Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 34 - Chapter 6

1
<w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="e%29le%2Fgxei">ἐλέγχει</w> <w lemma="kaqareu%2Fwn">καθαρεύων</w>. <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="gou%3Dn">γοῦν</w> <w lemma="%2Adikaia%2Frxou">Δικαιάρχου</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29po%2Fntos">εἰπόντος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adri%2Fan">Ἀδρίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="muxou%3D">μυχοῦ</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="a%29podo%2Fntos">ἀποδόντος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakisxili%2Fous">ἑπτακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="sthlw%3Dn">στηλῶν</w>,
2
<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="e%29a%3Dn">ἐᾶν</w> <w lemma="fhsin">φησιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Ft%27">εἴτ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29%3D">εὖ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontai">λαμβάνονται</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fte">εἴτε</w> <w lemma="mh%2F">μή</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakisxili%2Fous">ἑπτακισχιλίους</w> <w lemma="ou%29dete%2Frws">οὐδετέρως</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kmetrou%3Dnti">ἐκμετροῦντι</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsou">μέσου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w>.
3
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29oike%2Fnai">ἐοικέναι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flist%27">μάλιστ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mblei%2Fa%7C">ἀμβλείᾳ</w> <w lemma="gwni%2Fa%7C">γωνίᾳ</w>, <w lemma="bebhkui%2Fa%7C">βεβηκυίᾳ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sthlw%3Dn">στηλῶν</w>,
4
<w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29xou%2Fsh%7C">ἐχούσῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Frbwna">Νάρβωνα</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fgwnon">τρίγωνον</w>, <w lemma="ba%2Fsin">βάσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxon">ἔχον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%3Dan">εὐθεῖαν</w>, <w lemma="pleura%5Cs">πλευρὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="gwni%2Fan">γωνίαν</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fsas">ποιούσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="lexqei%3Dsan:">λεχθεῖσαν·</w>
5
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Frbwnos">Νάρβωνος</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fwn">μυρίων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fwn">διακοσίων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fois">χιλίοις</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loiph%5C">λοιπὴ</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="lei%3Dpon">λεῖπον</w> [<w lemma="e%29latto%2Fnwn">ἐλαττόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w>] <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fwn">ὀκτακισχιλίων</w>.
6
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w> <w lemma="o%28mologei%3Dsqai">ὁμολογεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Aturrhniko%5Cn">Τυρρηνικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fwn">τρισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardo%2Fnion">Σαρδόνιον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="sunagwgh%2Fn">συναγωγήν</w>.
7
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstw">ἔστω</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%2F">φησί</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dno">ἐκεῖνο</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fwn">τρισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="proeilh%2Ffqw">προειλήφθω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpou">κόλπου</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Ana%2Frbwna">Νάρβωνα</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fqetos">κάθετος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="korufh%3Ds">κορυφῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fsin">βάσιν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="a%29mblugwni%2Fou">ἀμβλυγωνίου</w>.
8
<w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%2Fn">φησίν</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paidikh%3Ds">παιδικῆς</w> <w lemma="metrh%2Fsews">μετρήσεως</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasa">σύμπασα</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fa">παραλία</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="u%28pere%2Fxei">ὑπερέχει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%2Fas">εὐθείας</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fois">πεντακοσίοις</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w>.
9
<w lemma="prosteqe%2Fntwn">προστεθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="porqmo%5Cn">πορθμὸν</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fwn">τρισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpantes">σύμπαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsontai">ἔσονται</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdioi">στάδιοι</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%2Fas">εὐθείας</w>, <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="dipla%2Fsioi">διπλάσιοι</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="%2Adikai%2Farxos">Δικαίαρχος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpe">εἶπε</w>.
10
<w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="muxo%5Cn">μυχὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29adriatiko%5Cn">Ἀδριατικὸν</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w>, <w lemma="fhsi%2F">φησί</w>, <w lemma="tiqe%2Fnai">τιθέναι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%3Dnon">ἐκεῖνον</w>. <w lemma="%2A%29all%27">Ἀλλ᾽</w>,
11
<w lemma="w%29%3D">ὦ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Fle">φίλε</w> <w lemma="%2Apolu%2Fbie">Πολύβιε</w>, <w lemma="fai%2Fh">φαίη</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fsmatos">ψεύσματος</w> <w lemma="e%29nargh%3D">ἐναργῆ</w> <w lemma="pari%2Fsthsi">παρίστησι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flegxon">ἔλεγχον</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="pei%3Dra">πεῖρα</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Frhkas">εἴρηκας</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w>,
12
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleuka%2Fda">Λευκάδα</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakosi%2Fous">ἑπτακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsous">ἴσους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Ako%2Frkuran">Κόρκυραν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akerau%2Fnia">Κεραύνια</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsous">ἴσους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="decia%3D%7C">δεξιᾷ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iapudi%2Fan">Ἰαπυδίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akerauni%2Fwn">Κεραυνίων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurikh%5Cn">Ἰλλυρικὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%28cakisxili%2Fwn">ἑξακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w>,
13
<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dna">κἀκεῖνα</w> <w lemma="yeu%2Fsmata%2F">ψεύσματά</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Ftera">ἀμφότερα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="%2Adikai%2Farxos">Δικαίαρχος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpe">εἶπε</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%28ptakisxili%2Fwn">ἑπτακισχιλίων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="su%5C">σὺ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Ds">δοκεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29podei%3Dcai:">ἀποδεῖξαι·</w>
14
<w lemma="o%28mologou%3Dsi">ὁμολογοῦσι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontes">λέγοντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fwn">μυρίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn">δισχιλίων</w>. —
15
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Apw%3Ds">Πῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="do%2Fceien">δόξειεν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbebhke%2Fnai">ὑπερβεβηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29polelhrhke%2Fnai">ἀπολεληρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Abergai%3Don">Βεργαῖον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antifa%2Fnhn">Ἀντιφάνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="mhdeni%5C">μηδενὶ</w> <w lemma="katalipei%3Dn">καταλιπεῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolh%5Cn">ὑπερβολὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29noi%2Fas">ἀνοίας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnwn">ἐπιγινομένων</w>; —
As for Dicaearchus at least he says that the distance from the Peloponnesus to the Pillars of Hercules is 10,000 stades, and that the distance to the Adriatic is more. The distance as far as the Straits in going to the Pillars he estimates at 3000, so that the remainder from the Straits to the Pillars amounts to 7000. Here Polybius says that he leaves it out of consideration whether Dicaearchus is right or not in his estimate of 3000 stades, but that he is not right in that of 7000, whether we follow the coast or go straight across the sea. For the coast-line resembles an obtuse angle, the two sides resting on the apex being at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Narbo&groupId=786&placeId=1423">Narbo</a>, so that a triangle is formed the base of which is the straight line across the sea and the two sides those forming the above angle. Of these sides the one reaching from the Straits to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Narbo&groupId=786&placeId=1423">Narbo</a> measures more than 10,200 stades, and the other a little less than 8000 stades.
Now the longest distance from Europe to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Africa&groupId=300&placeId=294">Africa</a> across the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tyrrhenian Sea&groupId=1054&placeId=1856">Tyrrhenian Sea</a> is not more than 3000 stades; across the Sardinian Sea it is somewhat shorter, but let us, he says, call it there also 3000 stades, and besides this let us assume that the depth of the Gulf of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Narbo&groupId=786&placeId=1423">Narbo</a>, or let us say of a perpendicular from the apex to the base of the obtuse angle is 2000 stades.
Then, he says, it is evident from a schoolboy's geometry that the whole coast-line from the Straits to the Pillars is longer by very nearly 500 stades than the strange line across the sea.
Then if we add to this the 3000 stades from the Peloponnesus to the Straits, the whole distance along this strange line will be more than double the estimate of Dicaearchus, and according to him we must reckon the distance to the head of the Adriatic as even more than this.
But one feels inclined to say, "my dear Polybius, the falsity of all this is clearly demonstrated when tested by your own statements, which are that it is 700 stades from the Peloponnesus to Leucas, the same distance from Leucas to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corcyra&groupId=491&placeId=923">Corcyra</a>, and again the same from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corcyra&groupId=491&placeId=923">Corcyra</a> to the Ceraunian Mountains, and the length of the whole Illyrian coast on the right as far as Iapydia from the Ceraunian mountains onwards 6150 stades. So that both the above statements are false, both that of Dicaearchus that it is 7000 stades from the Straits to the Pillars and tone which you think you have proved.
For almost every one is agreed that the direct distance by sea amounts to 12,000 stades. How, then, can we avoid thinking that Eratosthenes in the nonsense he tells has surpassed even Antiphanes of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Berga&groupId=399&placeId=743">Berga</a> and rendered it impossible for any subsequent writer to excel him in absurdity?