Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 18 - Chapter 53

<head lang="la">VI. Res Aegypti</head><w lemma="%2Atw%3Dn">Τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flwn">παραβόλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Dn">καλῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fentai">ἐφίενται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="polloi%2F">πολλοί</w>, <w lemma="tolmw%3Dsi">τολμῶσι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgoi">ὀλίγοι</w> <w lemma="yau%2Fein">ψαύειν</w>.

<w lemma="kai%2Ftoi">καίτοι</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fous">καλλίους</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpas">Σκόπας</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnous">Κλεομένους</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraba%2Fllesqai">παραβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tolma%3Dn">τολμᾶν</w>.

<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnos">ἐκεῖνος</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqei%5Cs">προκαταληφθεὶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5Cs">αὐτὰς</w> <w lemma="suneklei%2Fsqh">συνεκλείσθη</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fois">ἰδίοις</w> <w lemma="oi%29ke%2Ftais">οἰκέταις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas:">ἐλπίδας·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftas">ταύτας</w> <w lemma="e%29gkate%2Flipen">ἐγκατέλιπεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fson">ὅσον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cs">δυνατὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Flegce">ἐξήλεγξε</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29poqanei%3Dn">ἀποθανεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="zh%3Dn">ζῆν</w> <w lemma="ai%29sxrw%3Ds">αἰσχρῶς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fonos">πλείονος</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w>.

<w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpas">Σκόπας</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dra">χεῖρα</w> <w lemma="barei%3Dan">βαρεῖαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="sunergo%5Cn">συνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="paido%5Cs">παιδὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fllwn">μέλλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bouleuo%2Fmenos">βουλευόμενος</w> <w lemma="prokatelh%2Ffqh">προκατελήφθη</w>.

<w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aristome%2Fnhn">Ἀριστομένην</w> <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fzonta">συναθροίζοντα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunedreu%2Fonta">συνεδρεύοντα</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="pe%2Fmyante%2Fs">πέμψαντές</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28paspistw%3Dn">ὑπασπιστῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ka%2Floun">ἐκάλουν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdrion">συνέδριον</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="pareisth%2Fkei">παρειστήκει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="frenw%3Dn">φρενῶν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttein">πράττειν</w> <w lemma="e%29to%2Flma">ἐτόλμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenos">καλούμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fs">οἷός</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxaton">ἔσχατον</w>,

<w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aristome%2Fnhn">Ἀριστομένην</w> <w lemma="gno%2Fntes">γνόντες</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29logi%2Fan">ἀλογίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="stratiw%2Ftas">στρατιώτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fa">θηρία</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fsthsan">περιέστησαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w>,

<w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnous">Εὐμένους</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmyantes">πέμψαντες</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgein">ἄγειν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuon">ἐκέλευον</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28kw%5Cn">ἑκὼν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flhtai">βούληται</w> <w lemma="peiqarxei%3Dn">πειθαρχεῖν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fas">βίας</w>.

<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="pareiselqo%2Fntos">παρεισελθόντος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fan">οἰκίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dntos">δηλοῦντος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kalei%3D">καλεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Asko%2Fpan">Σκόπαν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="prosei%3Dxe">προσεῖχε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="legome%2Fnois">λεγομένοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ble%2Fpwn">βλέπων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w> <w lemma="a%29tene%5Cs">ἀτενὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmene">ἔμενε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="prosanateino%2Fmenos">προσανατεινόμενος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qauma%2Fzwn">θαυμάζων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w>.

<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pelqw%5Cn">ἐπελθὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Dos">Πτολεμαῖος</w> <w lemma="qrase%2Fws">θρασέως</w> <w lemma="e%29pela%2Fbeto">ἐπελάβετο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xlamu%2Fdos">χλαμύδος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="bohqei%3Dn">βοηθεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29ci%2Fou">ἠξίου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntas">παρόντας</w>.

<w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29selqo%2Fntwn">εἰσελθόντων</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fstasin">περίστασιν</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsanto%2Fs">διασαφήσαντός</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w>, <w lemma="sunei%2Fcas">συνείξας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parou%3Dsin">παροῦσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29kolou%2Fqei">ἠκολούθει</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w>.

<head>VI. Affairs of Egypt</head><head>Scopas and other Aetolians at Alexandria</head>There are many who crave after deeds of daring and renown, but few venture to set their hand to them.

And yet Scopas had better resources at his command for facing peril and acting boldly than Cleomenes.

For the latter, anticipated in his design, could hope for no support except from his own servants and friends, but yet instead of abandoning this slender hope, put it as far as it was in his power to the touch, valuing more highly a glorious death than a life of ignominy.

Scopas, on the contrary, while he had a numerous band of supporters and a fine opportunity, as the king was still a child, was forestalled while still deferring and planning.

For Aristomenes, having discovered that he used to collect his friends in his own house and hold conferences there with them, sent some officers to summon him before the royal council.

But he had so far lost his head that he neither dared to carry on his project, nor, worst of all, even felt himself capable of obeying when summoned by the king,

until Aristomenes recognizing his confusion surrounded his house with soldiers and elephants.

When Ptolemy made his way into the house and announced that the king summoned Scopas, at first he paid no attention to what was said, but simply stared at Ptolemy for a considerable time, as if inclined to threaten him and astonished at his audacity.

But when Ptolemy came up to him and boldly took hold of his cloak, he then called on those present to assit him.

But as the number of soldiers who had entered the house was considerable, and as some one informed him that it was surrounded outside, he yielded to circumstances and followed Ptolemy accompanied by his friends.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

18.52.0 - 18.55.0

The downfall of Scopas and Dicaearchus; the Anacleteria of Ptolemy V Epiphanes The events described here form part of the res Aegypti of Ol. 145, 4 = 197/6. They culminate in the preparations for the anacleteria or <milestone unit="page" n="623">[623]</milestone> coming-of-age ceremony of the king (53. 2). It has been argued that this ceremony is identical with one held at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Memphis&groupId=752&placeId=1371">Memphis</a>, probably on the anniversary of Epiphanes' succession on Phaophi 17 (OGIS, 90, ll. 44–45; cf. xiv. 11–12 n.). The Rosetta decree which contains this reference was enacted on 4 Xandikos = 18 Mecheir of Epiphanes' ninth year (which ran 11 October 197–10 October 196 on the usual dating of his reign; cf. Skeat, Reigns of the Ptolemies <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , Munich, 1954,13); 18 Mecheir will thus be 27 March 196 and the previous Phaophi 17 is 27 November 197. This date is confirmed by the equation between the Egyptian and the Macedonian calendar. Dinsmoor, Archons, 492, has shown that the latter was running closely with the Attic lunar calendar at this time; and there was a new moon on 22 March 196, but not anywhere near that date in 197 or 195. If 18 Mecheir = 27 March = 4 Xandikos, 1 Xandikos falls on 24 March, which is close enough to confirm the year. However, the assumption that the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Memphis&groupId=752&placeId=1371">Memphis</a> festival of 17 Phaophi of the eighth year (27 November 197) is identical with the anacleteria (cf. W. Otto, Priester und Tempel im hellenistischen Aegypten (Leipzig–Berlin, 1908), ii. 301 nn. 2 and 3; Holleaux, tudes, v. 164 n. 2)is almost certainly wrong, for the one is an Egyptian and the other a Greco-Macedonian ceremony. Nevertheless, it seems very likely that the events which led to the one led to the other, and so that the anacleteria fell in the autumn of 197, with the ceremony at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Memphis&groupId=752&placeId=1371">Memphis</a> on 27 November shortly afterwards (cf. Volkmann, RE, 'Ptolemaios (23)', cols. 1696–7); both, as P. indicates for the anacleteria, will be the sequel to the overthrow of the Aetolians. In that case, the events described in these chapters belong to autumn 197, as their position in the book requires. Holleaux, who assumes (loc. cit.) that the rumour which broke up the conference of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lysimacheia&groupId=719&placeId=1320">Lysimacheia</a> in autumn 196 (52. 5 n.) was caused by Scopas' abortive putsch, puts both this and the anacleteria in that year, and since he identifies the anacleteria with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Memphis&groupId=752&placeId=1371">Memphis</a> ceremony, he is obliged to date the Rosetta decree to 195, which clashes with our other dates for Epiphanes' reign. But the connexion of the rumour with Scopas' putsch is quite conjectural; and it seems more likely that the internal changes in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> carried out in autumn 197 led to the rapprochement with Antiochus with which he confronted the Romans at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lysimacheia&groupId=719&placeId=1320">Lysimacheia</a> (51. 10 n.). Scopas' position having been shaken (xvi. 39. 2 n.: the identity of the siege is uncertain), he planned a coup d'tat, concerning which P.evidently gave some details in the passage preceding 53 and now lost.

Specifics

18.53.2 - 18.53.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καλλίους . . . ἀφορμὰς . . . Κλεομένους</w>:</emph> on the rising of the Spartan Cleomenes see v. 33–39.

18.53.4 - 18.53.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">χεῖρα βαρεῖαν</w>:</emph> the 6,500 Aetolians recruited in 199 (Livy, xxxi.43. 5). <milestone unit="page" n="624">[624]</milestone> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῦ βασιλέως ἔτι παιδὸς ὄντος</w>:</emph> Epiphanes was born on 30 Mesore (OGIS 90, l. 46) and was raised to co-regency with his father by 25 Pharmouthi of year 13 = 5 June 209 (P. Gurob, 12; cf. W. Otto and W. Spiegelberg, Die demotischen Papyri Loeb (Munich, 1931), 111 f.). The previous 30 Mesore is 9 October 210. Consequently in autumn 197 Epiphanes was about thirteen years old. See Walbank, JEA, 1936, 21–22.

18.53.5 - 18.53.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀριστομένην</w>:</emph> he held the post of <w lang="el-GR">ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν πραγμάτων</w>;cf. xv. 31. 6 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν ὑπασπιστῶν</w>:</emph> cf. xv. 25. 3 n. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ συνέδριον</w>:</emph> cf. 54. 1; the royal Council, selected from the 'Friends'of the king, and common to all the Hellenistic monarchies (cf. Corradi, 231–55); for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> cf. Ioseph. Ant. Iud., xiii. 75 (an example under Ptolemy VI).

18.53.8 - 18.53.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Πτολεμαῖον . . . τὸν Εὐμένους</w>:</emph> probably a member of the Council, not otherwise known. <w lang="el-GR">νεανισκοί</w> are soldiers; cf. i. 36. 12 n.

18.53.11 - 18.53.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ τῶν φίλων</w>:</emph> 'with his friends'; cf. § 5, 54. 6. The reference is not (as Corradi, 331–2) to the king's Friends (cf. xv. 25. 21 n.).

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