Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 12 - Chapter 25f

1
<w lemma="%2Adh%3Dlon">Δῆλον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piferome%2Fnwn">ἐπιφερομένων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sumbebhko%2Ftwn">συμβεβηκότων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29efo%2Frw%7C">Ἐφόρῳ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w>. <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnoian">ὑπόνοιαν</w> <w lemma="e%29sxhke%2Fnai">ἐσχηκέναι</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%2Fnwn">ἀγώνων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w>.
2
<w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fpron">Κύπρον</w> <w lemma="naumaxi%2Fas">ναυμαχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akni%2Fdon">Κνίδον</w> <w lemma="a%29teni%2Fsh%7C">ἀτενίσῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w>, <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsanq%27">ἐχρήσανθ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="strathgoi%5C">στρατηγοὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ago%2Fran">Εὐαγόραν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asalami%2Fnion">Σαλαμίνιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fous">Λακεδαιμονίους</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzein">θαυμάζειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fa">συγγραφέα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhsi%2Fmwn">χρησίμων</w> <w lemma="a%29pene%2Fgkasqai">ἀπενέγκασθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fas">ὁμοίας</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis:">περιστάσεις·</w>
3
<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%3Dktra">Λεῦκτρα</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%3Dtai">ἐξηγῆται</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Amantinei%2Fa%7C">Μαντινείᾳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meth%2Fllace">μετήλλαξε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epaminw%2Fndas">Ἐπαμινώνδας</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsas">ἐπιστήσας</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="qewrh%3D%7C">θεωρῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kta%2Fceis">ἐκτάξεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metata%2Fceis">μετατάξεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w>, <w lemma="geloi%3Dos">γελοῖος</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29o%2Fratos">ἀόρατος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fn">ὤν</w>.
4
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fktrois">Λεύκτροις</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunos">κίνδυνος</w> <w lemma="a%28plou%3Ds">ἁπλοῦς</w> <w lemma="gegonw%5Cs">γεγονὼς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fn">ἕν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kfanh%3D">ἐκφανῆ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fws">συγγραφέως</w> <w lemma="a%29peiri%2Fan:">ἀπειρίαν·</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amanti%2Fneian">Μαντίνειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flhn">ποικίλην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strathgikh%2Fn">στρατηγικήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nupo%2Fstatos">ἀνυπόστατος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29diano%2Fhtos">ἀδιανόητος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="suggrafei%3D">συγγραφεῖ</w>. <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w>,
5
<w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fmenos">ὑποθέμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pimetrh%3D%7C">ἐπιμετρῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fseis">κινήσεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="dhloume%2Fnas">δηλουμένας</w>.
6
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeopo%2Fmpw%7C">Θεοπόμπῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="%2Atimai%2Fw%7C">Τιμαίῳ</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos:">λόγος·</w>
7
<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="kefalaiw%2Fdh">κεφαλαιώδη</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fswntai">ποιήσωνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="dialanqa%2Fnousin">διαλανθάνουσιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="boulhqw%3Dsi">βουληθῶσι</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsqai">διαθέσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunupodei%3Dcai%2F">συνυποδεῖξαί</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="toiou%3Dtoi">τοιοῦτοι</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnontai">φαίνονται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Dos">οἷος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Feforos">Ἔφορος</w>. —
What I say will be made plainer by the instance I am about to adduce, as, for example, in the first place, from what happened to Ephorus in certain parts of his history. Ephorus seems to me in dealing with war to have a certain notion of naval warfare, but he is entirely in the dark about battles on land.
When, therefore, we study attentively his accounts of the naval battles near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cnidus&groupId=481&placeId=902">Cnidus</a> in which the Persian king\'s commanders were engaged with Euagoras of Salamis, and on the second occasion with the Lacedaemonians, we are compelled to admire this writer for his descriptive power and knowledge of tactics, and we carry away much information useful for similar circumstances.
But when he describes the battle of Leuctra between the Thebans and Lacedaemonians, or that at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> between the same peoples, the battle in which Epaminondas lost his life, if we pay attention to every detail and look at the former and reformation of the armies during the actual battle, he provokes out laughter and seems perfectly inexperienced in such things and never to have seen a battle.
It is true that the battle of Leuctra, a special affair in which only one part of the army was engaged, does not make the writer\'s ignorance very conspicuous, but while the battle of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mantinea&groupId=731&placeId=1339">Mantinea</a> has the appearance of being described with much detail and military science, the description is quite imaginary, and the battle was not in the least understood by the writer.
This becomes evident if we get a correct idea of the ground and then number the movements he describes as being carried out on it.
The same is the case with Theopompus,
and more especially with Timaeus of whom we are now speaking. For where they give a summary account of such matters, their errors escape notice, but when they wish to describe and point out the nature of any detailed movement they are both seen to be exactly like Ephorus.