Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 2 - Chapter 16

<w lemma="menou%2Fshs">μενούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="xio%2Fnos">χιόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29oi%2Fkhta">ἀοίκητα</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%2Fn">ἐστίν</w>. <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apenni%3Dnon">Ἀπεννῖνον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="%2Amassali%2Fan">Μασσαλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w> <w lemma="sumptw%2Fsews">συμπτώσεως</w> <w lemma="%2Aligusti%3Dnoi">Λιγυστῖνοι</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsin">κατοικοῦσιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhniko%5Cn">Τυρρηνικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="keklime%2Fnhn">κεκλιμένην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w>,

<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="%2Api%2Fshs">Πίσης</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth">πρώτη</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhni%2Fas">Τυρρηνίας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dusma%2Fs">δυσμάς</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaion">μεσόγαιον</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arrhti%2Fnwn">Ἀρρητίνων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.

<w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhnoi%2F:">Τυρρηνοί·</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fma">κλίμα</w> <w lemma="ne%2Fmontai">νέμονται</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fombroi">Ὄμβροι</w>.

<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apenni%3Dnos">Ἀπεννῖνος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxwn">ἀπέχων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="w%28sanei%5C">ὡσανεὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpei">ἀπολείπει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="decio%5Cs">δεξιὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29poneu%2Fwn">ἀπονεύων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fshs">μέσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="loiph%3Ds">λοιπῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="dih%2Fkwn">διήκων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="katatei%2Fnei">κατατείνει</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.

<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29poleipo%2Fmenon">ἀπολειπόμενον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="pedino%5Cn">πεδινὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pleura%3Ds">πλευρᾶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkei">καθήκει</w> <w lemma="%2Ash%2Fnhn">Σήνην</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdos">Πάδος</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fs">ποταμός</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="poihtw%3Dn">ποιητῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hridano%5Cs">Ἠριδανὸς</w> <w lemma="qrulou%2Fmenos">θρυλούμενος</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="phga%5Cs">πηγὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="sxh%2Fmatos">σχήματος</w>, <w lemma="katafe%2Fretai">καταφέρεται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="r%28u%2Fsin">ῥύσιν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w>.

<w lemma="a%29fiko%2Fmenos">ἀφικόμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdous">ἐπιπέδους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="e%29kkli%2Fnas">ἐκκλίνας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmati">ῥεύματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fretai">φέρεται</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn:">αὐτῶν·</w> <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%5Cn">ἐκβολὴν</w> <w lemma="dusi%5C">δυσὶ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmasin">στόμασιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous:">τόπους·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="a%29pote%2Fmnetai">ἀποτέμνεται</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pedia%2Fdos">πεδιάδος</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpeis">Ἄλπεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adriatiko%5Cn">Ἀδριατικὸν</w> <w lemma="muxo%2Fn">μυχόν</w>.

<w lemma="a%29%2Fgei">ἄγει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdatos">ὕδατος</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flatton">ἔλαττον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="r%28u%2Fseis">ῥύσεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="neuou%2Fsas">νευούσας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2F">ἀπό</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apenni%2Fnwn">Ἀπεννίνων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptein">ἐμπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fsas">ἁπάσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantaxo%2Fqen">πανταχόθεν</w>.

<w lemma="megi%2Fstw%7C">μεγίστῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fstw%7C">καλλίστῳ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmati">ῥεύματι</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fretai">φέρεται</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="kuno%5Cs">κυνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pitolh%2Fn">ἐπιτολήν</w>, <w lemma="au%29co%2Fmenos">αὐξόμενος</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nathkome%2Fnwn">ἀνατηκομένων</w> <w lemma="xio%2Fnwn">χιόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fresin">ὄρεσιν</w>.

<w lemma="a%29naplei%3Dtai">ἀναπλεῖται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Folana">Ὄλανα</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>.

<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="phgw%3Dn">πηγῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="r%28u%2Fsin">ῥύσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28plh%3Dn">ἁπλῆν</w>, <w lemma="sxi%2Fzetai">σχίζεται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnous">προσαγορευομένους</w> <w lemma="%2Atrigabo%2Flous:">Τριγαβόλους·</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="prosonoma%2Fzetai">προσονομάζεται</w> <w lemma="%2Apado%2Fa">Παδόα</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Folana">Ὄλανα</w>.

<w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="limh%2Fn">λιμήν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fttw">ἥττω</w> <w lemma="parexo%2Fmenos">παρεχόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kaqormizome%2Fnois">καθορμιζομένοις</w>. <w lemma="para%2F">παρά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fois">ἐγχωρίοις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cs">ποταμὸς</w> <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="%2Abo%2Fdegkos">Βόδεγκος</w>.

<w lemma="ta%29%2Flla">τἄλλα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="i%28storou%2Fmena">ἱστορούμενα</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsi">Ἕλλησι</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afae%2Fqonta">Φαέθοντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnou">ἐκείνου</w> <w lemma="ptw%3Dsin">πτῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="da%2Fkrua">δάκρυα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29gei%2Frwn">αἰγείρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="melanei%2Fmonas">μελανείμονας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%3Dntas">οἰκοῦντας</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Fs">οὕς</w> <w lemma="fasi">φασι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sqh%3Dtas">ἐσθῆτας</w> <w lemma="ei%29se%2Fti">εἰσέτι</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="forei%3Dn">φορεῖν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Afae%2Fqonta">Φαέθοντα</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnqous">πένθους</w>,

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tragikh%5Cn">τραγικὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="proseoikui%3Dan">προσεοικυῖαν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Flhn">ὕλην</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntos">παρόντος</w> <w lemma="u%28perqhso%2Fmeqa">ὑπερθησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkein">καθήκειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokataskeuh%3Ds">προκατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29kribologi%2Fan">ἀκριβολογίαν</w>.

<w lemma="metalabo%2Fntes">μεταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fttonta">ἁρμόττοντα</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmeqa">ποιησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkousan">καθήκουσαν</w> <w lemma="mnh%2Fmhn">μνήμην</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Atimai%2Fou">Τιμαίου</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnous">προειρημένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgnoian">ἄγνοιαν</w>.

The <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a>, from their junction with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> above Marseilles, are inhabited on both slopes, that looking to the Tyrrhenian sea and that turned to the plain, by the Ligurians

whose territory reaches on the seaboard-side as far as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pisa&groupId=904&placeId=1625">Pisa</a>, the first city of western <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>, and on the land side as far as Arretium.<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note3"><emph rend="bold">Arretium:</emph>Arezzo.</note>

Next come the Etruscans and after them both slopes are inhabited by the Umbrians.

After this the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a>, at a distance of about five hundred stades from the Adriatic, quit the plain and, turning to the right, pass along the centre of the rest of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> as far as the Sicilian sea,

the remaining flat part of this side of the triangle continuing to the sea and the city of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sena&groupId=968&placeId=1716">Sena</a>.

The river Po, celebrated by poets as the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eridanus&groupId=827&placeId=1491">Eridanus</a>, rises in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> somewhere near the apex of the triangle and descends to the plain, flowing in a southerly direction.

On reaching the flat ground, it takes a turn to the East and flows through the plain, falling into the Adriatic by two mouths. It cuts off the larger half of the plain, which thus lies between it on the south and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> and head of the Adriatic on the north.

It has a larger volume of water than any other river in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, since all the streams that descend into the plain from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a> fall into it from either side,

and is highest and finest at the time<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note4"><emph rend="bold">the time of the rising of the Dog-star:</emph>Middle of July.</note>of the rising of the Dog-star, as it is then swollen by the melting of the snow on those mountains.

It is navigable for about two thousand stades from the mouth called Olana;

for the stream, which has been a single one from its source, divides at a place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Trigaboli&groupId=1045&placeId=1839">Trigaboli</a>, one of the mouths being called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Padua&groupId=826&placeId=1489">Padua</a> and the other Olana.

At the latter there is a harbour, which affords as safe anchorage as any in the Adriatic. The native name of the river is <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Bodencus&groupId=403&placeId=749">Bodencus</a>.

The other tales the Greeks tell about this river, I mean touching Phaëthon and his fall and the weeping poplar-trees and the black clothing of the inhabitants near the river, who, they say, still dress thus in mourning for Phaëthon,

and all matter for tragedy and the like, may be left aside for the present, detailed treatment of such things not suiting very well the plan of this work.

I will, however, when I find a suitable occasion make proper mention of all this, especially as Timaeus has shown much ignorance concerning the district.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

2.13.0 - 2.35.0

<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and the Gauls The Gallic invasion of 225 gives P. occasion to outline the previous history of the Gauls in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, prefixing a geographical survey of Cisalpine <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a> (14–17). In i. 6. 8 the Celts were excepted from the peoples of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> mastered before the Roman crossing into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>. Thus the present digression falls into place as part of the story of how the Romans amassed sufficient resources to justify their ambitions for world-dominion (i. 3. 10); in addition it is relevant to Hannibal's invasion (14. 2).

2.14.3 - 2.17.12

The geography of Cisalpine <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a>. This account of the district and its inhabitants is a minor masterpiece, and derives in part from P.'s own inquiries; for the geometrical simplification of <milestone unit="page" n="172">[172]</milestone> the shape of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> and the Po valley cf. i. 42. 1–7 (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>). It has been argued that P. did not leave <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> during his internment, and hence that he writes from some earlier source (Cuntz, 72 f.); but it seems certain that some at least of P.'s western journeys took place during his detention in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and he may have visited Cisalpine <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a> in 150, accompanying Scipio Aemilianus back from service in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> (xxxv. 4; cf. Nissen, Rh. Mus., 1871, 271; De Sanctis, iii. 1. 208 ff.). In that case his account (if based on autopsy) would be an insertion roughly contemporary with iii. 22 ff. (on the Punic treaties). On the other hand, P. may very well have visited Cisalpine <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gaul&groupId=598&placeId=1108">Gaul</a> previously (cf. Thommen, Hermes, 1885, 204), and no safe conclusions are to be drawn on the date of composition. Pdech, Mthode, 567, argues convincingly for regarding this geographical excursus as inserted in the revised edition after 146.

2.16.6 - 2.16.15

This detailed description of the Po is the earliest extant, accurate, account. The name <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eridanus&groupId=827&placeId=1491">Eridanus</a> was originally given to a fabulous amber-producing river of north Europe (Herod. iii. 115), which Aeschylus fg. 73 (Pliny, Nat. hist. xxxvii. 32) identified with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a>. Later, under the influence of Pherecydes (FGH, 3 F 33 c), Aeschylus transferred the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eridanus&groupId=827&placeId=1491">Eridanus</a> to the area of the Po (cf. Pliny, Nat. hist. xxxvii. 31); and to many later writers (cf. Strabo, v. 215) it remains <w lang="el-GR">πλησίον τοῦ Πάδου</w>. It was probably Apollonius Rhodius (iv. 627) who first identified the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eridanus&groupId=827&placeId=1491">Eridanus</a> with the Po, perhaps misled by Euripides (Hippol. 735 ff.) into imagining a <milestone unit="page" n="178">[178]</milestone> bifurcation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> and Po. For the legends attached to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Eridanus&groupId=827&placeId=1491">Eridanus</a> (and so to the Po) see Ps.-Scyl. 20, Ps.-Scymn. 395 ff., Diod. v. 23. 3. For full discussion see Philipp, RE, 'Padus', cols. 2179 ff. R. L. Beaumont, JHS, 1936, 197, is misleading.

2.16.13 - 2.16.15

The story of Phaethon; place of myth in history. Above, § 6. The story of Phaethon, his death from Jove's thunderbolt while driving the chariot of his father the sun-god, and the metamorphosis of his sisters into poplars and their tears into amber (cf. Ovid, Metam. ii. 364–6), is found with variants from the time of Hesiod, and was widely treated by writers and poets (Diod. v. 23). See the discussion by Wilamowitz, Hermes, 1883, 396–434; C. Robert, ibid., 434–41; G. Trk, RE, 'Phaethon', cols. 1508 ff. These stories P. (like Strabo, v. 215) considers inappropriate to history. But so too did Timaeus, if he is the source of Diodorus' account (cf. Diod. v. 23. 5; Mllenhoff, i. 474–6); and in fact P.'s attack on Timaeus (§ 15) is for his ignorance of the area, not for sensationalism (cf. Pdech, LEC, 1956, 19 n. 58). For P.'s stress on the distinction between tragedy and history see further iv. 40. 2 n.; JHS, 1938, 56 ff. and CQ, 1945, 8 ff., and the passages there quoted.

Specifics

2.16.1 - 2.16.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Λιγυστῖνοι κατοικοῦσι</w>:</emph> on the geography see above 14. 6 n., 14. 10 n. The Ligurians were an Indo-European-speaking people, whose earlier territories may have been quite considerable, but who in historical times inhabited the Alpes maritimae and their coast, the mountains surrounding the upper waters of the Po, and the northern <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a>.

2.16.2 - 2.16.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μέχρι πόλεως Πίσης κτλ</w>.:</emph> the origins of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pisa&groupId=904&placeId=1625">Pisa</a> are disputed. Its Ligurian origin (Iustin. xx. 1. 11) was questioned by Cato (Seru. ad Aen. x. 179, 'qui Pisas tenuerint ante aduentum Etruscorum negat sibi compertum'). Lycophron (Alex. 1359) also attests the Etruscan <milestone unit="page" n="177">[177]</milestone> domination, but of it little is known. As a frontier town and natural operational base for Roman armies attacking the Ligurians it was counted part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and so of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>, perhaps from 281 onwards; cf. 27. 1. De Sanctis, iii. 1. 290 n. 60; Banti, RE, 'Pisae', cols. 1756 ff. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἕως τῆς Ἀρρητίνων χώρας</w>:</emph> Arretium, modern Arezzo, lies beside the watershed between Arno, Tiber, and Chiana, half-way between Florence and Perugia, on the Umbrian march. See Nissen, It. Land. ii. 315. Arretium was one of the twelve original cities of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>.

2.16.3 - 2.16.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἑξῆς δὲ Τυρρηνοί</w>:</emph> the Etruscans, who gave their name to the Tyrrhenian sea, inhabited the region within the rivers Arno and Tiber, from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pisa&groupId=904&placeId=1625">Pisa</a> to the Tiber mouth. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τούτοις δὲ συνεχεῖς . . . Ὄμβροι</w>:</emph> the Umbrians were an Italian people to whom, like the Ligurians, tradition accredited much wider bounds than those they occupied in historical times (cf. Pliny, Nat. hist. iii. 112; Dion. Hal. i. 19. 1; De Sanctis, i. 102). Strabo (v. 214) and Pliny (Nat. hist. iii. 115) make the Adriatic coastal towns of Ravenna and Butrium Umbrian; and some writers placed the Metaurus in Umbria (cf. De Sanctis, iii. 2. 565). Further, the existence of a R. Umbro and a tractus Umbriae (Pliny, Nat. hist. iii. 51), together with other evidence (cf. P. Ducati, Le problme trusque (Paris, 1938), 66–68) points to their having once inhabited what was later <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Etruria&groupId=582&placeId=1089">Etruria</a>. To P., however, the Umbrians are an inland people dwelling between the Tiber and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a> in an area which embraces the valleys on either side of the range. Nissen, It. Land. i. 502–8.

2.16.4 - 2.16.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀπέχων τῆς κατὰ τὸν Ἀδρίαν θαλάττης κτλ</w>.:</emph> 500 stades are just under 60 miles. P. exaggerates the abruptness in this change of direction. From the beginning of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apennines&groupId=343&placeId=664">Apennines</a> above Genoa as far as Iguvium (Gubbio) and the head-waters of the Tiber and Metaurus the direction is fairly consistently south-east; the range then broadens and runs slightly east of south to the latitude of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, after which it breaks up into a series of massifs continuing to Reggio di Calabria. P.'s account places the angle north of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sena&groupId=968&placeId=1716">Sena</a> Gallica; it is in fact well to the south of that latitude.

2.16.5 - 2.16.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ θάλατταν καὶ πόλιν . . . Σήνην</w>:</emph> on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sena&groupId=968&placeId=1716">Sena</a> as P.'s southern coastal limit to the plain of the Po see 14. 11 n.

2.16.6 - 2.16.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὑπὸ τῶν ποιητῶν . . . θρυλούμενος</w>:</emph> cf. iv. 70. 8 (on the Erymanthus). P. is hinting at the myth of Phaethon and his sisters (§§ 13 ff.). The story is told by Hesiod (fg. 199 Rzach), but P. is probably not referring directly to his version. More probably his criticisms are aimed at sensational historians who retailed this material borrowed from the poets; cf. 17. 6 n. See CQ, 1945, 8 n. 5, and, against von Scala (73, 80 n. 2), Wunderer (ii. 45–46). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔχει μὲν τὰς πηγὰς ἀπὸ τῶν Ἄλπεων</w>:</emph> on the course of the Po see Nissen (It. Land. i. 183–91). It rises in a boggy valley, the Piano del Re (1,952 m.) at the foot of Monte Viso (Mons Vesulus). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ποιούμενος τὴς ῥύσιν ὡς ἐπὶ μεσημβρίαν</w>:</emph> as far as Industria, at the confluence with the Dora Baltea, the general direction is north-east, and subsequently east. Either P. has been misled by his over- schematic triangle, with the Po rising at its apex, or he has confused the Dora Baltea with the head-waters of the Po (so Philipp, RE, 'Padus', col. 2186).

2.16.7 - 2.16.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δυσὶ στόμασιν</w>:</emph> cf. iii. 86. 2. Until c. A.D. 1150 the Po flowed into the Adriatic through two channels, which divided near Ferrara, after receiving the tributaries Panaro and Reno. Of these channels the more northerly was called the Po di Volano, the more southerly the Po di Primaro; and between lay the Lagoon of Comacchio. About A.D. 1150 the inhabitants of Ficarolo, near Stellata, dug a ditch drawing off the waters into a new channel to the north, the modern Po della Maestra. As a result, the Po di Volano, the main channel in P.'s time, has become a mere drainage dyke for the surrounding marshes; and the Po di Primaro has been annexed to form a new bed for the Reno, which now makes a separate exit into the sea. Nissen, It. Land. i. 190 f.; Philipp, RE, 'Padus', cols. 2189 ff. (map in cols. 2183–4).

2.16.8 - 2.16.8

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἁπάσας καὶ πανταχόθεν</w>:</emph> in fact several rivers, such as the Adige, the Brenta, and the rivers of Venezia, have separate mouths. But P. aims at broad simplification for a largely Greek public to whom this region is wholly unfamiliar.

2.16.9 - 2.16.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ κυνὸς? ἐπιτολήν</w>:</emph> cf. Pliny, Nat. hist. iii. 117, 'augetur ad canis ortus liquatis niuibus'. On the rising of the dog-star see above, i. 37. 5 n.; it occurs about 28 July (Gregorian).

2.16.10 - 2.16.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὸ στόμα τὸ καλούμενον Ὄλανα</w>:</emph> this is the northern mouth, the Po di Volano. 2,000 stades are nearly 240 miles, and take one to the Tanarus (Tanaro). Pliny (Nat. hist. iii. 117–18, 123) counts the Po navigable from Turin downwards, but he may be following an earlier source, since Strabo (v. 217) seems to suggest <milestone unit="page" n="179">[179]</milestone> that navigability began at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Placentia&groupId=907&placeId=1630">Placentia</a>. Nowadays the Po is usually reckoned as navigable from Casale. Cf. Philipp, RE, 'Padus', col. 2188.

2.16.11 - 2.16.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τοὺς προσαγορευομένους Τριγαβόλους</w>:</emph> otherwise unknown, but clearly in the neighbourhood of Ferrara. Nissen, It. Land. i. 205, ii. 213 f. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ μὲν ἕτερον . . . Παδό?α</w>:</emph> the name <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Padua&groupId=826&placeId=1489">Padua</a> or Padusa was applied to the Po di Primaro, and more specifically (cf. Pliny, Nat. hist. iii. 119 ff.) to a branch of it which diverged south-east from Spina to Ravenna, and was also known as the ostium Messanicum. On the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Padua&groupId=826&placeId=1489">Padua</a> (Padusa) see Catullus (95. 7–8), 'at Volusi annales Paduam morientur ad ipsamet laxas scombris saepe dabunt tunicas', and Virgil (Aen. xi. 457), 'piscosoue amne Padusae dant sonitum rauci per stagna loquacia cycni'. See Philipp, RE, 'Padus', cols. 2179, 2191–2; 'Padusa', cols. 2292–3.

2.16.12 - 2.16.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Βόδεγκος</w>:</emph> on the authority of Metrodorus of Scepsis, Pliny (Nat. hist. iii. 122) states that the name is Ligurian and means fundo carens; thus Bodincomagus is an older name for Industria, ubi praecipua altitudo incipit (but magus is Celtic). Bodincus was evidently the Ligurian name for the upper waters of the Po (cf. CIL, vi. 2613), while farther down it bore the Celtic, or more probably Venetic, name of Padus. See Weiss, RE, '<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ligures&groupId=688&placeId=1258">Ligures</a>', col. 526; Philipp, RE, 'Padus', cols. 2178–9; Nissen, It. Land. i. 183.

2.16.13 - 2.16.13

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς μελανείμονας</w>:</emph> Treves suggests an ironical echo of Timaeus' poetical vocabulary; but though Aeschylean (Eumen. 370), the word appears later in prose, in Dionysius and Iosephus, and may well have lost its poetical flavour by P.'s time. <milestone unit="page" n="180">[180]</milestone>

2.16.14 - 2.16.14

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τραγικὴ?ν καὶ ταυτῇ προσεοικυῖαν ὕλην</w>:</emph> 'material of a tragic character and similar to this legend'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῷ τῆς προκατασκευῆς γένει</w>:</emph> 'the character of my introduction'. The <w lang="el-GR">προκατασκευή</w> covers books i-ii (i. 3. 10), and being written summarily (i. 13. 8, ii. 14. 1) affords no space for detailed polemic <w lang="el-GR">(ἀκριβολογία)</w> against 'tragic historians'. Paton misses the sense.

2.16.15 - 2.16.15

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὴν Τιμαίου . . . ἄγνοιαν</w>:</emph> if P. reverted to the subject in his polemic against Timaeus in book xii, the passage has not survived. On Timaeus see i. 5. 1 n.

Addenda & corrigenda

2.14.3 - 2.17.12

<emph rend="bold">:</emph> Pdech, Mthode, 567, argues convincingly for regarding this geographical excursus as inserted in the revised edition after 146.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

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