Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 70

1
<w lemma="%2Apoihsa%2Fmenos">Ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arkadi%2Fas">Ἀρκαδίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nadeca%2Fmenos">ἀναδεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="xio%2Fnas">χιόνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="talaipwri%2Fas">ταλαιπωρίας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29olu%2Fgurton">Ὀλύγυρτον</w> <w lemma="u%28perbolai%3Ds">ὑπερβολαῖς</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fth%7C">τρίτῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28merw%3Dn">ἡμερῶν</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akafu%2Fas">Καφύας</w>.
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<w lemma="qerapeu%2Fsas">θεραπεύσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosanalabw%5Cn">προσαναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faraton">Ἄρατον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="new%2Fteron">νεώτερον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="sunhqroisme%2Fnous">συνηθροισμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w>, <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akleitori%2Fas">Κλειτορίας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aywfi%3Ddos">Ψωφῖδος</w>, <w lemma="sunaqroi%2Fzwn">συναθροίζων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="dieporeu%2Feto">διεπορεύετο</w> <w lemma="be%2Flh">βέλη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w>.
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<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aywfi%5Cs">Ψωφὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologou%2Fmenon">ὁμολογούμενον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="palaio%5Cn">παλαιὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arka%2Fdwn">Ἀρκάδων</w> <w lemma="kti%2Fsma">κτίσμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29azani%2Fdos">Ἀζανίδος</w>, <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sumpa%2Fshs">συμπάσης</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaion">μεσόγαιον</w>, <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arkadi%2Fas">Ἀρκαδίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="dusma%5Cs">δυσμὰς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frasi">πέρασι</w>, <w lemma="suna%2Fptousa">συνάπτουσα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29sxatia%5Cs">ἐσχατιὰς</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dsi">κατοικοῦσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prosesperi%2Fwn">προσεσπερίων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn:">Ἀχαιῶν·</w>
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<w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fra%7C">χώρᾳ</w>, <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fesqai">πολιτεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="au%29th%2Fn">αὐτήν</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="tritai%3Dos">τριταῖος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akafuw%3Dn">Καφυῶν</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w>, <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeue">κατεστρατοπέδευε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fnanti">ἀπέναντι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="u%28perkeime%2Fnous">ὑπερκειμένους</w> <w lemma="bounou%2Fs">βουνούς</w>, <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="katopteu%2Fein">κατοπτεύειν</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>.
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<w lemma="sunqewrw%3Dn">συνθεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aywfi%3Ddos">Ψωφῖδος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="h%29porei%3Dto">ἠπορεῖτο</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28spe%2Fras">ἑσπέρας</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="katafe%2Fretai">καταφέρεται</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbros">λάβρος</w> <w lemma="xeima%2Frrous">χειμάρρους</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fs">ποταμός</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xeimw%3Dnos">χειμῶνος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fbato%2Fs">ἄβατός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="poiei%3D">ποιεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="e%29xura%5Cn">ἐχυρὰν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="duspro%2Fsodon">δυσπρόσοδον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</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="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnw%7C">χρόνῳ</w> <w lemma="katei%2Frgastai">κατείργασται</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenos">φερόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fwn">ὑπερδεξίων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
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<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29ou%3Ds">ἠοῦς</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eru%2Fmanqon">Ἐρύμανθον</w>, <w lemma="me%2Fgan">μέγαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="la%2Fbron">λάβρον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cs">πολὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="teqru%2Flhtai">τεθρύληται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xeima%2Frrou">χειμάρρου</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontos">προσπίπτοντος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eru%2Fmanqon">Ἐρύμανθον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pifanei%2Fas">ἐπιφανείας</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="perilambanome%2Fnas">περιλαμβανομένας</w> <w lemma="a%29sfali%2Fzesqai">ἀσφαλίζεσθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon:">τρόπον·</w>
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<w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loiph%3D%7C">λοιπῇ</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frkton">ἄρκτον</w>, <w lemma="bouno%5Cs">βουνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29rumno%5Cs">ἐρυμνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="teteixisme%2Fnos">τετειχισμένος</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fkras">ἄκρας</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuou%3Ds">εὐφυοῦς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>. <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxh">τείχη</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fronta">διαφέροντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="boh%2Fqeian">βοήθειαν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hlei%2Fwn">Ἠλείων</w> <w lemma="ei%29speptwke%2Fnai">εἰσπεπτωκέναι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29ripi%2Fdan">Εὐριπίδαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fugh%3Ds">φυγῆς</w> <w lemma="diaseswsme%2Fnon">διασεσωσμένον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w>.
Marching through Arcadia and encountering heavy snowstorms and many hardships in crossing the pass of Mount Olygyrtus, he reached Caphyae in the night of the third day.
Having rested his troops here for two days and being joined by the young Aratus and the Achaeans he had collected, so that his whole force was now about ten thousand strong, he advanced on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Psophis&groupId=917&placeId=1646">Psophis</a> through the territory of Cleitor, collecting missiles and ladders from the towns he passed through.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Psophis&groupId=917&placeId=1646">Psophis</a> is an undisputably Arcadian foundation of great antiquity in the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Azanis&groupId=385&placeId=725">Azanis</a> lying in the interior of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> taken as a whole, but on the western borders of Arcadia itself and coterminous with the up-country of western <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>.
It commands with great advantage the territory of the Eleans, with whom it was then politically united.
Philip, reaching it in three days from Caphyae, encamped on the hills opposite, from which once can securely view the whole town and its environs.
When he observed the great strength of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Psophis&groupId=917&placeId=1646">Psophis</a>, the king was at a loss what to do;
for on its western side there descends a violent torrent, impassable for the greater part of the winter, and rendering the city very strongly protected and difficult of approach on this side, owing to the depth of the bed it has gradually formed for itself, descending as it does from a height.
On the eastern side of the town flows the Eymantus, a large and rapid stream of which many fables are told by various authors.
The torrent falls into the Erymanthus to the south of the city, so that three faces of the city are surrounded and protected by the rivers in the manner I have described.
On the fourth or northern side rises a steep hill protected by walls, serving very efficiently as a natural citadel. The town has also walls of unusual size and admirable construction,
and besides all these advantages it had just received a reinforcement of Eleans, and Euripidas was present having taken refuge there after his flight.