Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 18 - Chapter 20

<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29piou%3Dsan">ἐπιοῦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="dusarestou%2Fmenoi">δυσαρεστούμενοι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Afera%5Cs">Φερὰς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katafu%2Ftous">καταφύτους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Freis">πλήρεις</w> <w lemma="ai%28masiw%3Dn">αἱμασιῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="khpi%2Fwn">κηπίων</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fzucan">ἀνέζυξαν</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Askotou%3Dssan">Σκοτοῦσσαν</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29fodia%2Fsasqai">ἐφοδιάσασθαι</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="eu%29treph%5Cs">εὐτρεπὴς</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzontas">ἁρμόζοντας</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin:">δυνάμεσιν·</w>

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="u%28popteu%2Fsas">ὑποπτεύσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29ki%2Fnei">ἐκίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppw%7C">Φιλίππῳ</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="prokatafqei%3Drai">προκαταφθεῖραι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Askotoussai%2Fa%7C">Σκοτουσσαίᾳ</w> <w lemma="si%3Dton">σῖτον</w>.

<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnwn">κειμένων</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fxqwn">ὄχθων</w> <w lemma="u%28yhlw%3Dn">ὑψηλῶν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="sunew%2Frwn">συνεώρων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w>, <w lemma="poi%3D">ποῖ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnes">Μακεδόνες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.

<w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteroi">ἑκάτεροι</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsantes">διανύσαντες</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ere%2Ftrian">Ἐρέτριαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Afqiw%2Ftidos">Φθιώτιδος</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ogxhsto%5Cn">Ὀγχηστὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fzeucan">κατέζευξαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29gnoou%3Dntes">ἀγνοοῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Fteroi">ἀμφότεροι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="parembola%2Fs:">παρεμβολάς·</w>

<w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28sterai%2Fa%7C">ὑστεραίᾳ</w> <w lemma="proelqo%2Fntes">προελθόντες</w> <w lemma="e%29stratope%2Fdeusan">ἐστρατοπέδευσαν</w>, <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Amela%2Fmbion">Μελάμβιον</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmenon">προσαγορευόμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Askotoussai%2Fas">Σκοτουσσαίας</w>, <w lemma="%2Ati%2Ftos">Τίτος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeti%2Fdeion">Θετίδειον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Afarsali%2Fas">Φαρσαλίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoou%3Dntes">ἀγνοοῦντες</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w>.

<w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnou">ἐπιγενομένου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fmbrou">ὄμβρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="brontw%3Dn">βροντῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29caisi%2Fwn">ἐξαισίων</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29e%2Fra">ἀέρα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nefw%3Dn">νεφῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29piou%3Dsan">ἐπιοῦσαν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28wqinh%5Cn">ἑωθινὴν</w> <w lemma="pesei%3Dn">πεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%3Dta">ἐφεστῶτα</w> <w lemma="zo%2Ffon">ζόφον</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="posi%5C">ποσὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpein">βλέπειν</w>.

<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="katanu%2Fsai">κατανύσαι</w> <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokei%2Fmenon">προκείμενον</w>, <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="proh%2F%7Cei">προῄει</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratia%3Ds">στρατιᾶς</w>.

<w lemma="dusxrhstou%2Fmenos">δυσχρηστούμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29mi%2Fxlhn">ὀμίχλην</w>, <w lemma="braxu%5Cn">βραχὺν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbale">παρενέβαλε</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29fedrei%2Fan">ἐφεδρείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsteile">ἀπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkrous">ἄκρους</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalei%3Dn">ἐπιβαλεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnwn">κειμένων</w> <w lemma="bounw%3Dn">βουνῶν</w>.

Next day both armies, dissatisfied with the ground near Pherae, as it was all under cultivation and covered with walls and small gardens, retired from it.

Philip for his part began to march towards Scotussa, hoping to procure supplies from that town and afterwards when fully furnished to find ground suitable for his own army.

But Flamininus, suspecting his purpose, put his army in motion at the same time as Philip with the object of destroying the corn in the territory of Scotussa before his adversary could get there.

As there were high hills between the two armies in their march neither did the Romans perceive where the Macedonians were marching to nor the Macedonians the Romans.

After marching all that day, Flamininus having reached the place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eretria&groupId=576&placeId=1079">Eretria</a> in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phthiotis&groupId=897&placeId=1612">Phthiotis</a> and Philip the river Onchestus, they both encamped at those spots, each ignorant of the position of the other\'s camp.

Next day they again advanced and encamped, Philip at the place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> in the territory of Scotussa and Flamininus at the sanctuary of Thetis in that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a>, being still in ignorance of each others\' whereabouts.

In the night there was a violent thunderstorm accompanied by rain, and next morning at early dawn all the mist from the clouds descended on the earth, so that owing to the darkness that prevailed one could not see even people who were close at hand.

Philip, however, who was in a hurry to effect his purpose, broke up his camp and advanced with his whole army, but finding it difficult to march owing to the mist, after having made but little progress, he intrenched his army and sent off his covering force with orders to occupy the summits of the hills which lay between him and the enemy.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

18.17.0 - 18.33.0

Cynoscephalae: the legion and the phalanx In spring 197 both sides moved. Flamininus came north from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elatea&groupId=558&placeId=1045">Elatea</a>, received 6,400 Aetolian reinforcements at Xyniae, and detachments from Gortyn, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apollonia&groupId=1066&placeId=1873">Apollonia</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athamania&groupId=377&placeId=710">Athamania</a> in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phthiotis&groupId=897&placeId=1612">Phthiotis</a>; his forces now amounted to about 32,000 men, over 8,000 of them Greeks (Plut. Flam. 7. 2; Livy, xxxiii. 4. 4–6). Philip, who had resolved to stake all on a battle, at the same time marched south to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dium&groupId=542&placeId=1019">Dium</a> in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> with an army of 25,500 (Livy, xxxiii. 3. 5, 4. 4–5; see McDonald ad loc. in OCT). Flamininus spent some time trying in vain to take Phthiotic Thebes (Livy, xxxiii. 5. 1–3); then, on learning that Philip was in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a>, he abandoned the siege, and prepared to advance to meet him. See further Walbank, Philip, 167–8. On the date (late May or early June) see 20. 2 n. <w lang="el-GR">(σπεύδων . . .ἐφοδιάσασθαι)</w>. Other sources for the battle are Livy, xxxiii. 3–10 (based on P.), Plut. Flam. 7 ff.; Zon. ix. 16. There is a considerable bibliography on the battle and the marches leading up to it. See Leake, NG, iv. 457 ff., 473 ff.; Kromayer, AS, ii. 63 ff. (with maps and bibliography); Schlachtenatlas, Röm. Abt. ii, Blatt 9; De Sanctis, iv. 1. 85 n. 166; Sthlin, Hell. Thess. 111, 141; RE, <w lang="el-GR">Κυνὸς Κεφαλαί</w>, cols. 33–35; Walbank, Philip, 168–72; E. Kirsten, RE, 'Onchestos', col. 417; Suppl.-B. vii, 'Pherai', cols. 1018–20 (with map); I. Demetriadis, <w lang="el-GR">Ἡ μάχη τῶν Κυνὸς Κεφαλῶν</w> (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>, 1929), known to me only from Kirsten. Pritchett, Battlefields, 133–44, identifies the Onchestus with the stream shown on my fig. 17 to the south of Sarastar (read Saraslar)as Kirsten envisagedand sites the battlefield in the neighbourhood of Bekides (now Dasolophos) and Alkani (now called Thetideion), roughly following Sthlin and Kirsten. On this hypothesis, the <w lang="el-GR">ὑπερβολαί</w> of 21. 2 lie on the modern road running from Bekides (Dasolophos) north-east to Alkani (Thetideion) and Soupli (Hagia Triada). Pritchett's view of the battle rests partly on the assumption (based on autopsy) that Philip will not have got much further than Teltiktschi (Taktalasman, now Mikron Perivolakion) on his first day's march.

18.20.2 - 18.20.8

The marches before the battle. The identification of these is bound up with the problem of locating the battlefield of Cynoscephalae. De Sanctis (iv. 1. 85–86 n. 166), following in general Leake (NG, iv. 457 ff., 473 ff.), sites this between Supli and Duvlatan, Sthlin (Hell. Thess. 111, 141–2) a little further west, near Alkani. Kromayer (AS, ii. 63 ff.), however, argues for a site still further west, around Karademirdshi. Three days' marching is involved. On the first Flamininus reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eretria&groupId=576&placeId=1079">Eretria</a> and Philip the River Onchestus (§ 5); on the second Philip reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> and Flamininus the Thetideum (§ 6); and on the third Flamininus remained at the Thetideum (21. 1), but Philip advanced to a new camp a little beyond <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> (§ 8). Of these four named sites, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eretria&groupId=576&placeId=1079">Eretria</a> is identified with some certainty as the ruins near Tsangli on the north-west slope of the Tchiragiotic range towards the upper Enipeus valley (Leake, NG, iv. 466 f.; Sthlin, Hell. Thess. 174–5). The sites of the Thetideum and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> and the identification of the Onchestus are all uncertain. Leake, loc. cit., made Philip march north-west along the plain below Karadagh, reaching the neighbourhood of Ghereli the first night; for him the Onchestus was the stream on which Ghereli lies. The second night, according to Leake, Philip reached Dedejani, 6 km. up this stream, and here he locates <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a>. On this assumption the battle occurred between Supli and Gheremi, well to the east of Scotussa. Leake's view is followed with little variation by De Sanctis, who argues (loc. cit.) that when, on the third day, Philip <w lang="el-GR">κατανύσαι σπεύδων ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον, ἀναζεύξας προῂει</w> (§ 8), he cannot yet have reached Scotussa, since his original purpose was to revictual near that town (§ 2). But Philip's purpose was twofold: (a) to revictual near Scotussa, (b) that done, to find a suitable battleground. On his first day's march Flamininus covered about 20 km., and it is improbable that Philip, in his haste to reach Scotussa, covered substantially less. It is therefore hard to believe that the Onchestus is the dried-up stream at Ghereli or, as Kirsten argues (RE, 'Onchestus (3)', col. 417, modified in Suppl.-B. vii, 'Pherai', col. 1020; cf. Leake, NG, iv. 473), that which flows down into L. Boebeis from Dedejani through Sarastar; for neither of these is anything like a day's march from Philip's original camp. As Kromayer observes (AS, ii. 68–69), the only watercourse in the area meriting the name of river is the Platanorevma, which flows below Scotussa and then northwards to L. Boebeis. Sthlin (Hell. Thess. 111) argues that since Philip's second camp was <w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ τὸ Μελάμβιον προσαγορευόμενον τῆς Σκοτουσσαίας</w>, the previous <milestone unit="page" n="576">[576]</milestone> <figure> <graphic url="18001.gif" scale="100%" /> </figure> 17. THE MANUVRES BEFORE CYNOSCEPHALAE (Adapted from Kromayer, Schlachtfelder, ii, Karte 4) <milestone unit="page" n="577">[577]</milestone> night's camp must have been well to the east of Scotussan territory and Leake put <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> at Dedejani (NG, iv. 473); but the words <w lang="el-GR">τῆς Σκοτουσσαίας</w> are inserted here, not to indicate that the Onchestus was not in the territory of Scotussa, but to define an otherwise littleknown spot (there are no other references to it) and also to balance the phrase <w lang="el-GR">τῆς Φαρσαλίας</w>, attached to the Thetideum (§ 6), which Flamininus reached the same night. Probability favours the view that Philip got as far as Scotussa by the first night, and pushed on a little further the next day, when, however, he would be mainly occupied gathering corn; this was still in the fields <w lang="el-GR">ἐν τῇ Σκοτουσσαίᾳ</w> (§ 3). <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a> will therefore lie a little to the east of Hadjibey (though Kromayer, AS, ii. 72 n. 2, need not be followed in his identification of it with the tumulus known as Kukurialo, some twenty minutes south-east of that village); the small distance from Scotussa, a mere 8 km., can be explained if Philip was busy foraging in the cornlands west of Scotussa (not east of the town where the land is poor and mainly sand and stone; Kromayer, AS, ii. 67). The site of the Thetideum, which Flamininus reached simultaneously, is not agreed. De Sanctis (iv. i. 85–86 n. 166) seeks it on the Scotussa side of the ridge of Karadagh, between Supli and Duvlatan, where he sites the battle; but it is clear from P. that it was <w lang="el-GR">τῆς Φαρσαλίας</w> (§ 6) and so to the south of the ridge. Kromayer (AS, ii. 73 n. 1) accepts Heuzey's identification with the temple remains 2 km. south-west of Alkani, roughly between that village and Bekides; but it seems more likely that Leake (NG, iv. 472–3), followed by Sthlin (Hell. Thess. 141; RE, 'Thetideion', cols. 205–6), is right in locating it in the Enipeus valley, and probably, as Sthlin argues, at the site of the church of H. Athanasios between the station Orman Magoula and the village of Bekides. This would fit Plutarch's reference to it (Pelop. 32. 1) as the point to which Alexander of Pherae advanced on his way to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a> in 364. Flamininus' second camp will have been hereabouts, perhaps a little to the north-west of the sanctuary, but not so far as Kromayer places it. Philip's third camp (§§ 8–9) was a little beyond the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Melambium&groupId=749&placeId=1365">Melambium</a>. Having foraged, he was now concerned to gain the level ground south of the hills and will have made west towards the gap through which the main <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Larissa&groupId=669&placeId=1224">Larissa</a>–<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a> road now runs (21. 2); his camp can plausibly be placed between Karademirdshi and Hadjibey (Kromayer, AS, ii. 72). From the Thetideum Flamininus sent a reconnoitring force forward (21. 1, <w lang="el-GR">προθέ?μενος)</w>, i.e. in the same north-westerly direction; his object will have been to head Philip off from the plain around <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a>, for he must have known that by now he had carried out his foraging. Consequently he also aimed at the gap in the hills. The battle will therefore have developed on the summits a little to the south-east of Karademirdshi, where Kromayer places it. It was <milestone unit="page" n="578">[578]</milestone> in the territory of Scotussa: cf. Strabo, ix. 441, <w lang="el-GR">ἔστι δ᾽ ἐν τῇ Σκοτούσσῃ χωρίον τι Κυνὸς Κεφαλαί καλούμενον, περὶ ὃ Ῥωμαῖοι . . . ἐνίκων</w>; Plut. Flam. 7. 3, <w lang="el-GR">περὶ τὴν Σκοτοῦσαν . . . διακινδυνεύειν ἔμελλον</w>. See Fig. 17, and for further details the separate notes.

Specifics

18.20.1 - 18.20.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πλήρεις αἱμασιῶν καὶ κηπίων</w>:</emph> 'full of walls and small gardens'; <w lang="el-GR">αἱμασιαί</w> are walls, not thorn-hedges (so Mauersberger, s.v.); cf. Theoc. i. 47, <w lang="el-GR">ἐφ᾽ αἱμασιαῖσι . . . ἥμενος</w>.

18.20.2 - 18.20.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὡς ἐπὶ τὴν Σκοτοῦσσαν</w> :</emph> Scotussa (cf. x. 42. 3) was a town in <milestone unit="page" n="575">[575]</milestone> Pelasgiotis; its ruins lie about 1 km. west of the village of Supli, on the west slopes of Karadagh, and above and to the south of the Platanorevma, which flows west and then north to join L. Boebeis. See Leake, NG, iv. 454–6; Kromayer, AS, ii. 64 n. 1; Sthlin, Hell. Thess. 109–10; RE, <w lang="el-GR">Σκότουσσα</w>, cols. 613–17.

18.20.2 - 18.20.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">σπεύδων ἐκ ταύτης τῆς πόλεως ἐφοδιάσασθαι</w>:</emph> but the corn was still in the fields (§ 3), though evidently sufficiently ripe to be worth harvesting. Since the harvest month in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> is July, it was now late May or more likely early June. This chronology is substantially confirmed from the Polybian account in Livy. Philip rallied his forces in Macedon primo uere (Livy, xxxiii. 3. 1), i.e. early March; the army assembled at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dium&groupId=542&placeId=1019">Dium</a> secundum uernum aequinoctium (Livy, xxxiii. 3. 5), i.e. about 24 March; simultaneously Flamininus marched from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Elatea&groupId=558&placeId=1045">Elatea</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> (ibid.). After three days' delay at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraclea&groupId=624&placeId=1147">Heraclea</a> (Livy, xxxiii. 3. 8) he advanced to Xyniae and waited there for some timenot very long since nihil morati Aetoli sunt. There was a further delay at Phthiotic Thebes (Livy, xxxiii. 3. 10) and the battle occurred seven days after Flamininus left this town. These events are slightly short of filling the time required; but the data are all somewhat elastic, and there is no real contradiction with the dating of the battle in early June. On the chronology see Kromayer, AS, ii. 109 ff.; De Sanctis, iv. 1. 86–87 n., 386 f.; Holleaux, tudes, v. 82 n. 1; CAH, viii. 174; Walbank, Philip, 322–3. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τόπους ἁρμόζοντας ταῖς αὑτοῦ δυνάμεσιν</w>:</emph> i.e. for a battle, and so level ground, essential for the phalanx (cf. 31. 5–6). The nearest level ground was in the Enipeus valley north and east of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a>.

18.20.3 - 18.20.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὑποπτεύσας τὸ μέλλον</w>:</emph> it is reasonable to think that this suspicion was based on some information about the direction of Philip's march; this is not excluded by the statement (§ 4) that the two armies were out of contact during their march.

18.20.4 - 18.20.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὄχθων ὑψηλῶν</w>:</emph> the range of Karadagh.

18.20.5 - 18.20.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἐρέτριαν τῆς</w></emph> 〈 <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Φθιώτιδος χώρας</w></emph> 〉 <emph rend="bold">:</emph> probably Tsangli (above, §§ 2–8 n.). The lacuna was plausibly filled by Schweighaeuser from Livy, xxxiii. 6. 10, 'ad Eretriam Phthiotici agri'. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phthiotis&groupId=897&placeId=1612">Phthiotis</a> should mean the Tetras (cf. G. Kip, Thessalische Studien (Halle, 1910), 71); but here the phrase seems to be introduced to contrast <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eretria&groupId=576&placeId=1079">Eretria</a> with the Thetideum, which was <w lang="el-GR">τῆς Φαρσαλίας</w> (§ 6). (Strabo, ix. 434, 447, merely reckons the town as part of the <w lang="el-GR">Φθιωτικὸν τέλος</w> and puts it near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a>.) There is therefore reason to suppose that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eretria&groupId=576&placeId=1079">Eretria</a> was in Phthiotic <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> (cf. Sthlin, Hell. Thess. 174 n. 9). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸν Ὀγχηστὸν ποταμόν</w>:</emph> probably the Platanorevma: see §§ 2–8 n.

18.20.6 - 18.20.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ τὸ Μελάμβιον</w>:</emph> presumably a village or hamlet, otherwise unknown. On the probable site east of Hadjibey see §§ 2–8 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ τὸ Θετίδειον</w>:</emph> on the probable site at H. Athanasios see §§ 2–8 n.; for a description see Giannopoulos, <w lang="el-GR">Ἁρμονία</w>, iii. 102, 427 (non uidi). Steph. Byz. (s.v. <w lang="el-GR">Θεστίδειον</w>; cf. <w lang="el-GR">Πήλιον)</w> asserts that the original <milestone unit="page" n="579">[579]</milestone> name was the Thestideion, and that Hellanicus omitted the <w lang="el-GR">ς</w> (cf. FGH, 4 F 136): but this is controverted by a phrase <w lang="el-GR">ἐυστάχυος Θετιείης</w> (from a hexameter), preserved in Etym. genuin. (in Miller, Mlanges, 157; cf. Sthlin, RE, 'Thetideion', col. 206). Strabo (ix. 431) sites the Thetideum near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharsalus&groupId=880&placeId=1587">Pharsalus</a> and Palaepharsalus. It is the scene of the action of Euripides' Andromache.

18.20.8 - 18.20.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατανύσαι σπεύδων ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον</w>:</emph> i.e. to secure flat ground suited to his forces (§ 2). Presumably he had by now revictualled from the crops west of Scotussa: see above, §§ 2–8 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">προῄει</w>:</emph> so Reiske; <w lang="el-GR">περὶ εἴη</w> F, <w lang="el-GR">περιή?ει</w> S. Leake took <w lang="el-GR">περιῄει</w> as evidence for the view that Philip skirted the hills to the north; but the emendation seems more probable, and has been generally accepted.

18.20.9 - 18.20.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄκρους . . . τῶν . . . βουνῶν</w>:</emph> from his third camp, between Hadjibey and Karademirdshi, Philip's covering force advanced south-west up the slope of the range which separated them from the Enipeus valley, probably to a point rather east of the LarissaPharsalus road, where the gap comes.

Addenda & corrigenda

18.18.0 - 18.33.0

<emph rend="bold">18–33.</emph> Cynoscephalae: Pritchett, Battlefields, 133–44, identifies the Onchestus with the stream shown on my fig. 17 to the south of Sarastar (read Saraslar)as Kirsten envisagedand sites the battlefield in the neighbourhood of Bekides (now Dasolophos) and Alkani (now called Thetideion), roughly following Sthlin and Kirsten. On this hypothesis, the <w lang="el-GR">ὑπερβολαί</w> of 21. 2 lie on the modern road running from Bekides (Dasolophos) north-east to Alkani (Thetideion) and Soupli (Hagia Triada). Pritchett's view of the battle rests partly on the assumption (based on autopsy) that Philip will not have got much further than Teltiktschi (Taktalasman, now Mikron Perivolakion) on his first day's march.

18.18.0 - 18.35.0

P. 631: 11. 2–4 of this note ('This chronology . . . to 384') is misplaced and should stand on p. 632 following the note on <emph rend="bold">18–35.</emph> P. 632 1. 5: for '233/5' read '233/2'.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

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