Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 57

1
<w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asinw%2Fphs">Σινώπης</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w>. <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w>, <w lemma="a%29nazeu%2Fcas">ἀναζεύξας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fas">Μακεδονίας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> — <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29peli%2Fpamen">ἀπελίπαμεν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="summaxiko%5Cn">συμμαχικὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> — <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettali%2Fas">Θετταλίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%5Cn">εἰσβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fan">Αἰτωλίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandros">Ἀλέξανδρος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxos">Δωρίμαχος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29geiratw%3Dn">Αἰγειρατῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="a%28qroi%2Fsantes">ἁθροίσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Aoi%29a%2Fnqeian">Οἰάνθειαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="katantikru%5C">καταντικρὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="porqmei%3Da">πορθμεῖα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="e%28toima%2Fsantes">ἑτοιμάσαντες</w>, <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29th%2Froun">ἐτήρουν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="hu%29tomolhko%2Ftwn">ηὐτομοληκότων</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="diatetrifw%5Cs">διατετριφὼς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29geira%2Ftais">Αἰγειράταις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunteqewrhkw%5Cs">συντεθεωρηκὼς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttontas">φυλάττοντας</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gi%2Fou">Αἰγίου</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dna">πυλῶνα</w> <w lemma="mequskome%2Fnous">μεθυσκομένους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqu%2Fmws">ῥᾳθύμως</w> <w lemma="dieca%2Fgontas">διεξάγοντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fulakh%2Fn">φυλακήν</w>,
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<w lemma="pleona%2Fkis">πλεονάκις</w> <w lemma="paraballo%2Fmenos">παραβαλλόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnwn">διαβαίνων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w> <w lemma="e%29ceke%2Fklhto">ἐξεκέκλητο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fous">οἰκείους</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirhma%2Ftwn">ἐγχειρημάτων</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29geiratw%3Dn">Αἰγειρατῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fktistai">ἔκτισται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akorinqiako%5Cn">Κορινθιακὸν</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gie%2Fwn">Αἰγιέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikuwni%2Fwn">Σικυωνίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffwn">λόφων</w> <w lemma="e%29rumnw%3Dn">ἐρυμνῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusba%2Ftwn">δυσβάτων</w>, <w lemma="neu%2Fei">νεύει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsei">θέσει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aparnasso%5Cn">Παρνασσὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29nti%2Fpera">ἀντίπερα</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>.
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<w lemma="parapeso%2Fntos">παραπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plou%3D">πλοῦ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w>, <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fxqhsan">ἀνήχθησαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqormi%2Fzontai">καθορμίζονται</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="katarre%2Fonta">καταρρέοντα</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ale%2Fcandron">Ἀλέξανδρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwri%2Fmaxon">Δωρίμαχον</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arxi%2Fdamon">Ἀρχίδαμον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apantale%2Fontos">Πανταλέοντος</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%2Fn">υἱόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>, <w lemma="prose%2Fbainon">προσέβαινον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29gi%2Fou">Αἰγίου</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frousan">φέρουσαν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%2Fn">ὁδόν</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fmolos">αὐτόμολος</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkosi">εἴκοσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeiota%2Ftous">ἐπιτηδειοτάτους</w>, <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29nodi%2Fais">ἀνοδίαις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="krhmnou%5Cs">κρημνοὺς</w> <w lemma="qa%3Dtton">θᾶττον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fan">ἐμπειρίαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diadu%5Cs">διαδὺς</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="u%28drorroi%2Fas">ὑδρορροίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="koimwme%2Fnous">κοιμωμένους</w> <w lemma="kate%2Flabe">κατέλαβε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dnos">πυλῶνος</w>.
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<w lemma="katasfa%2Fcas">κατασφάξας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="koi%2Ftais">κοίταις</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diako%2Fyas">διακόψας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pele%2Fkesi">πελέκεσι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="moxlou%2Fs">μοχλούς</w>, <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fw%7Cce">ἀνέῳξε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flas">πύλας</w>.
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<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pareispeso%2Fntes">παρεισπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="lamprw%3Ds">λαμπρῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29perinoh%2Ftws">ἀπερινοήτως</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%2Fsanto">ἐχρήσαντο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasin">πράγμασιν</w>. <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftion">παραίτιον</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29geira%2Ftais">Αἰγειράταις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="swthri%2Fas">σωτηρίας</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29pwlei%2Fas">ἀπωλείας</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnontes">ὑπολαμβάνοντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="katasxei%3Dn">κατασχεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29llotri%2Fan">ἀλλοτρίαν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%2Fnwn">πυλώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%2Fs">ἐντός</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w>
Such was the situation at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sinope&groupId=978&placeId=1730">Sinope</a>. But King Philip starting from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> with his army — for it was here that I interrupted my account of operations in the Social War — marched on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thessaly&groupId=1028&placeId=1816">Thessaly</a> and Epirus with the view of invading Aetolia from thence.
Alexander and Dorimachus at this time having formed a project for surprising Aegeira, had collected about twelve hundred Aetolians at Oeantheia in Aetolia, which is situated just opposite Aegeira, and having provided transports for this force were waiting for favourable weather to cross and make the attack.
For a certain Aetolian deserter, who had spent some time at Aegeira and had noticed that the guards of the Aegium gate were constantly drunk and neglectful of their watch, had several times at some risk crossed over to Dorimachus and urged him to make the attempt, well knowing that such an enterprise was quite in his line.
Aegeira is situated in the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> on the gulf of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Corinth&groupId=493&placeId=928">Corinth</a> between Aegium and Sicyon and is built on steep hills difficult of access, looking towards <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Parnassus&groupId=844&placeId=1523">Parnassus</a> and that part of the opposite coast, its distance from the sea being about seven stades.
The weather being now favourable, Dorimachus set sail and anchored while it was still night at the mouth of the river which flows by the town.
Then those with Alexander and Dorimachus and with them Archidamus the son of Pantaleon, now took the main body of the Aetolians and approached the city by the road leading from Aegium.
The deserter with twenty picked men, leaving the path and mounting the precipice quicker than the others as he knew the ground, got in through an aqueduct and found the guard of the gate still asleep.
Having killed them before they could rise from their beds and cut through the bolts with axes, he opened the gates to the Aetolians.
They dashed brilliantly into the city, but afterwards conducted matters with such an entire lack of caution that finally the Aegeiratans were saved and they themselves destroyed.
For considering that the occupation of a foreign city is finished when one is once within the gates, they acted on this principle,