Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 44

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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dn">ποιοῦν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairota%2Fthn">εὐκαιροτάτην</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdoni%2Fwn">Καλχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnon">εἰρημένον</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyews">ὄψεως</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fas">ὁμοίας</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frais">ἀμφοτέραις</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fshs">δοκούσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsews">θέσεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="boulhqe%2Fnta">βουληθέντα</w> <w lemma="katapleu%3Ds%27">καταπλεῦς᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flh%7C">βούλῃ</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Frei">φέρει</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Ds">ῥοῦς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpomen">εἴπομεν</w>.
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<w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou:">τούτου·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fnos">Καλχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="diai%2Frein">διαίρειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%3Dan">εὐθεῖαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fgousin">παράγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abou%3Dn">Βοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="%2Axruso%2Fpolin">Χρυσόπολιν</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%3Doi">Ἀθηναῖοι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="katasxo%2Fntes">κατασχόντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alkibia%2Fdou">Ἀλκιβιάδου</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh%7C">γνώμῃ</w> <w lemma="paragwgia%2Fzein">παραγωγιάζειν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontas">πλέοντας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmprosqen">ἔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29fia%3Dsi">ἀφιᾶσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontai">φέρονται</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fmoia">ὅμοια</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Ftera">θάτερα</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews:">πόλεως·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhspo%2Fntou">Ἑλλησπόντου</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fxh%7C">τρέχῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="no%2Ftois">νότοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fsponton">Ἑλλήσποντον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fois">ἐτησίοις</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="o%29rqo%2Fs">ὀρθός</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29parako%2Fmisto%2Fs">εὐπαρακόμιστός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="plou%3Ds">πλοῦς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aproponti%2Fdos">Προποντίδος</w> <w lemma="stena%5C">στενὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabudon">Ἄβυδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ashsto%2Fn">Σηστόν</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dqen">κἀκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="w%28sau%2Ftws">ὡσαύτως</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fnos">Καλχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kolpw%2Fdh">κολπώδη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fploun">παράπλουν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnein">προτείνειν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akuzikhnw%3Dn">Κυζικηνῶν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhspo%2Fntou">Ἑλλησπόντου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenon">φερόμενον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fna">Καλχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="plw%3D%7C">πλῷ</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fzonta">συνεγγίζοντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmptein">κάμπτειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prostre%2Fxein">προστρέχειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fna">Καλχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fs">δυσχερές</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kple%2Fonta">ἐκπλέοντα</w> <w lemma="prostre%2Fxein">προστρέχειν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%2F%7Ckh%7C">Θρᾴκῃ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmous">ἀνέμους</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frous">ἑκατέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipi%2Fptein">ἀντιπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Fras">ἀμφοτέρας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%2Fper">ἐπειδήπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29sa%2Fgei">εἰσάγει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="no%2Ftos">νότος</w>, <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fgei">ἐξάγει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bore%2Fas">βορέας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmon">δρόμον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmois">ἀνέμοις</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dnta">ποιοῦντα</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fois">Βυζαντίοις</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>
What therefore makes the situation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> so favourable and that of Calchedon the reverse is the fact here stated. To look at them indeed you would say they were equally well placed, but nevertheless it is not easy to reach Calchedon by sea, if one wishes, while to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> the current carries one whether one wishes or not, as I just said.
Evidence of this is that those who wish to cross from Calchedon to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> cannot sail in a straight course owing to the current between, but steer obliquely for the Cow and the place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chrysopolis&groupId=464&placeId=867">Chrysopolis</a> — which the Athenians once occupied by the advice of Alcibiades and used it when they first attempted to levy toll on vessels bound for the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> — and from hence commit themselves to the current which perforce carries them to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>
The approaches by sea to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> from the other side are equally favourable.
For those sailing with a south wind from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a>, or from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> with the Etesian winds, find the course from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> along the European coast to the commencement of the narrows at Sestus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Abydus&groupId=268&placeId=523">Abydus</a> a straight and easy one, and so is the return voyage to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>.
But the voyage from Calchedon along the Asiatic coast is the reverse of this, because one must follow the shores of a deep gulf, and the headland formed by the territory of Cyzicus runs out to a great distance.
Nor can ships sailing from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> to Calchedon easily coast along Europe and then on approaching <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> turn and make for Calchedon, as the current and the circumstances mentioned above make it difficult.
And similarly it is quite impossible for a ship leaving Calchedon to make the coast of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a> at once owing to the current between, and owing to the wind.
Both the south and north winds are adverse to both the attempts, since the south wind will carry one towards the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> and the north wind away from it, and these are the winds one must avail oneself of for the voyage from Calchedon to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> or for the voyage back.
Such are the causes of the favourable position of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> as regards the sea; its disadvantages on the land side being as follows.