Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 38

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<w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>. <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntioi">Βυζάντιοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairo%2Ftaton">εὐκαιρότατον</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%3Dsi">οἰκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth">πάντη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnh%7C">οἰκουμένῃ</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Ftera">ἀμφότερα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29fue%2Fstaton">ἀφυέστατον</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeintai">ἐπίκεινται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fws">κυρίως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29spleu%3Dsai">εἰσπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpleu%3Dsai">ἐκπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Frwn">ἐμπόρων</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="boulh%2Fsews">βουλήσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrh%2Fstwn">εὐχρήστων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frioi">κύριοι</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntioi">Βυζάντιοι</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fas">ἀναγκαίας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmata">θρέμματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="doulei%2Fas">δουλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29gome%2Fnwn">ἀγομένων</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpoi">τόποι</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzousi">παρασκευάζουσι</w> <w lemma="dayile%2Fstaton">δαψιλέστατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsimw%2Ftaton">χρησιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws:">ὁμολογουμένως·</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="periousi%2Fan">περιουσίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fli">μέλι</w>, <w lemma="khro%2Fn">κηρόν</w>, <w lemma="ta%2Frixos">τάριχος</w> <w lemma="a%29fqo%2Fnws">ἀφθόνως</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="xorhgou%3Dsi">χορηγοῦσι</w>.
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<w lemma="de%2Fxontai">δέχονται</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="peritteuo%2Fntwn">περιττευόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaion">ἔλαιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fnou">οἴνου</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos:">γένος·</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftw%7C">σίτῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mei%2Fbontai">ἀμείβονται</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fntes">διδόντες</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontes">λαμβάνοντες</w>.
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<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fesqai">κωλύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29lusitelh%3D">ἀλυσιτελῆ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29llagh%5Cn">ἀλλαγὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Ftoi">ἤτοι</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29qelokakei%3Dn">ἐθελοκακεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sundua%2Fzein">συνδυάζειν</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftais">Γαλάταις</w>, <w lemma="tote%5C">τοτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fona">πλείονα</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%7Cci%5Cn">Θρᾳξὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous:">τόπους·</w>
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<w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="steno%2Fthta">στενότητα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parakei%2Fmenon">παρακείμενον</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fplous">ἄπλους</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntos">Πόντος</w>.
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<w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="perigi%2Fnetai">περιγίνεται</w> <w lemma="lusitelh%3D">λυσιτελῆ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthtas:">ἰδιότητας·</w>
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<w lemma="a%28%2Fpan">ἅπαν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peritteu%3Don">περιττεῦον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29cagwgh%3Ds">ἐξαγωγῆς</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%3Dpon">λεῖπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29sagwgh%3Ds">εἰσαγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmou">ἑτοίμου</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnei">τυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lusitelou%3Ds">λυσιτελοῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou:">κινδύνου·</w>
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<w lemma="polla%2F">πολλά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhsta">εὔχρηστα</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29panta%3D%7C">ἀπαντᾷ</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinoi%2F">κοινοί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="eu%29erge%2Ftai">εὐεργέται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontes">ὑπάρχοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritos">χάριτος</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnoien">τυγχάνοιεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dsqai">ἀγνοεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fui+%2Fan">εὐφυΐαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piskopoume%2Fnwn">ἐπισκοπουμένων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>,
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<w lemma="boulo%2Fmeqa">βουλόμεθα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fptai">αὐτόπται</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnon">παρηλλαγμένον</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29nnoi%2Fas">ἐννοίας</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fpous">τύπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w>,
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<w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dno%2Fn">συμβαῖνόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dn">ποιοῦν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="eu%29pori%2Fan">εὐπορίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
The site of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> is as regards the sea more favourable security and prosperity than that of any other city in the world known to us, but as regards the land it is most disadvantageous in both respects.
For, as concerning the sea, it completely blocks the mouth of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> in such a manner that no one can sail in or out without the consent of the Byzantines.
So that they have complete control over the supply of all those many products furnished by the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> which men in general require in their daily life.
For as regards necessities it is an undisputed fact that most plentiful supplies and best qualities of cattle and slaves reach us from the countries lying round the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, while among luxuries the same countries furnish us with abundance of honey, wax, and preserved fish,
while of the superfluous produce of our countries they take olive-oil and every kind of wine. As for corn there is a give-and-take, they sometimes supplying us when we require it and sometimes importing it from us.
The Greeks, then, would entirely lose all this commerce or it would be quite unprofitable to them, if the Byzantines were disposed to be deliberately unfriendly to them, and had made common cause formerly with the Gauls and more especially at present with the Thracians, or if they had abandoned the place altogether.
For, owing to the narrowness of the strait and the numbers of the barbarians on its banks, it would evidently be impossible for our ships to sail into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>. Though perhaps the Byzantines themselves are the people who derive most financial benefit from the situation of their town, since they can readily export all their superfluous produce and import whatever they require on advantageous terms and without any danger or hardship, yet, as I said, they are of great service to other peoples.
Therefore, as being the common benefactors of all, they naturally not only should meet with gratitude from the Greeks, but with general support when they are exposed to peril from the barbarians.
Now since the majority of people are unacquainted with the peculiar advantages of this site, as it lies somewhat outside those parts of the world which are generally visited,
and as we all wish to have information about such matters, if possible visiting personally places so peculiar and interesting, but if this be out of our power, acquiring impressions and ideas of them as near the truth as possible, I had better state the facts of the case and explain what is the cause of the singular prosperity of this city.