Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 1

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28potiqe%2Fmeqa">ὑποτιθέμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="summaxiko%5Cn">συμμαχικὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29annibiako%2Fn">Ἀννιβιακόν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhs">Κοίλης</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fas">Συρίας</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fth%7C">πρώτῃ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w>, <w lemma="tri%2Fth%7C">τρίτῃ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29nw%2Fteron">ἀνώτερον</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblw%7C">βύβλῳ</w> <w lemma="dedhlw%2Fkamen:">δεδηλώκαμεν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="a%29nadramo%2Fntes">ἀναδραμόντες</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="sunetaca%2Fmeqa">συνεταξάμεθα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="bu%2Fblous">βύβλους</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnh%7C">κείνῃ</w> <w lemma="diesafh%2Fsamen">διεσαφήσαμεν</w>.
3
<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peiraso%2Fmeqa">πειρασόμεθα</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnous">προειρημένους</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmous">πολέμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="hu%29ch%2Fqhsan">ηὐξήθησαν</w>, <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29podei%2Fcews">ἀποδείξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29cagge%2Fllein">ἐξαγγέλλειν</w>, <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="proeipo%2Fntes">προειπόντες</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgou">ἔργου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qea%2Fmatos">θεάματος</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpantos">σύμπαντος</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikexeirh%2Fkamen">ἐπικεχειρήκαμεν</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="gnwrizo%2Fmena">γνωριζόμενα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="gnwrizome%2Fnhn">γνωριζομένην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fnon">ὡρισμένον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnhn">ὁμολογουμένην</w>, <w lemma="xrh%2Fsimon">χρήσιμον</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmeq%27">ἡγούμεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flous">τέλους</w>, <w lemma="kefalaiwdw%3Ds">κεφαλαιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pimnhsqh%3Dnai">ἐπιμνησθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="proekqe%2Fsqai">προεκθέσθαι</w>.
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<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnomen">ὑπολαμβάνομεν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filomaqou%3Dsi">φιλομαθοῦσι</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fsein">παρασκευάσειν</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="prolambanou%2Fshs">προλαμβανούσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds">ψυχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dsin">γνῶσιν</w>, <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flwn">ὅλων</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fmhn">ἐπιστήμην</w>, <w lemma="a%29ri%2Fsthn">ἀρίστην</w> <w lemma="h%28gou%2Fmenoi">ἡγούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fan">θέαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ko%2Flouqon">ἀκόλουθον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnois">εἰρημένοις</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmeqa">ποιησόμεθα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proe%2Fkqesin">προέκθεσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="pragmatei%2Fas">πραγματείας</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28poqe%2Fsews">ὑποθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="perigrafh%5Cn">περιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="dedhlw%2Fkamen">δεδηλώκαμεν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnous">προειρημένους</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmous">πολέμους</w>, <w lemma="katastrofh%5Cn">καταστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunte%2Fleian">συντέλειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%2Flusin">κατάλυσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fa%7C">Μακεδονίᾳ</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flous">τέλους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fth">ἔτη</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w>,
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<w lemma="perie%2Fxesqai">περιέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Ftas">τηλικαύτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fsas">ὅσας</w> <w lemma="ou%29dei%5Cs">οὐδεὶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Ftwn">προγεγονότων</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsw%7C">ἴσῳ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Flabe">περιέλαβε</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmati">διαστήματι</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28katosth%3Ds">ἑκατοστῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettarakosth%3Ds">τετταρακοστῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29lumpia%2Fdos">ὀλυμπιάδος</w> <w lemma="a%29rca%2Fmenoi">ἀρξάμενοι</w> <w lemma="toia%2Fnde">τοιάνδε</w>
In my first Book, the third, that is, from this counting backwards, I explained that I fixed as the starting-points of my work, the Social war, the Hannibalic war, and the war for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a>.
I likewise set forth in the same place the reasons why I wrote the two preceding Books dealing with events of an earlier date.
I will now attempt to give a well attested account of the above wars, their first causes and the reasons why they attained such magnitude; but in the first place I have a few words to say regarding my work as a whole.
The subject I have undertaken to treat, the how, when, and wherefore of the subjection of the known parts of the world to the dominion of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, should be viewed as a single whole,
with a recognized beginning, a fixed duration, and an end which is not a matter of dispute; and I think it will be advantageous to give a brief prefatory survey of the chief parts of this whole from the beginning to the end.
For I believe this will be the best means of giving students an adequate idea of my whole plan.
Since a previous general view is of great assistance to the mind in acquiring a knowledge of details, and at the same time a previous notion of the details helps us to knowledge of the whole, I regard a preliminary survey based on both as best and will draw up these prefatory remarks to my history on this principle.
I have already indicated the general scope and limits of this history.
The particular events comprised in it begin with the above-mentioned wars and culminate and end in the destruction of the Macedonian monarchy. Between the beginning and end lies a space of fifty-three years,
comprising a greater number of grave and momentous events than any period of equal length in the past.
Starting from the 140th Olympiad I shall adopt the following order in my exposition of them.