cit. Paton has, inaccurately, 'Seleucus the son of Nicanor'.

10.27.12 - 10.27.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὁ . . . ναὸς . . . τῆς Αἴνης</w>:</emph> Anahta, the Persian goddess of the fertilizing waters, who was perhaps originally Babylonian, and whose cult was widely spread throughout the territories once under <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Persia&groupId=871&placeId=1571">Persia</a>. Her name was usually hellenized as <w lang="el-GR">Ἀναί?α</w> or <w lang="el-GR">Ἀναῖ?τις</w>; cf. e.g. Plut. Artax. 27; Strabo xvi. 738. See Cumont, RE, 'Anaitis', cols. 2030–1; ERE, 'Anahita', 414–15; S. Wikander, Feuerpriester in Kleinasien und Iran (Lund, 1946), 69, who suggests emending <w lang="el-GR">Αἴνης</w> to <w lang="el-GR">Ἀναΐτιδος</w> (contra Festugire, Coniectanea neotestamentica, 12 (Lund, 1948), 48–49, who both here and in Strabo, xvi. 738, would read the goddess's name as <w lang="el-GR">Ναναία</w>, found on inscriptions and in papyri). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">συνετέθειντο</w>:</emph> 'had been assembled'; <w lang="el-GR">συντίθημι</w> often means 'to put together in a construction', but this meaning, implying that they were therefore still in place, hardly fits here, where <w lang="el-GR">ἐν αὐτῷ</w> suggests rather that the silver tiles were being stored in the temple.

10.27.13 - 10.27.13

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ χαραχθὲν εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν ἡθροίσθη νόμισμα</w>:</emph> 'sufficient was collected to coin royal money amounting to . . .'. The phrasing is awkward, and it is not wholly clear whether <w lang="el-GR">νόμισμα</w> goes with <w lang="el-GR">χαραχθέν</w> (so LSJ, s.v. <w lang="el-GR">χαράσσω)</w> or with <w lang="el-GR">εἰς τὸ βασιλικόν</w> (Mauersberger, s.v. <w lang="el-GR">βασιλικός)</w>; but the latter seems more probable (literally, 'from all the above-mentioned objects was collected the (metal) stamped to form royal money'). Most translations render <w lang="el-GR">βασιλικόν</w> 'stamped with the king's effigy', and this was probably true of these coins; but <w lang="el-GR">βασιλικός</w> does not have that meaning. Babelon, Rois de Syrie, lxxxi, tries to identify a gold issue of Antiochus with these coins, but hardly convincingly. The down-to-earth economic facts with which P. ends his account of the temple furnish him with some justification for the details of its magnificence, a subject which had aroused his qualms in § 8. <w lang="el-GR">τὸ βασιλικόν</w> is a normal expression for 'the royal treasury'; cf. Holleaux, tudes, ii. 107–8. The meaning is missed in Mauersberger (and in Schweighaeuser, Shuckburgh, and Paton); I owe the correction to F. Piejko. Translate: 'coined money amounting to very nearly 4,000 talents was paid into the treasury.'

Addenda & corrigenda

10.27.11 - 10.27.11

<emph rend="bold">27. 11. <w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιγόνου καὶ Σελεύκου</w>:</emph> delete the words 'Antiochus I . . . ii. 2. 2 n.)' and substitute 'Antigonus I Monophthalmus'. As Larsen, CP, 1969, 43, points out, P. is treating Seleucus I and Antigonus I as Alexander's successors; cf. Errington, CR, 1969, 167–8.

10.27.13 - 10.27.13

<emph rend="bold">27. 13. <w lang="el-GR">τὸ χαραχθὲν . . . νόμισμα</w>:</emph> <w lang="el-GR">τὸ βασιλικόν</w> is a normal expression for 'the royal treasury'; cf. Holleaux, tudes, ii. 107–8. The meaning is missed in Mauersberger (and in Schweighaeuser, Shuckburgh, and Paton); I owe the correction to F. Piejko. Translate: 'coined money amounting to very nearly 4,000 talents was paid into the treasury.'

Polybius, Histories

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