Polybius, Histories

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Book 15 - Chapter 33

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<w lemma="%2Atou%3D">Τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%3Dma">αἷμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnous">φόνους</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto%2F">ἐγένετό</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%29toma%2Ftou">ταὐτομάτου</w> <w lemma="katarxh%5C">καταρχὴ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fth">τοιαύτη</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fous">Ἀγαθοκλέους</w> <w lemma="u%28phretw%3Dn">ὑπηρετῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kola%2Fkwn">κολάκων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnoma">ὄνομα</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flwn">Φίλων</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dlqe">ἐξῆλθε</w> <w lemma="kraipalw%3Dn">κραιπαλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdion">στάδιον</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlwn">ὄχλων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpe">εἶπε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="parestw%3Dtas">παρεστῶτας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prw%2F%7Chn">πρῴην</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqoklh%3Ds">Ἀγαθοκλῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flqh%7C">ἐξέλθῃ</w>, <w lemma="metamelh%2Fsei">μεταμελήσει</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29kousa%2Fntwn">ἀκουσάντων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29peloido%2Froun">ἀπελοιδόρουν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prow%2Fqoun">προώθουν</w>. <w lemma="e%29pibalome%2Fnou">ἐπιβαλομένου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mu%2Fnesqai">ἀμύνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xlamu%2Fda">χλαμύδα</w> <w lemma="perie%2Frrhcan">περιέρρηξαν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgxas">λόγχας</w> <w lemma="proserei%2Fsantes">προσερείσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ceke%2Fnthsan">ἐξεκέντησαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fson">μέσον</w> <w lemma="e%28lkusqh%3Dnai">ἑλκυσθῆναι</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fbrews">ὕβρεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="spai%2Fronta">σπαίροντα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geu%2Fsasqai">γεύσασθαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnou">φόνου</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="e%29karado%2Fkoun">ἐκαραδόκουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="a%29go%2Fmenos">ἀγόμενος</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqoklh%3Ds">Ἀγαθοκλῆς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fsmios:">δέσμιος·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="ei%29sio%2Fnta">εἰσιόντα</w> <w lemma="prosdramo%2Fntes">προσδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="suneke%2Fnthsan">συνεκέντησαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Frgon">ἔργον</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntes">ποιοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrw%3Dn">ἐχθρῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29noou%2Fntwn:">εὐνοούντων·</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftioi">αἴτιοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tuxei%3Dn">τυχεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fshs">ἁρμοζούσης</w> <w lemma="katastrofh%3Ds:">καταστροφῆς·</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fxqh">ἤχθη</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkwn">Νίκων</w>,
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<w lemma="ei%29%3Dt%27">εἶτ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqo%2Fkleia">Ἀγαθόκλεια</w> <w lemma="gumnh%5C">γυμνὴ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29delfai%3Ds">ἀδελφαῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="suggenei%3Ds">συγγενεῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsin">πᾶσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqesmoforei%2Fou">Θεσμοφορείου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aoi%29na%2Fnqhn">Οἰνάνθην</w> <w lemma="a%29pospa%2Fsantes">ἀποσπάσαντες</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdion">στάδιον</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fgontes">ἄγοντες</w> <w lemma="gumnh%5Cn">γυμνὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppou">ἵππου</w>.
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<w lemma="paradoqe%2Fntwn">παραδοθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxlois">ὄχλοις</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdaknon">ἔδακνον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fntoun">ἐκέντουν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29fqalmou%5Cs">ὀφθαλμοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fkopton:">ἐξέκοπτον·</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peso%2Fntos">πεσόντος</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Flh">μέλη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fspwn">διέσπων</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftou">ὅτου</w> <w lemma="katelw%2Fbhsan">κατελώβησαν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs:">αὐτούς·</w>
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<w lemma="deinh%5C">δεινὴ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="qumou%5Cs">θυμοὺς</w> <w lemma="w%29mo%2Fths">ὠμότης</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntrofoi">σύντροφοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsino%2Fhs">Ἀρσινόης</w> <w lemma="gegenhme%2Fnai">γεγενημέναι</w> <w lemma="tine%5Cs">τινὲς</w> <w lemma="paidi%2Fskai">παιδίσκαι</w>, <w lemma="puqo%2Fmenai">πυθόμεναι</w> <w lemma="paragegone%2Fnai">παραγεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afila%2Fmmwna">Φιλάμμωνα</w> <w lemma="tritai%3Don">τριταῖον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akurh%2Fnhs">Κυρήνης</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fnta">ἐπιστάντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnw%7C">φόνῳ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basili%2Fsshs">βασιλίσσης</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="biasa%2Fmenai">βιασάμεναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Afila%2Fmmwna">Φιλάμμωνα</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fptousai">τύπτουσαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqois">λίθοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="cu%2Flois">ξύλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%5Cn">υἱὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fpnican">ἀπέπνιξαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fpaida">ἀντίπαιδα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w>, <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gunai%3Dka">γυναῖκα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afila%2Fmmwnos">Φιλάμμωνος</w> <w lemma="gumnh%5Cn">γυμνὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="platei%3Dan">πλατεῖαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flkousai">ἐξέλκουσαι</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqo%2Fkleian">Ἀγαθόκλειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="suggenei%3Ds">συγγενεῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxe">ἔσχε</w>
The bloodshed and murders which followed were due to the following incident.
Philo, one of Agathocles' attendants and parasites, came out into the stadium suffering from the effects of drink.
When he observed the popular excitement, he said to those next him, that if Agathocles came out they would have cause to repent again as they had done some days before.
Upon hearing this they began some of them to revile and others to hustle him, and when he attempted to defend himself some very soon tore off his cloak and others levelling their spears at him transpierced him.
Then as soon as he was ignominiously dragged still breathing into the middle of the stadium and the people had tasted blood, they all eagerly waited the arrival of the others.
It was not long before Agathocles was led in in fetters, and as soon as he entered some people ran up and at once stabbed him, an act of benevolence rather than enmity, for they thus saved him from suffering the fate he deserved.
Next Nicon was brought there and after him Agathoclea stripped naked with her sisters and then all her relatives.
Last of all they dragged Oenanthe from the Thesmophorium and led her to the stadium naked on horseback.
All of them were delivered into the hands of the mob, and now some began to bite them with their teeth, some to stab them and others to dig out their eyes. Whenever one of them fell they tore the body from limb to limb until they had thus mutilated them all.
For terrible is the cruelty of the Egyptians when their anger is aroused.
At the same time some young girls who head <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Arsinoe&groupId=370&placeId=700">Arsinoe</a>\'s close companions, hearing that Philammon, who had directed the queen\'s murder, had arrived from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a> three days before, rushed to his house and forcing an entrance killed Philammon with clubs and stones;
strangled his son who was no longer a child, and dragging out his wife naked into the square slew her.
Such was the end of Agathocles, Agathoclea, and their kindred.