Polybius, Histories

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Book 16 - Chapter 16

1
<w lemma="%2A%28ech%3Ds">Ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffousi">γράφουσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fous">Μεσσηνίους</w> <w lemma="paraspondh%2Fmatos">παρασπονδήματος</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Azh%2Fnwn">Ζήνων</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsanta">ὁρμήσαντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Fbin">Νάβιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w>. <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmonos">Λακεδαίμονος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fnta">διαβάντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftan">Εὐρώταν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28opli%2Fthn">Ὁπλίτην</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmenon">προσαγορευόμενον</w> <w lemma="poreu%2Fesqai">πορεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stenh%3Ds">στενῆς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Apolia%2Fsion">Πολιάσιον</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Asellasi%2Fan">Σελλασίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29fi%2Fketo">ἀφίκετο</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous:">τόπους·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqala%2Fmas">Θαλάμας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fnta">ἐπιβαλόντα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Afara%5Cs">Φαρὰς</w> <w lemma="paragene%2Fsqai">παραγενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fmison">Πάμισον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>.
4
<w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dda">οἶδα</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein:">λέγειν·</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="sullh%2Fbdhn">συλλήβδην</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmeno%2Fs">ποιησάμενός</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Akori%2Fnqou">Κορίνθου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaporeuqei%5Cs">διαπορευθεὶς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29isqmo%5Cn">Ἰσθμὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyas">συνάψας</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Askeirwni%2Fsin">Σκειρωνίσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akontopori%2Fan">Κοντοπορίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fbale">ἐπέβαλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amukh%2Fnas">Μυκήνας</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fargos">Ἄργος</w>. <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mikro%2Fn">μικρόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fan">ἐναντίαν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhla">ἄλληλα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29isqmo%2Fn">Ἰσθμόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Askira%2Fdas">Σκιράδας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29natola%5Cs">ἀνατολὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Akori%2Fnqou">Κορίνθου</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akontopori%2Fan">Κοντοπορίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amukh%2Fnas">Μυκήνας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%2Fs">χειμερινάς</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prohgoume%2Fnwn">προηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalei%3Dn">ἐπιβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>.
7
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w> <w lemma="sumbe%2Fbhken:">συμβέβηκεν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftas">Εὐρώτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asellasi%2Fan">Σελλασίαν</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frths">Σπάρτης</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="qerina%5Cs">θερινὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29natola%2Fs">ἀνατολάς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqala%2Fmas">Θαλάμας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afara%5Cs">Φαρὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fmison">Πάμισον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%5Cs">χειμερινὰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asellasi%2Fan">Σελλασίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Ftan">Εὐρώταν</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="protiqe%2Fmenon">προτιθέμενον</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqala%2Fmas">Θαλάμας</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amesshni%2Fan">Μεσσηνίαν</w>.
In the next place they speak of the treacherous attempt on Messene.
Here Zeno tells us that Nabis, setting out from Lacedaemon and crossing the Eurotas near the so‑called Hoplites, marched by the narrow road skirting Poliasion until he arrived at the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a>
and thence passing Thalamae reached the river Pamisus at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharae&groupId=878&placeId=1582">Pharae</a>.
I really am at a loss what to say about all this: for the character of the description taken as a whole is exactly as if one were to say that a man setting out from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a> and crossing the Isthmus and reaching the Scironic rocks at once entered the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Contoporia&groupId=490&placeId=921">Contoporia</a> and passing <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Mycenae&groupId=777&placeId=1408">Mycenae</a> proceeded towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Argos&groupId=361&placeId=689">Argos</a>. For this is no slight error,
but the places in question are in quite opposite quarters, the Isthmus and Scirades being to the east of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a> while the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Contoporia&groupId=490&placeId=921">Contoporia</a> and MycenaeMessene are very nearly south-west, so that it is absolutely impossible to reach the latter locality by the former.
The same is the case with regard to the topography of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>.
The Eurotas and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a> are south-east of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, while Thalamae, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharae&groupId=878&placeId=1582">Pharae</a>, and the Pamisus are south-west.
So that one who intends to march past Thalamae to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Messenia&groupId=760&placeId=1380">Messenia</a> not only need not go to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a>, but need not cross the Eurotas at all.