Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 43

1
<w lemma="%2Atou%3D">Τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmatos">στόματος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aproponti%2Fda">Προποντίδα</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptontos">συνάπτοντος</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ierou%3D">Ἱεροῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzontos">ὁρίζοντος</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmatos">διαστήματος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aproponti%2Fda">Προποντίδα</w>,
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<w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ermai%3Don">Ἑρμαῖον</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="prooxh%3Ds">προοχῆς</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthriazou%2Fshs">ἀκρωτηριαζούσης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenon">κείμενον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="stenw%2Ftaton">στενώτατον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmatos:">στόματος·</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adarei%3Don">Δαρεῖον</w> <w lemma="zeu%3Dcai%2F">ζεῦξαί</w> <w lemma="fasi">φασι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w>, <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asku%2Fqas">Σκύθας</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fbasin">διάβασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllon">ἄλλον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsio%2Fs">παραπλήσιός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="fora%5C">φορὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28moio%2Fthta">ὁμοιότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="parhko%2Fntwn">παρηκόντων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn:">τόπων·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pa%5Cn">ἐπὰν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ermai%3Don">Ἑρμαῖον</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="stenw%2Ftaton">στενώτατον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffamen">ἔφαμεν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="fero%2Fmenos">φερόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkleio%2Fmenos">συγκλειόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Ds">ῥοῦς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="prospe%2Fsh%7C">προσπέσῃ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="trapei%5Cs">τραπεὶς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3Ds">πληγῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpi%2Fptei">ἐμπίπτει</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipe%2Fras">ἀντιπέρας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kei%3Dqen">ἐκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%3Don">οἷον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28postrofh%3Ds">ὑποστροφῆς</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntapo%2Fdosin">ἀνταπόδοσιν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28esti%2Fas">Ἑστίας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkra">ἄκρα</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmena">καλούμενα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptei">προσπίπτει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abou%3Dn">Βοῦν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fs">ὅς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5Cn">ὃν</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%3Dnai%2F">ἐπιστῆναί</w> <w lemma="fasi">φασι</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="mu%3Dqoi">μῦθοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29iw%5C">Ἰὼ</w> <w lemma="peraiwqei%3Dsan">περαιωθεῖσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Ds">ῥοῦς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="teleutai%3Don">τελευταῖον</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aboo%5Cs">Βοὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fretai">φέρεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w>, <w lemma="perisxisqei%5Cs">περισχισθεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="diori%2Fzei">διορίζει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Ake%2Fras">Κέρας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poneu%2Fei">ἀπονεύει</w>.
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<w lemma="dieutonei%3Dn">διευτονεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipe%2Fras">ἀντιπέρας</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdw%2Fn:">Καλχηδών·</w>
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<w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntapo%2Fdosin">ἀνταπόδοσιν</w> <w lemma="pepoihme%2Fnos">πεποιημένος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="e%29kluo%2Fmenos">ἐκλυόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Ds">ῥοῦς</w> <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="braxei%2Fas">βραχείας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29cei%3Dan">ὀξεῖαν</w> <w lemma="gwni%2Fan">γωνίαν</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nakla%2Fseis">ἀνακλάσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="perai%2Fan">περαίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mblei%3Dan:">ἀμβλεῖαν·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29polipw%5Cn">ἀπολιπὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdoni%2Fwn">Καλχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="fe%2Fretai">φέρεται</w>
I must now resume my account of the specially favourable situation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>. The channel connecting the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> and the Propontis being a hundred and twenty stades in length, as I just said, the Holy Place marking its termination towards the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> and the strait of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> that towards the Propontis,
halfway between these on the European side stands the Hermaeum on a promontory running out into the channel at a distance of about five stades from Asia and situated at the narrowest part of the whole. It is here, they say, that Darius bridged the straits when he crossed to attack the Scythians.
Now the force of the current from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> has been so far uniform owing to the similarity of the country on each bank of the channel,
but when it reaches the Hermaeum on the European side, which is, as I said, the narrowest point, this current from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> being confined and sweeping strongly against the headland, rebounds as if from a blow, and dashes against the opposite coast of Asia.
It now again recoils from this coast and is carried against the promontory on the European bank known as the Hearths,
from which its force is once more deflected to the place on the Asiatic bank called the Cow, where legend says that Io first found a footing after crossing.
Finally the current runs rapidly from the Cow to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> itself, and dividing into two near the city, sends off its smaller branch into the gulf known as the Horn, while the larger branch is again deflected.
It has however, no longer sufficient force to reach the coast opposite, on which stands Calchedon;
for as it has now several times crossed and recrossed the channel, which here is already of considerable width, the current has now become feebler, and ceases to make short rebounds to the opposite coast at an acute angle, but is rather deflected at an obtuse angle.
It therefore fails to reach Calchedon and flows out through the strait.