Polybius, Histories

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Book 3 - Chapter 39

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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="sunepideiknume%2Fnous">συνεπιδεικνυμένους</w>. <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="treyo%2Fmeqa">τρεψόμεθα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnhs">προκειμένης</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsews">διηγήσεως</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="e%29kuri%2Feuon">ἐκυρίευον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsw">ἔσω</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="neuo%2Fntwn">νευόντων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Afilai%2Fnou">Φιλαίνου</w> <w lemma="bwmw%3Dn">βωμῶν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dntai">κεῖνται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="%2Asu%2Frtin">Σύρτιν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hrakle%2Fous">Ἡρακλέους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dko%2Fs">μῆκός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fas">παραλίας</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fous">ἑξακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>.
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<w lemma="diaba%2Fntes">διαβάντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fous">Ἡρακλείους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="e%29kekrath%2Fkeisan">ἐκεκρατήκεισαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fas">Ἰβηρίας</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="r%28axi%2Fas">ῥαχίας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apurhnai%2Fwn">Πυρηναίων</w> <w lemma="o%29rw%3Dn">ὀρῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="diori%2Fzei">διορίζει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhras">Ἴβηρας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%2Fs">Κελτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fous">Ἡρακλείους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmatos">στόματος</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fous">ὀκτακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%5Cn">Καινὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="sthlw%3Dn">στηλῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan:">Ἰταλίαν·</w> [<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%5Cn">Καινὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="%2Ane%2Fan">Νέαν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fna">Καρχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="kalou%3Dsin:">καλοῦσιν·</w>] <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5Cn">εἰσὶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fibhra">Ἴβηρα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28cako%2Fsioi">ἑξακόσιοι</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdioi">στάδιοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fois">δισχιλίοις</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29empo%2Frion">Ἐμπόριον</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flioi">χίλιοι</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="e%28cakosi%2Fois">ἑξακοσίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29empori%2Fou">Ἐμπορίου</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28cakosi%2Fous">ἑξακοσίους</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodanou%3D">Ῥοδανοῦ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasin">διάβασιν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="e%28cakosi%2Fous:">ἑξακοσίους·</w> [<w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="bebhma%2Ftistai">βεβημάτισται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="seshmei%2Fwtai">σεσημείωται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds:">ἐπιμελῶς·</w>
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] <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="diaba%2Fsews">διαβάσεως</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodanou%3D">Ῥοδανοῦ</w> <w lemma="poreuome%2Fnois">πορευομένοις</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="phga%5Cs">πηγὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nabolh%5Cn">ἀναβολὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="xi%2Flioi">χίλιοι</w> <w lemma="tetrako%2Fsioi">τετρακόσιοι</w>.
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<w lemma="loipai%5C">λοιπαὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Falpewn">Ἄλπεων</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolai%2F">ὑπερβολαί</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous:">διακοσίους·</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="u%28perbalw%5Cn">ὑπερβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmellen">ἔμελλεν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fcein">ἥξειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fdon">Πάδον</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Akainh%3Ds">Καινῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29nnakisxili%2Fous">ἐννακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="dielqei%3Dn">διελθεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fn">αὐτόν</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%2Fseis">ἡμίσεις</w> <w lemma="dielhlu%2Fqei">διεληλύθει</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dusxe%2Freian">δυσχέρειαν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fon">πλέον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="a%29pelei%2Fpeto">ἀπελείπετο</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fas">πορείας</w>.
Dismissing this matter I will now continue my narrative.
At the time of which we are speaking the Carthaginians were masters of all that part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> which looks towards the Mediterranean from the Altars of Philaenus<note place="end" resp="tr" id="note5"><emph rend="bold">the Altars of Philaenus:</emph>Originally the boundary between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyrene&groupId=521&placeId=985">Cyrene</a>.</note>on the Greater Syrtis as far as the Pillars of Hercules.
The length of this coast-line is more than sixteen thousand stades.
Crossing the straits at the Pillars of Hercules they had similarly subdued all Iberia as far as the point on the coast of the Mediterranean where the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pyrenees&groupId=921&placeId=1650">Pyrenees</a>, which separate the Celts from the Iberians, end.
This spot is about eight thousand stades distant from the mouth of this sea at the Pillars of Hercules,
the distance being three thousand stades from the Pillars to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>, from which place Hannibal started for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, two thousand six hundred stades from hence to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ebro&groupId=549&placeId=1031">Ebro</a>,
and from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ebro&groupId=549&placeId=1031">Ebro</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Emporium&groupId=565&placeId=1056">Emporium</a> one thousand six hundred stades.
From <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Emporium&groupId=565&placeId=1056">Emporium</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Narbo&groupId=786&placeId=1423">Narbo</a> it is about six hundred stades, and from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Narbo&groupId=786&placeId=1423">Narbo</a> to the passage of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a> about sixteen hundred, this part of the road having now been carefully measured by the Romans and marked with milestones at every eighth stade.
From the passage of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhone&groupId=933&placeId=1667">Rhone</a>, following the bank of the river in the direction of its source as far as the foot of the pass across the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alps&groupId=313&placeId=609">Alps</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, the distance is fourteen hundred stades,
and the length of the actual pass which would bring Hannibal down into the plain of the Po, about twelve hundred.
So that to arrive there he had, starting from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=New Carthage&groupId=791&placeId=1430">New Carthage</a>, to march about nine thousand stades.
Of this, as far as distance goes, he had nearly traversed the half, but if we look to difficulty far the largest part lay before him.