Polybius, Histories

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Book 16 - Chapter 12

1
<w lemma="%2A%28h">Ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iase%2Fwn">Ἰασέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpw%7C">κόλπῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnw%7C">κειμένῳ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amilhsi%2Fas">Μιλησίας</w> <w lemma="%2Aposeidi%2Fou">Ποσειδίου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amundi%2Fwn">Μυνδίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnw%7C">προσαγορευομένῳ</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>*, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="%2Abargulihtikw%3D%7C">Βαργυλιητικῷ</w> <w lemma="sunwnu%2Fmws">συνωνύμως</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="muxo%5Cn">μυχὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin">πόλεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktisme%2Fnais">ἐκτισμέναις</w>.
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<w lemma="eu%29%2Fxontai">εὔχονται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fkaqen">ἀνέκαθεν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29argei%2Fwn">Ἀργείων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpoikoi">ἄποικοι</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Amilhsi%2Fwn">Μιλησίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29pagagome%2Fnwn">ἐπαγαγομένων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progo%2Fnwn">προγόνων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Anhle%2Fws">Νηλέως</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%5Cn">υἱὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kti%2Fsantos">κτίσαντος</w> <w lemma="%2Ami%2Flhton">Μίλητον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarikw%3D%7C">Καρικῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhn">γενομένην</w> <w lemma="fqora%5Cn">φθορὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>. <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flew%2Fs">πόλεώς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>.
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<w lemma="katapefh%2Fmistai">καταπεφήμισται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pepi%2Fsteutai">πεπίστευται</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Abargulih%2Ftais">Βαργυλιήταις</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akindua%2Fdos">Κινδυάδος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arte%2Fmidos">Ἀρτέμιδος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgalma">ἄγαλμα</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%5Cn">ὂν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrion">ὑπαίθριον</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ni%2Ffetai">νίφεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="bre%2Fxetai">βρέχεται</w>,
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<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iaseu%3Dsi">Ἰασεῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29astia%2Fdos:">Ἀστιάδος·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta%2F">ταῦτά</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkasi">εἰρήκασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29gw%5C">ἐγὼ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="a%29pofa%2Fseis">ἀποφάσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28storiogra%2Ffwn">ἱστοριογράφων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dd%27">οἶδ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpws">ὅπως</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fan">πραγματείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29nantiou%2Fmenos">ἐναντιούμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusanasxetw%3Dn">δυσανασχετῶν</w> <w lemma="diatelw%3D">διατελῶ</w>.
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<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w> <w lemma="panta%2Fpasi">παντάπασι</w> <w lemma="paidikh%3Ds">παιδικῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29hqei%2Fas">εὐηθείας</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgwn">εὐλόγων</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptei">πίπτει</w> <w lemma="qewri%2Fas">θεωρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dunatou%3D">δυνατοῦ</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fskein">φάσκειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="fwti%5C">φωτὶ</w> <w lemma="tiqe%2Fmena">τιθέμενα</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="skia%5Cn">σκιὰν</w> <w lemma="a%29phlghkui%2Fas">ἀπηλγηκυίας</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds:">ψυχῆς·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pepoi%2Fhke">πεποίηκε</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fpompos">Θεόπομπος</w>, <w lemma="fh%2Fsas">φήσας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Adio%5Cs">Διὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fbaton">ἄβατον</w> <w lemma="e%29mba%2Fntas">ἐμβάντας</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arkadi%2Fan">Ἀρκαδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ski%2Fous">ἀσκίους</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsio%2Fn">παραπλήσιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nuni%5C">νυνὶ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="suntei%2Fnei">συντείνει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="diasw%2F%7Czein">διασῴζειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="eu%29se%2Fbeian">εὐσέβειαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qei%3Don">θεῖον</w>, <w lemma="dote%2Fon">δοτέον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmhn">συγγνώμην</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fois">ἐνίοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w> <w lemma="terateuome%2Fnois">τερατευομένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="logopoiou%3Dsi">λογοποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta:">τοιαῦτα·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28perai%3Dron">ὑπεραῖρον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrhte%2Fon">συγχωρητέον</w>.
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<w lemma="ta%2Fxa">τάχα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="duspara%2Fgrafo%2Fs">δυσπαράγραφός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="poso%2Fths">ποσότης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29para%2Fgrafo%2Fs">ἀπαράγραφός</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dtai">ἀγνοεῖται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="yeudodocei%3Dtai">ψευδοδοξεῖται</w>, <w lemma="dedo%2Fsqw">δεδόσθω</w> <w lemma="suggnw%2Fmh">συγγνώμη</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28perai%3Dron">ὑπεραῖρον</w> <w lemma="a%29qetei%2Fsqw">ἀθετείσθω</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mh%5Cn">ἐμὴν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w>.
The city of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Iasus&groupId=643&placeId=1177">Iasus</a> lies on the coast of Asia on the gulf situated between the Milesian Poseidon and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Myndus&groupId=780&placeId=1414">Myndus</a>, called by some the gulf of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Iasus&groupId=643&placeId=1177">Iasus</a>, but usually known as the gulf of Bargylia after the names of the cities at the head of it.
It claims to have been originally a colony of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a> recolonized from Miletus, the son of Neleus the founder of Miletus having been invited there by the ancient inhabitants owing to the losses they had suffered in their war with the Carians. The town has a circumference of ten stades. It is reported and believed that at Bargylia no snow nor rain ever falls on the statue of Artemis Kindyas, although it stands in the open air,
and the same story is told of that of Artemis Astias at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Iasus&groupId=643&placeId=1177">Iasus</a>. But I myself throughout my whole work have consistently viewed such statements by historians with a certain opposition and repugnance.
For I think that to believe things which are not only beyond the limits of probability but beyond those of possibility shows quite a childish simplicity.
For instance it is a sign of a blunted intelligence to say that some solid bodies when placed in the light cast no shadow, as Theopompus does when he tells us that those who enter the holy of holies of Zeus in Arcadia become shadowless.
The statement about these statues is very much of the same nature.
In cases indeed where such statements contribute to maintain a feeling of piety to the gods among the common people we must excuse certain writers for reporting marvels and tales of the kind, but we should not tolerate what goes too far.
Perhaps in all matters it is difficult to draw a limit, but a limit must be drawn.
Therefore, in my opinion at least, while we should pardon slight errors and slight falsity of opinion, every statement that shows excess in this respect should be uncompromisingly rejected.