Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 40

1
<w lemma="ri%2Fas">ρίας</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="a%29kribeste%2Fran">ἀκριβεστέραν</w> <w lemma="eu%28rei%3Dn">εὑρεῖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion:">ῥᾴδιον·</w> <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthmen">ἐπέστημεν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29fete%2Fon">ἀφετέον</w> <w lemma="a%29rgo%5Cn">ἀργὸν</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fsei">φάσει</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenon">κείμενον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29w%2Fqasi">εἰώθασι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="suggrafe%2Fwn">συγγραφέων</w>, <w lemma="a%29podeiktikh%3D%7C">ἀποδεικτικῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsei">διηγήσει</w> <w lemma="xrhste%2Fon">χρηστέον</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fporon">ἄπορον</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fpwmen">ἀπολείπωμεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="zhtoume%2Fnwn">ζητουμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="filhko%2Fois">φιληκόοις</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdio%2Fn">ἴδιόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairw%3Dn">καιρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="plwtw%3Dn">πλωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poreutw%3Dn">πορευτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftwn">γεγονότων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fpon">πρέπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="poihtai%3Ds">ποιηταῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="muqogra%2Ffois">μυθογράφοις</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Frtusi">μάρτυσι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnwn">ἀγνοουμένων</w>,
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="pepoih%2Fkasi">πεποιήκασι</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w>, <w lemma="a%29pi%2Fstous">ἀπίστους</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtoume%2Fnwn">ἀμφισβητουμένων</w> <w lemma="parexo%2Fmenoi">παρεχόμενοι</w> <w lemma="bebaiwta%5Cs">βεβαιωτὰς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hra%2Fkleiton">Ἡράκλειτον</w>, <w lemma="peirate%2Fon">πειρατέον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="parista%2Fnai">παριστάναι</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fousi">ἀκούουσι</w>.
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<w lemma="fame%5Cn">φαμὲν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fnnusqai">χώννυσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w>, <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwsqh%2Fsesqai">ἐγχωσθήσεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w>, <w lemma="menou%2Fshs">μενούσης</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcews">τάξεως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fwn">αἰτίων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gxw%2Fsews">ἐγχώσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%2Fntwn">ἐνεργούντων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fs">συνεχές</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnos">χρόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpeiros">ἄπειρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3D%7C">ᾖ</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="koilw%2Fmata">κοιλώματα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth">πάντη</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntws">πάντως</w> <w lemma="w%28risme%2Fna">ὡρισμένα</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlon">δῆλον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%5Cn">τυχὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sfe%2Frhtai">εἰσφέρηται</w>, <w lemma="plhrwqh%2Fsontai">πληρωθήσονται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="peperasme%2Fnon">πεπερασμένον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frw%7C">ἀπείρῳ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fqeiro%2Fmenon">φθειρόμενον</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnhtai">γίνηται</w> — <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="noei%2Fsqw">νοείσθω</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> — <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="teleiwqh%3Dnai">τελειωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fn">τυχόν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="polu%2Fs">πολύς</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29sfe%2Frhtai">εἰσφέρηται</w> <w lemma="xou%3Ds">χοῦς</w>, <w lemma="fanero%5Cn">φανερὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pote%2F">ποτέ</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>. <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="kexw%3Dsqai">κεχῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei:">συμβαίνει·</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="toi">τοι</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="o%29rguiai%3Ds">ὀργυιαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti:">ἐστι·</w> <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="nausi%5C">ναυσὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flais">μεγάλαις</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="kaqhgemo%2Fnos">καθηγεμόνος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29%3Dsa%2F">οὖσά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flatta">θάλαττα</w> <w lemma="su%2Frrous">σύρρους</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntw%7C">Πόντῳ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="palaioi%5C">παλαιοὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfwnou%3Dsi">συμφωνοῦσι</w>, <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnh">λίμνη</w> <w lemma="glukei%3Da">γλυκεῖα</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="e%29kpepiesme%2Fnhs">ἐκπεπιεσμένης</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwma%2Ftwn">ἐγχωμάτων</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%3Ds">εἰσβολῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratou%2Fshs">ἐπικρατούσης</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn:">νῦν·</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polloi%3Ds">πολλοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="katafane%5Cs">καταφανὲς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="koilw%2Fmatos">κοιλώματος</w>. <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="braxe%2Fa">βραχέα</w> <w lemma="sunepisth%2Fsasi">συνεπιστήσασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w>
But since our attention is now fixed on this subject, I must leave no point unelaborated and barely stated, as is the habit of most writers, but must rather give a description of the facts supported by proofs, so that no doubts may be left in the reader's mind.
For this is the characteristic of the present age, in which, all parts of the world being accessible by land or sea, it is no longer proper to cite the testimony of poets and mythographers regarding matters of which we are ignorant, "offering," as Heraclitus says, "untrustworthy sureties for disputed facts," but we should aim at laying before our readers a narrative resting on its own credit.
I say then that the silting up of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> has gone on from time immemorial and still continues, and that in course of time both this sea and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a> Maeotis will be entirely filled, if the existing local conditions remain the same and the causes of the alluvial deposit continue to act.
For time being infinite, and the area of these basins being certainly lid, it is evident that even if the accretions were quite insignificant, the seas will be filled up in time; for by the law of nature if a finite quantity continually grows or decreases in infinite time, even if the increase or decrease be infinitesimal — for this is what I now assume — it stands to reason that the process must finally be completed.
But when, as in this case, the increase is no small one, but a very large quantity of soil is being deposited, it is evident that what I state will not happen at some remote date, but very shortly.
And it is indeed visibly happening. As for the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Palus&groupId=830&placeId=1500">Palus</a> Maeotis it is already silted up, the great part of it varying in depth between five and seven fathoms, so that large ships can no longer navigate it without a pilot.
And while it was once, as all ancient authorities agree, a sea continuous with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, it is now a fresh-water lake, the salt water having been forced out by the deposits and the inflow from the rivers prevailing.
Some day it will be the same with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>; in fact the thing is actually taking place, and although not very generally noticed owing to the large size of the basin, it is apparent to anyone who gives some slight attention to the matter.