Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 12 - Chapter 3

<head lang="la">II. Timaei De Africa Et Corsica Errores</head><w lemma="%2Ath%5Cn">Τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29reth%5Cn">ἀρετὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Ds">πᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fseie">θαυμάσειε</w>,

<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaion">Τίμαιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpoi">εἴποι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29nisto%2Frhton">ἀνιστόρητον</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paidariw%2Fdh">παιδαριώδη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29sullo%2Fgiston">ἀσυλλόγιστον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%2Fais">ἀρχαίαις</w> <w lemma="fh%2Fmais">φήμαις</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndedeme%2Fnon">ἐνδεδεμένον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="pareilh%2Ffamen">παρειλήφαμεν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29mmw%2Fdous">ἀμμώδους</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="chra%3Ds">ξηρᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29ka%2Frpou">ἀκάρπου</w> <w lemma="kaquparxou%2Fshs">καθυπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w>. <w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="bow%3Dn">βοῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proba%2Ftwn">προβάτων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ai%29gw%3Dn">αἰγῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dto%2Fn">τοσοῦτόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dd%27">οἶδ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnait%27">δύναιτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="eu%28reqh%3Dnai">εὑρεθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhn">οἰκουμένην</w>,

<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frois">ἡμέροις</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="karpoi%3Ds">καρποῖς</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="qremma%2Ftwn">θρεμμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmasin">θρέμμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lefa%2Fntwn">ἐλεφάντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="leo%2Fntwn">λεόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parda%2Flewn">παρδάλεων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lkh%2Fn">ἀλκήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bouba%2Flwn">βουβάλων</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllos">κάλλος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="strouqw%3Dn">στρουθῶν</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqh">μεγέθη</w>, <w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="i%28sto%2Frhsen">ἱστόρησεν</w>; <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fh">Λιβύη</w> <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.

<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28storh%2Fsas">ἱστορήσας</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fthdes">ἐπίτηδες</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lh%2Fqeian">ἀλήθειαν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxousin">ὑπάρχουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29chgei%3Dtai">ἐξηγεῖται</w>.

<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="a%29pesxedi%2Faken">ἀπεσχεδίακεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Frnon">Κύρνον</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnhs">ἐκείνης</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fwn">μνημονεύων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="deute%2Fra%7C">δευτέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblw%7C">βύβλῳ</w> <w lemma="fhsi%5Cn">φησὶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%3Dgas">αἶγας</w> <w lemma="a%29gri%2Fas">ἀγρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fbata">πρόβατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bou%3Ds">βοῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29gri%2Fous">ἀγρίους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="pollou%2Fs">πολλούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Ffous">ἐλάφους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lagw%5Cs">λαγὼς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fkous">λύκους</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="diatri%2Fbein">διατρίβειν</w> <w lemma="kunhgetou%3Dntas">κυνηγετοῦντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="diagwgh%5Cn">διαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>.

<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dson">νῆσον</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="ai%29%5Cc">αἲξ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgrios">ἄγριος</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="bou%3Ds">βοῦς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="lagw%5Cs">λαγὼς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fkos">λύκος</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flafos">ἔλαφος</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllo">ἄλλο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cwn">ζῴων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lwpe%2Fkwn">ἀλωπέκων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuni%2Fklwn">κυνίκλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proba%2Ftwn">προβάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29gri%2Fwn">ἀγρίων</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fniklos">κύνικλος</w> <w lemma="po%2Frrwqen">πόρρωθεν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%2Fmenos">ὁρώμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="lagw%5Cs">λαγὼς</w> <w lemma="mikro%2Fs">μικρός</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbh%7C">λάβῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w>, <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cn">διαφορὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fneian">ἐπιφάνειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="brw%3Dsin:">βρῶσιν·</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w>

<head>II. Mistakes of Timaeus concerning <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> and Corsica</head>No one can help admiring the richness of the country,

and one is inclined to say that Timaeus was not only unacquainted with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> but that he was childish and entirely deficient in judgement, and was still fettered by the ancient report handed down to us that the whole of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> is sandy, dry, and unproductive.

The same holds good regarding the animals. For the number of horses, oxen, sheep, and goats in the country is so large that I doubt if so many could be found in the rest of the world,

because many of the African tribes make no use of cereals but live on the flesh of their cattle and among their cattle.

Again, all are aware of the numbers and strength of the elephants, lions, and panthers in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, of the beauty of its buffaloes, and the size of its ostriches, creatures that do not exist at all in Europe while <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> is full of them.

Timaeus has no information on this subject and seems of set purpose to tell the exact opposite of the actual facts.

Regarding Corsica, too, he makes the same kind of random statements as in the case of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>.

In the account he gives of it in his second Book he tells us that there are many wild goats, sheep and cattle in it, as well as deer, hares, wolves and certain other animals, and that the inhabitants spend their time in hunting those animals, this being their sole occupation.

The fact is that in this island not only is there not a single wild goat or wild ox, but there are not even any hares, wolves, deer, or similar animals, with the exception of foxes, rabbits, and wild sheep.

The rabbit when seen from a distance looks like a small hare, but when captured it differs much from a hare both in appearance and taste. It lives for the most part under the ground.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

12.2.0 - 12.4.0

Some errors of Timaeus on the fauna of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> and Corsica From the excerpta antiqua (F). On Timaeus see i. 5. 1–5 n.; to references there add T. S. Brown, Timaeus of Tauromenium (Berkeley <milestone unit="page" n="321">[321]</milestone> Los Angeles, 1958); Walbank, JRS, 1962, 1–12. P.'s remarks on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> suggest personal knowledge of the country; and this would make the composition of these chapters later than 146 (see above, p. 317).

Specifics

12.3.1 - 12.3.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τῆς χώρας ἀρετήν</w>:</emph> clearly <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>).

12.3.2 - 12.3.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παιδαριώδη</w>:</emph> cf. Anon. <w lang="el-GR">περὶ ὕψους</w>, 4 (= FGH, 566 T 23), <w lang="el-GR">ὑπὸ δὲ ἔρωτος τοῦ ξένας νοήσεις ἀεὶ κινεῖν πολλάκις ἐκπίπτων εἰς τὸ παιδα</w>- <w lang="el-GR">ριωδέστατον</w>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ταῖς ἀρχαίαις φήμαις ἀκμὴν ἐνδεδεμένον</w>:</emph> commenting on this passage (FGH, 566 F 81) Jacoby suggests that P. has in mind Timaeus' reference to the proverb <w lang="el-GR">ἐρημότερα τῆς Λιβύης</w> in Timoleon's speech (26 a 2). But in that passage Timaeus makes Timoleon speak of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> as <w lang="el-GR">ἁπάσης συνεχῶς οἰκουμένης καὶ πληθυούσης ἀνθρώπων</w>, thus rebutting P.'s allegation here (cf. Brown, 23–24). Whose is the 'ancient report' is not clear, for both Hecataeus (FGH 1 F 335) and Herodotus (iv. 168 ff.) wrote of agriculture and pastoralism in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>, and Herodotus divided the zones as <w lang="el-GR">οἰκουμένη</w> or <w lang="el-GR">παραθαλάσσιοι</w> (Herod. ii. 32. 4, iv. 181. 1), <w lang="el-GR">θηριώδης</w> (Herod. ii. 32. 4, iv. 181. 1), <w lang="el-GR">ὀφρύ?η ψάμμης</w> (Herod. iv. 181. 1), and <w lang="el-GR">ἐρήμη</w> (Herod. ii. 32. 4, iv. 181. 2, 185. 3). Possibly then, in some part of his work (Jacoby suggests that dealing with Agathocles) Timaeus may have exaggerated the desert character of the country. Whether he gave an overall account of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> (as the phrase <w lang="el-GR">ἀμμώδους πάσης . . . τῆς Λιβύης</w> suggests) is unknown. Jacoby thinks there was one in his <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w>, but Brown (24) does not; and Pdech, ad loc., suggests that Timaeus drew on the <w lang="el-GR">Τυρίων ὑπομνήματα</w> (28 a 3), which may have described <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> as barren before the Tyrians arrived (Diod. xiii. 81. 5). However, P. may well have exaggerated Timaeus' inaccuracy by applying his remark to the whole of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a>.

12.3.5 - 12.3.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">βουβάλων</w>:</emph> antelopes (not buffaloes: Paton, Shuckburgh). On the fauna of north <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> in classical times see Gsell, i. 108–28, 216–34; on the lions see J. Aymard, Essai sur les chasses romaines (Paris, 1951), 395–6; on elephants, ibid. 421–30. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τίς οὐχ ἱστόρησεν</w>:</emph> 'who has not read of . . . ?'; cf. i. 63. 7 n.

12.3.6 - 12.3.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐδὲν ἱστορήσας</w>:</emph> 'has made no inquiries about this'.

12.3.7 - 12.3.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν . . . Κύρνον</w>:</emph> P.'s account may suggest that he had visited Corsica (so Pdech), but he does not say so and we cannot be sure; see also 4. 5 n.

12.3.8 - 12.3.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ βύβλῳ</w>?:</emph> of his main work (the exact title of which is not known: it was perhaps <w lang="el-GR">Σικελικά</w> or <w lang="el-GR">Σικελικαὶ ἱστορίαι</w>: cf. Jacoby on FGH, 566, iii b, p. 539). Book ii formed part of the introductory group, which P. (26 d 4) calls <w lang="el-GR">τὰ πρῶτα ὑπομνήματα</w>, and which contained <w lang="el-GR">τὰς ἀποικίας καὶ κτίσεις καὶ συγγενείας</w> (26 d 2 n.); Jacoby (FGH, iii b, pp. 542–3, commenting on 566) argues that this <milestone unit="page" n="322">[322]</milestone> <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w> included what was virtually a geographical description of the western Mediterranean. The present fragment is FGH, 566 F 3. Timaeus' account of Corsica is represented by Diod. v. 13–14 (= FGH, 566 F 164, c. 13/14), where, however, the excerpt has little on the fauna and must represent the original most inadequately. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">αἶγας ἀγρίας</w>:</emph> Nymphodorus of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> (FGH, 572 F 10) mentions long-haired goats in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>, probably the musmones or ophiones of Strabo (v. 225) and Pliny (Nat. hist. viii. 199, xxviii. 151, xxx. 146), and perhaps identical with the animals mentioned by Timaeus in Corsica; see Pdech, ad loc.

Polybius, Histories

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