Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 28

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Fews">Ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flpisen">ἤλπισεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fcein">ἥξειν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhs">Ἀρσάκης</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsxwron">πρόσχωρον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsein">τολμήσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fth%7C">τηλικαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="diekbalei%3Dn">διεκβαλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nudri%2Fan">ἀνυδρίαν</w>.
2
<w lemma="e%29pipolh%3Ds">ἐπιπολῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="faino%2Fmenon">φαινόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnomoi">ὑπόνομοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w> <w lemma="freati%2Fas">φρεατίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnas">ἀγνοουμένας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frois">ἀπείροις</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqh%5Cs">ἀληθὴς</w> <w lemma="paradi%2Fdotai">παραδίδοται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fwn">ἐγχωρίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsai">Πέρσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Ftoun">ἐπεκράτουν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fdwkan">ἔδωκαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29rdeuome%2Fnwn">ἀρδευομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29peisagome%2Fnois">ἐπεισαγομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="phgai%3Don">πηγαῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="genea%5Cs">γενεὰς</w> <w lemma="karpeu%3Dsai">καρπεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran:">χώραν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Atau%2Frou">Ταύρου</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="u%28da%2Ftwn">ὑδάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29porru%2Fseis">ἀπορρύσεις</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pede%2Fxonto">ἐπεδέχοντο</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhn">δαπάνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopa%2Fqeian">κακοπάθειαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="makrou%3D">μακροῦ</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fzontes">κατασκευάζοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmous">ὑπονόμους</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdasi">ὕδασι</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmwn">ὑπονόμων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pirru%2Fseis">ἐπιρρύσεις</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhs">Ἀρσάκης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenon">ἐπιβαλόμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="thnika%2Fde">τηνικάδε</w> <w lemma="xwnnu%2Fein">χωννύειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Frein">φθείρειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhse">ἐνεχείρησε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="freati%2Fas">φρεατίας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="e%29caggelqe%2Fntos">ἐξαγγελθέντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Anikomh%2Fdhn">Νικομήδην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fwn">χιλίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabo%2Fntes">καταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhn">Ἀρσάκην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="u%28pokexwrhko%2Fta">ὑποκεχωρηκότα</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Frontas">φθείροντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmata">στόματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmwn">ὑπονόμων</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="treya%2Fmenoi">τρεψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsan">ἀνεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>.
7
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ekato%2Fmpulon">Ἑκατόμπυλον</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsh%7C">μέσῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aparquhnh%3D%7C">Παρθυηνῇ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fdwn">διόδων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ferousw%3Dn">φερουσῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="sumpiptousw%3Dn">συμπιπτουσῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnontos">συμβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proshgori%2Fan">προσηγορίαν</w>.
Arsaces had expected Antiochus to advance as far as this region, but he did not think he would venture with such a large force to cross the adjacent desert, chiefly owing to the scarcity of water.
For in the region I speak of there is no water visible on the surface, but even in the desert there are a number of underground channels communicating with wells unknown to those not acquainted with the country.
About these a true story is told by the inhabitants. They say that at the time when the Persians were the rulers of Asia they gave to those who conveyed a supply of water to places previously unirrigated the right of cultivating the land for five generations,
and consequently as the Taurus has many large streams descending from it, people incurred great expense and trouble in making underground channels reaching a long distance, so that at the present day those who make use of the water do not know whence the channels derive their supply.
Arsaces, however, when he saw that Antiochus was attempting to march across the desert, endeavoured instantly to fill up and destroy the wells.
The king when this news reached him sent off Nicomedes with a thousand horse, who, finding that Arsaces had retired with his army, but that some of his cavalry were engaged in destroying the mouths of the channels, attacked and routed these, forcing them to fly, and then returned to Antiochus.
The king having traversed the desert came to the city called Hecatompylus, which lies in the centre of Parthia. This city derives its name from the fact that it is the meeting-place of all the roads leading to the surrounding districts.