Polybius, Histories
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Book 32 - Chapter 8

1
<head lang="la">II. Res Pergami</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29me%2Fnhs">Εὐμένης</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="swmatikh%3D%7C">σωματικῇ</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w> <w lemma="paralelume%2Fnos">παραλελυμένος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="yuxh%3Ds">ψυχῆς</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fthti">λαμπρότητι</w> <w lemma="prosanei%3Dxen">προσανεῖχεν</w>,
2
<w lemma="a%29nh%5Cr">ἀνὴρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="spoudaio%2Ftata">σπουδαιότατα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fllista">κάλλιστα</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzwn">μείζων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lampro%2Fteros:">λαμπρότερος·</w>
3
<w lemma="o%28%2Fs">ὅς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="paralabw%5Cn">παραλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="patro%5Cs">πατρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="sunestalme%2Fnhn">συνεσταλμένην</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fga">ὀλίγα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lita%5C">λιτὰ</w> <w lemma="polisma%2Ftia">πολισμάτια</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstais">μεγίσταις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="dunasteiw%3Dn">δυναστειῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29fa%2Fmillon">ἐφάμιλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29poi%2Fhse">ἐποίησε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%2Fn">ἀρχήν</w>,
4
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxh%7C">τύχῃ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="sunergw%3D%7C">συνεργῷ</w> <w lemma="xrw%2Fmenos">χρώμενος</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="peripetei%2Fas">περιπετείας</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29gxinoi%2Fas">ἀγχινοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoponi%2Fas">φιλοπονίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w>.
5
<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="filodoco%2Ftatos">φιλοδοξότατος</w> <w lemma="e%29genh%2Fqh">ἐγενήθη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstas">πλείστας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fwn">βασιλέων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fdas">Ἑλληνίδας</w> <w lemma="eu%29erge%2Fthse">εὐεργέτησε</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="e%29swmatopoi%2Fhse">ἐσωματοποίησε</w>.
6
<w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="a%29delfou%5Cs">ἀδελφοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fan">ἡλικίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>*, <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fsxe">συνέσχε</w> <w lemma="peiqarxou%3Dntas">πειθαρχοῦντας</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="doruforou%3Dntas">δορυφοροῦντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czontas">σῴζοντας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29ci%2Fwma">ἀξίωμα</w>.
7
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fws">σπανίως</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Froi">εὕροι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Fs">γεγονός</w>.
<head>IV. Affairs of Pergamus</head>King Eumenes had lost all his bodily vigour, but his brilliant mental qualities were unimpaired.
He was a man in most matters second to none of the princes his contemporaries, but he was greater and more brilliant than any of them in all that was most important and honourable.
In the first place while the kingdom, as he inherited it from his father, was confined to a few wretched little towns, he made his own dominions such as to rival the greatest contemporary powers,
not for the most part helped by Fortune or by any revolution of circumstance, but by his own acuteness, industry, and energy.
Next he was most eager to win reputation, and not only conferred more benefits than any king of his time on Greek cities, but established the fortunes of more individual men.
Thirdly, having three brothers not far behind him in age and activity, he kept them all in the position of his obedient satellites and guardians of the dignity of his throne,
a thing for which one can find few parallels.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
32.8.1 - 32.8.7
<p rend="Plain Text">Assessment of Eumenes II</p> <p rend="Plain Text">This excerpt from de uirt. et uit. (with some fragments from Suidas) is part of res Asiae of Ol. 155, 2 = 159/8 and appears to be from an obituary passage on Eumenes II; on this, and on the date of Eumenes' death see p. 39. The latter is controversial. Strabo (xiii. 4. 2, C. 624) gives Attalus II 21 years and Attalus III five; since Attalus III died in spring 133 (Livy, ep. 58), this would make Attalus II's accession 159. However, Attalus I died in 197 (see Vol. II, pp. 572, 603); and if the 49 years assigned by Strabo (xiii. 4. 2, C. 624) to Eumenes' reign is emended to 39 (so Meischke, Symbolae ad Eumenis II Pergamenorum regis historiam, Diss. Leipzig, 1892, 13, i.e. <w lang="el-GR">ΛΘ</w> instead of <w lang="el-GR">ΜΘ</w>: 49 must be wrong), this would bring Eumenes' death down to 158, which fits the dating of this excerpt to 159/8.</p>
Specifics
32.8.1 - 32.8.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Εὐμένης</w>:</emph> see xviii. 41. 10 n. and passim; on his physical debility cf. xxiv. 5. 2, xxx. 2. 5 n. (referring to 168/7). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῇ . . . τῆς ψυχῆ?ς λαμπρότητι</w>:</emph> cf. xxix. 8. 2, <w lang="el-GR">πανουργοτάτου</w> . </p>
32.8.2 - 32.8.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ . . . τὰ σπουδαιότατα καὶ κάλλιστα</w>:</emph> elucidated in §§ 3–7: P. lists three achievements, (a) the building up of his kingdom, (b) his benefactions to cities and individuals, (c) his control over his brothers and the maintenance of their allegiance. </p>
32.8.3 - 32.8.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">παραλαβὼν . . . τὴν βασιλείαν κτλ</w>.:</emph> for the likelihood that at the <milestone unit="page" n="526">[526]</milestone> time of Attalus I's death his kingdom was diminished see xxiii. 11. 7 n.; cf. Strabo, xiii. 4. 2, C. 624, <w lang="el-GR">πρότερον</w> (i.e. before the treaty of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a>) <w lang="el-GR">δ᾽ ἦν τὰ περὶ Πέργαμον οὐ πολλὰ χωρία μέχρι τῆς θαλάττης τῆς κατὰ τὸν Ἐλαΐτην κόλττον καὶ τὸν Ἀδραμυττηνό?ν</w> ; above, xxi. 22. 15 (cf. Livy, xxxviii. 54. 11 f.); Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 70. Eumenes' gains were after the war between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and Antiochus; cf. xxi. 24. 6–8, 46. 2–12. </p>
32.8.4 - 32.8.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐ τύχῃ τὸ πλεῖον συνεργῷ χρώμενος</w>:</emph> like Hiero (cf. vii. 8. 1, <w lang="el-GR">οὐχ ἕτερον οὐδὲν ἐκ τῆς τύχης ἕτοιμον παραλαβών)</w>; whereas Scipio Aemilianus had some help from <w lang="el-GR">ταὐτόματον</w> (xxxi. 25. 10, 29. 2, 30. 3 n.). See Vol. I, p. 22 nn. 5 and 7. Fortune here means 'good luck'; see Siegfried, 55, 61; von Scala, 173, 179 n. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐδ᾽ ἐκ περιπετείας</w>:</emph> cf. xxxviii. 9. 2; there too the sense is simply'by chance', though usually <w lang="el-GR">περιπέτεια</w> means 'sudden misfortune' (cf. Siegfried, 48 n. 81) or 'reversal of fortune' (for the better or worse'; cf. xxi. 26. 16, 26. 18). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔτι δὲ πράξεως τῆς αὑτοῦ</w>:</emph> cf. § 6; probably 'political dexterity, or ability' rather than 'industry, energy' (Paton), or 'personal labour' (Shuckburgh), which is the meaning of <w lang="el-GR">φιλοπονία</w>; cf. ii. 47. 5, <w lang="el-GR">πρᾶξιν ἔχοντα καὶ σύνεσιν</w>, , 'a man of practical ability and sound sense'; iv. 77. 1, 77. 3, <w lang="el-GR">πρᾶξιν καὶ τόλμαν</w>, 'ability and daring'. See Schweighaeuser, Lex. Polyb. s.v. <w lang="el-GR">πρᾶξις</w>. </p>
32.8.5 - 32.8.5
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πλείστας . . . πόλεις Ἑλληνίδας εὐεργέ?τησε</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xlii. 5. 3, '. . . cum Eumenis beneficiis muneribusque omnes Graeciae ciuitates et plerique principum obligati essent, et ita se in regno suo gereret, ut, quae sub dicione eius urbes 〈essent〉, nullius liberae ciuitatis fortunam secum mutatam uellent'. That passage echoes a lost part of P. book xxvi; see p. 289. Examples of Eumenes' patronage in Greece are: his donation for a shrine of Dionysus Lyseius at Thebes (cf. Fraser, REA, 1952, 233–45); the sending of workmen to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> to repair the theatre and the votive offerings (Syll. 671 B ll. 12–13), and perhaps the construction of the larger stoa outside the sacred precinct to the west and on the level of the temple terrace (Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 295); the building of a stoa at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a> (Vitruv. v. 9. 1), usually identified with the large hall, nearly 540 ft. by 58 ft., which stood on the lower south slope of the acropolis below the Asclepieum and between the theatre of Dionysus and the later Odeum of Herodes Atticus (cf. Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 295 n. 181 for bibliography); his gift of corn to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>, to be sold in order to set up a fund for paying teachers (xxxi. 31. 1–3); his gift of 3 talents to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> to buy grain (Syll. 671, 672); the extensive gifts and concessions, political and economic, and the furnishing of oil for young men, grain for food and seed, and exemption from tribute through his general Corragus (cf. Livy, xxxviii. 13. 3, xlii. 67. 2 f.) to an unnamed city which may be Apollonia-on-Rhyndacus; SEG, ii. 663; Holleaux, tudes, ii. 73–125; Bengtson, Strat. ii. 211–26. These and <milestone unit="page" n="527">[527]</milestone> no doubt other benefactions are reflected in the many statues set up in Eumenes' honour at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Delphi&groupId=534&placeId=363">Delphi</a> (Syll. 628, 629 (= IG ix <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> . 1. 179) ll. 10–13, 630 ll. 19–23; cf. Daux, 272–3, 500–1, 504–5 n. 2). See further Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 108–9, 293–8. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πλείστους . . . ἐσωματοποίησε</w>:</emph> an example is the Theban leader, Pytheas (xxxviii. 14. 1–2). </p>
32.8.6 - 32.8.6
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀδελφοὺς . . . τρεῖς</w>:</emph> cf. xviii. 41. 10 n. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν καὶ πρᾶξιν</w>:</emph> the lacuna following these words rerequires some phrase which makes <w lang="el-GR">συνέσχε πεθαρχοῦντας αὑτῷ</w> surprising and memorable: Bttner-Wobst, <w lang="el-GR">ὄντας ὁμοιοτάτους αὑτῷ</w> meets this requirement excellently. On the loyalty of the Attalids to Eumenes and each other see xxiii. 11. 6, xxvii. 18. 3; Hansen <emph rend="superscript">2</emph> , 128. </p>

Commentary