Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 29 - Chapter 3

<head lang="la">II. Bellum Persicum</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="paragenome%2Fnwn">παραγενομένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ippi%2Fan">Ἱππίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="a%29pesta%2Flkei">ἀπεστάλκει</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperseu%5Cs">Περσεὺς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqion">Γένθιον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>,

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasafou%2Fntwn">διασαφούντων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqumos">πρόθυμος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nade%2Fxesqai">ἀναδέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="doqh%3D%7C">δοθῇ</w> <w lemma="triako%2Fsia">τριακόσια</w> <w lemma="ta%2Flanta">τάλαντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fsteis">πίστεις</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="prosh%2Fkousai">προσήκουσαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w>,

<w lemma="puqo%2Fmenos">πυθόμενος</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kri%2Fnwn">κρίνων</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fan">ἀναγκαίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Agenqi%2Fou">Γενθίου</w> <w lemma="koinopragi%2Fan">κοινοπραγίαν</w> <w lemma="proexeiri%2Fsato">προεχειρίσατο</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fntauxon">Πάνταυχον</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftwn">πρώτων</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w>,

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntola%5Cs">ἐντολὰς</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologh%2Fsanta">ὁμολογήσαντα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%3Dta">εἶτα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dnon">κἀκεῖνον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpein">πέμπειν</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="dokh%3D%7C">δοκῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Apantau%2Fxw%7C">Πανταύχῳ</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29pofh%2Fnh%7C">ἀποφήνῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqios">Γένθιος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ggra%2Fptwn">ἐγγράπτων</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="diata%2Fcasqai">διατάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="komidh%3Ds">κομιδῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fwn">τριακοσίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fntauxos">Πάνταυχος</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Amete%2Fwna">Μετέωνα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alabea%2Ftidos">Λαβεάτιδος</w> <w lemma="ka%29ntau%3Dqa">κἀνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="summi%2Fcas">συμμίξας</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Agenqi%2Fw%7C">Γενθίῳ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="paresth%2Fsato">παρεστήσατο</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskon">νεανίσκον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="koinwnei%3Dn">κοινωνεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apersei%3D">Περσεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdwn">ἐλπίδων</w>.

<w lemma="tmhqe%2Fntwn">τμηθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28rki%2Fwn">ὁρκίων</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katagrafe%2Fntwn">καταγραφέντων</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqios">Γένθιος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpempe">ἔπεμπε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apantau%2Fxou">Πανταύχου</w> <w lemma="katagrafe%2Fntas">καταγραφέντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29olumpi%2Fwna">Ὀλυμπίωνα</w> <w lemma="paralhyo%2Fmenon">παραληψόμενον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w>, <w lemma="e%28te%2Frous">ἑτέρους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fcontas">ἕξοντας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w>.

<w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpeisen">ἔπεισεν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fntauxos">Πάνταυχος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fnqion">Γένθιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="sunecaposte%2Fllein">συνεξαποστέλλειν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Ftines">οἵτινες</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="pempome%2Fnois">πεμπομένοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ro%2Fdon">Ῥόδον</w> <w lemma="presbeu%2Fsousin">πρεσβεύσουσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="summaxi%2Fas">συμμαχίας</w>.

<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunemba%2Fntwn">συνεμβάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fwn">Ῥοδίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="eu%29katagwni%2Fstous">εὐκαταγωνίστους</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnous">ἐσομένους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Ffaine">ἀπέφαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peisqei%5Cs">πεισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="parakaloume%2Fnois">παρακαλουμένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proxeirisa%2Fmenos">προχειρισάμενος</w> <w lemma="%2Aparmeni%2Fwna">Παρμενίωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Frkon">Μόρκον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntola%2Fs">ἐντολάς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbwsin">λάβωσιν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Frkous">ὅρκους</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aperse%2Fws">Περσέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%28mh%2Frous">ὁμήρους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnhtai">γένηται</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmfwnon">σύμφωνον</w>, <w lemma="presbeu%2Fein">πρεσβεύειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ro%2Fdon">Ῥόδον</w>.

<head>II. The War with Perseus</head><head>Genthius joins Perseus</head>On the return before winter of Hippias, who had been sent by Perseus to Genthius to treat for an alliance,

and on his reporting that that prince was ready to enter upon war with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> if he received three hundred talents and proper sureties all round, Perseus,

on hearing this, in the belief that the co-operation of Genthius was an urgent necessity, appointed Pantauchus, one of his "first friends," his envoy, and dispatched him with instructions to consent

in the first place to give the money, and then to exchange oaths of alliance. In the next place Genthius was to send at once such hostages as Pantauchus chose, while he was to receive from Perseus such hostages as he should name in writing.

Finally Pantauchus was to make arrangements for the conveyance of the three hundred talents. The envoys started at once, and, on arriving at Meteon in Labeatis where he met Genthius, very soon induced the young man to throw in his fortunes with Perseus.

After the oaths of alliance had been taken and the terms put in writing, Genthius at once sent off the hostages of whom Pantauchus gave him a list, and in company with them Olympion to receive the oath and the hostages from Perseus, sending at the same time others to take charge of the money.

In addition to what I have stated, Pantauchus persuaded Genthius to send back with him envoys of his own who should join the mission that Perseus was sending to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a> to secure the alliance of that state with both of them.

For if this was done and the Rhodians too embarked on the war, he assured him it would be quite easy to overcome the Romans.Genthius was persuaded to act as requested, and, naming Parmenion and Morcus his envoys, dispatched them, instructing them, as soon as Perseus had taken the oath, and an agreement was come to about the money, to proceed to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

29.3.1 - 29.4.10

Perseus gains Genthius' support This excerpt from de legat. gent. corresponds to Livy, xliv. 23. 1–10; hence it stood at the beginning of P.'s account of the events in the <milestone unit="page" n="363">[363]</milestone> war with Perseus (res Graeciae et Macedoniae) for Ol. 152, 4; it describes events of winter 169/8.

Specifics

29.3.1 - 29.3.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παραγενομένων . . . τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἱππίαν</w> :</emph> on Perseus' earlier dealings with Genthius see xxviii. 9. 1–8; he had sent Hippias to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> with no clear instructions about money. The date, <w lang="el-GR">πρὸ τοῦ χειμῶνος</w>, probably indicates October–November (169); but that the phrase designates the period between the equinox and the morning setting of the Pleiades (c. 7 November) (Pdech, Mthode, 463) is too rigid a definition; cf. Briscoe, Historia, 1977, 248–50.

29.3.2 - 29.3.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τριακόσια τάλαντα</w> :</emph> cf. Livy, xliv. 23. 2; App. Mac. 18. 1; Plut. Aem. 13. 1.

29.3.3 - 29.3.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κρίνων ἀναγκαίαν . . . τὴν Γενθίου κοινοπραγίαν</w>:</emph> Livy, xliv. 23. 2, adds reasons, omitted by the excerptor: 'hoc [sc. Genthius' help], postquam intrasse saltum Romanos et adesse discrimen ultimum belli animaduertit, non ultra differendum ratus'. This will refer to the Roman penetration of Macedon in 169. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Πάνταυχον</w>:</emph> cf. xxvii. 8. 5 n.

29.3.5 - 29.3.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς Μετέωνα τῆς Λαβεάτιδος</w> :</emph> cf. Livy, xliv. 23. 3, 32. 3, 'Meteonem, Labeatium gentis urbem'. Meteon has been located at the ruins of Medun, on a ridge rising to 586 m. about 9 km. north of Titograd (Podgorica); cf. C. Praschniker and A. Schober, Archologische Forschungen in Albanien und Montenegro (Akad. der Wissenschaften in Wien, Schriften der Balkankommission, Antiquarische Abteilung, viii, 1919), 3 ff., figs. 6–11; Fluss, RE, 'Meteon', cols. 1371–2; J. M. F. May, JRS, 1946, 49 n. 9; Meloni, Perseo, 327 n. 4; Wilkes, Dalmatia, 340 (sketch-plan, 339 fig. 12). The Labeates lived north and east of Scodra, giving their name to its lake (Vol. II, p. 91 map); Kroll, RE, 'Labeates', col. 245. For recent coin-finds which show the local spelling to be Labiates see xxx. 10. 1–2 n.

29.3.6 - 29.3.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">᾿Ολυμπίωνα</w> :</emph> cf. Livy, xliv. 33. 3; otherwise unknown.

29.3.7 - 29.3.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς τὴν Ῥόδον</w> :</emph> cf. 4. 7 n.

29.3.9 - 29.3.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Παρμενίωνα καὶ Μόρκον</w> :</emph> cf. 11. 1; Livy, xliv. 23. 4; unknown.

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