Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 63

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<w lemma="doni%2Fan">δονίαν</w>. <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsas">ἀκούσας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoneiki%2Fas">φιλονεικίας</w> <w lemma="ta%29pi%2Fxeira">τἀπίχειρα</w> <w lemma="kekomisme%2Fnos">κεκομισμένος</w>, <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkei">ἐπολιόρκει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fambrakon">Ἄμβρακον</w>.
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<w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fmasin">χώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="loiph%3D%7C">λοιπῇ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3D%7C">παρασκευῇ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kateplh%2Fcato">κατεπλήξατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsais">πάσαις</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29fei%5Cs">ἀφεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttontas">φυλάττοντας</w> <w lemma="u%28pospo%2Fndous">ὑποσπόνδους</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumi%2Fan">ἐπιθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwse">ἐπλήρωσε</w>, <w lemma="paradou%5Cs">παραδοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fambrakon">Ἄμβρακον</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Axara%2Fdran">Χαράδραν</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="diabh%3Dnai">διαβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiko%5Cn">Ἀμβρακικὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="stenw%2Ftato%2Fn">στενώτατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faktion">Ἄκτιον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpos">κόλπος</w> <w lemma="e%29kpi%2Fptei">ἐκπίπτει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikelikou%3D">Σικελικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fas">Ἀκαρνανίας</w> <w lemma="stenw%3D%7C">στενῷ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> — <w lemma="lei%2Fpei">λείπει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> —
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<w lemma="probai%2Fnwn">προβαίνων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaian">μεσόγαιαν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="propi%2Fptei">προπίπτει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="triako%2Fsia">τριακόσια</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia:">στάδια·</w> <w lemma="diori%2Fzei">διορίζει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktwn">ἄρκτων</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fas">μεσημβρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="peraiw%2Fsas">περαιώσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="%2Afoiti%2Fas">Φοιτίας</w>, <w lemma="sumpareilhfw%5Cs">συμπαρειληφὼς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsas">περιστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosbola%5Cs">προσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%5Cs">ἐνεργοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktika%5Cs">καταπληκτικὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w>, <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fan">ὁμολογίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29fei%5Cs">ἀφεὶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pospo%2Fndous">ὑποσπόνδους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piou%2Fshs">ἐπιούσης</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="menou%2Fshs">μενούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29nalw%2Ftou">ἀναλώτου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="bohqou%3Dntes">βοηθοῦντες</w> <w lemma="pentako%2Fsioi">πεντακόσιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn:">Αἰτωλῶν·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="proaisqano%2Fmenos">προαισθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="kaqei%5Cs">καθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteine">ἀπέκτεινε</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="sitometrh%2Fsas">σιτομετρήσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tria%2Fkonq%27">τριάκονθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="perikatalhfqe%2Fntos">περικαταληφθέντος</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> — <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Afoiti%2Fais">Φοιτίαις</w> <w lemma="eu%28re%2Fqh">εὑρέθη</w> <w lemma="sunhqroisme%2Fnon">συνηθροισμένον</w> — <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Astratikh%2Fn">Στρατικήν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeuse">κατεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axelw%3D%7Con">Ἀχελῷον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28rmw%2Fmenos">ὁρμώμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pecie%2Fnai">ἐπεξιέναι</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntos">τολμῶντος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
Philip received the news from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, and having thus at once reaped the fruits of the folly and selfishness of the Epirots, began to besiege Ambracus.
Pushing on his earthworks and other operations energetically he soon intimidated the defenders and in forty days captured the place.
Letting the garrison, consisting of five hundred Aetolians, depart on terms, he satisfied the desire of the Epirots by handing over Ambracus to them,
and himself advanced with his army by way of Charadra, with the object of crossing the gulf of Ambracia at its narrowest point by the Acarnanian temple called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Actium&groupId=280&placeId=552">Actium</a>.
For this gulf is an inlet of the Sicilian sea between Epirus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, entered by a quite narrow mouth,
less than five stades across, but as it advances into the interior it expands to a width of a hundred stades from the sea. It divides Epirus from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, Epirus lying north of it and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> south.
After taking his army across at its mouth and passing through <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> Philip reached the Aetolian city called Phoetiae, having been reinforced by two thousand Acarnanian foot and two hundred horse.
He encamped before this city and delivered for two days a series of assaults so vigorous and formidable that the Aetolian garrison surrendered upon conditions and were dismissed unhurt.
During the following night a force of five hundred Aetolians arrived to help under the impression that the city still held out. The king got word of their approach and, placing an ambuscade in a favourable spot, killed the greater number of them and took all the rest prisoners, except a very few.
After this, having distributed enough of the captured corn to his troops to last thirty days — a large quantity having been found stored at Phoetiae — he advanced, marching on the territory of Stratus.
Stopping at a distance of ten stades from the town he encamped by the river Achelous, and making forays from there, laid waste the country unopposed, none of the enemy venturing to come out to attack him.