Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 46

1
<w lemma="li%2Fmnais">λίμναις</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="mureyiko%5Cs">μυρεψικὸς</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fretai">κείρεται</w> <w lemma="ka%2Flamos">κάλαμος</w>. <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="stenoi%3Ds">στενοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qate%2Frou">θατέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="%2Abro%2Fxoi">Βρόχοι</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmeno%2Fn">προσαγορευόμενόν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qate%2Frou">θατέρου</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Frra">Γέρρα</w>, <w lemma="stenh%5Cn">στενὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29polei%2Fponta">ἀπολείποντα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Frodon">πάροδον</w>.
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<w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnou">προειρημένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="au%29lw%3Dnos">αὐλῶνος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosagago%2Fmenos">προσαγαγόμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnas">παρακειμένας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>, <w lemma="parh%3Dn">παρῆν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Frra">Γέρρα</w>.
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<w lemma="katalabw%5Cn">καταλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdoton">Θεόδοτον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlo%5Cn">Αἰτωλὸν</w> <w lemma="prokateilhfo%2Fta">προκατειληφότα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Frra">Γέρρα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Abro%2Fxous">Βρόχους</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="li%2Fmnhn">λίμνην</w> <w lemma="stena%5C">στενὰ</w> <w lemma="diwxurwme%2Fnon">διωχυρωμένον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrois">τάφροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraci">χάραξι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dieilhfo%2Fta">διειληφότα</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frois">εὐκαίροις</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fzesqai">βιάζεσθαι</w>,
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<w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsxwn">πάσχων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="poiw%3Dn">ποιῶν</w> <w lemma="kaka%5C">κακὰ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdoton">Θεόδοτον</w> <w lemma="a%29ke%2Fraion">ἀκέραιον</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>.
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fas">δυσχρηστίας</w>, <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntos">προσπεσόντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Acenoi%2Ftan">Ξενοίταν</w> <w lemma="e%29ptaike%2Fnai">ἐπταικέναι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwna">Μόλωνα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnw">ἄνω</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratei%3Dn">ἐπικρατεῖν</w>, <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenos">ἀφέμενος</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fois">οἰκείοις</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmasi">πράγμασι</w> <w lemma="bohqh%2Fswn">βοηθήσων</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Acenoi%2Ftas">Ξενοίτας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29postalei%5Cs">ἀποσταλεὶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tokra%2Ftwr">αὐτοκράτωρ</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnw">ἐπάνω</w> <w lemma="proei%3Dpa">προεῖπα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzonos">μείζονος</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fas">ἐξουσίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fan">προσδοκίαν</w> <w lemma="tuxw%2Fn">τυχών</w>, <w lemma="u%28peroptikw%2Fteron">ὑπεροπτικώτερον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flois">φίλοις</w>, <w lemma="qrasu%2Fteron">θρασύτερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29xqrou%5Cs">ἐχθροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolai%3Ds">ἐπιβολαῖς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="katazeu%2Fcas">καταζεύξας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkeian">Σελεύκειαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metapemya%2Fmenos">μεταπεμψάμενος</w> <w lemma="%2Adioge%2Fnhn">Διογένην</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asousianh%3Ds">Σουσιανῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fparxon">ἔπαρχον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqia%2Fdhn">Πυθιάδην</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29eruqra%3Ds">Ἐρυθρᾶς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="e%29ch%3Dge">ἐξῆγε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fblhma">πρόβλημα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fgrin">Τίγριν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntestratope%2Fdeuse">ἀντεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w>.
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<w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakolumbw%2Fntwn">διακολυμβώντων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwnos">Μόλωνος</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dhlou%2Fntwn">δηλούντων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="diabh%3D%7C">διαβῇ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fpan">ἅπαν</w> <w lemma="a%29poneu%2Fsei">ἀπονεύσει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwnos">Μόλωνος</w> <w lemma="strato%2Fpedon">στρατόπεδον</w> — <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwni">Μόλωνι</w> <w lemma="fqonei%3Dn">φθονεῖν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basilei%3D">βασιλεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoun">εὔνουν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> — <w lemma="e%29parqei%5Cs">ἐπαρθεὶς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Acenoi%2Ftas">Ξενοίτας</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fgrin">Τίγριν</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcas">ὑποδείξας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllei">μέλλει</w> <w lemma="zeugnu%2Fnai">ζευγνύναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="nhsi%2Fzonta">νησίζοντα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fwn">ἐπιτηδείων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28toi%2Fmaze">ἡτοίμαζε</w>, <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="katafronh%3Dsai">καταφρονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwna">Μόλωνα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28podeiknume%2Fnhs">ὑποδεικνυμένης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w>,
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<w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ploi%3Da">πλοῖα</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqroize">συνήθροιζε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kath%2Frtize">κατήρτιζε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollh%5Cn">πολλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29poiei%3Dto">ἐποιεῖτο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pile%2Fcas">ἐπιλέξας</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="strateu%2Fmatos">στρατεύματος</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="eu%29rwstota%2Ftous">εὐρωστοτάτους</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pezou%2Fs">πεζούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3Ds">παρεμβολῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29polipw%5Cn">ἀπολιπὼν</w> <w lemma="%2Azeu%3Dcin">Ζεῦξιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqia%2Fdhn">Πυθιάδην</w> <w lemma="parh%3Dlqe">παρῆλθε</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%29gdoh%2Fkonta">ὀγδοήκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="u%28poka%2Ftw">ὑποκάτω</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Amo%2Flwnos">Μόλωνος</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakomi%2Fsas">διακομίσας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ploi%2Fois">πλοίοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeuse">κατεστρατοπέδευσε</w>, <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuh%3D">εὐφυῆ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="potamou%3D">ποταμοῦ</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxesqai">περιέχεσθαι</w>,
and here it is commanded on the one side by a place called Broch and on the other by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a>, the passage between being quite narrow.
After marching through this defile for several days and reducing the towns in its neighbourhood, Antiochus reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a>.
Finding that Theodotus the Aetolian had occupied <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gerrha&groupId=601&placeId=1111">Gerrha</a> and Brochi and had fortified the narrow passage by the lake with a trench and stockade, posting troops in suitable spots, he at first decided to force his way through,
but as he suffered more loss than he inflicted owing to the strength of the position and the fact that Theodotus remained as staunch as ever, he desisted from the attempt.
So that finding himself in this difficult position, when the news reached him that Xenoetas had suffered total defeat and that Molon was in possession of all the upper provinces he gave up this expedition and hastened to return to the relief of his own dominions.
For Xenoetas, when, as I stated above, he was appointed to independent command and found himself possessed of more authority than he had ever expected to hold, began to treat his friends somewhat disdainfully and to be too audacious in his schemes against his enemies.
Reaching, however, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> and sending for Diogenes, the governor of Susiana, and Pythiades, the governor of the coasts of the Persian Gulf, he led out his forces and encamped opposite the enemy with the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a> on his front.
When numerous deserters swam over from Molon\'s camp and informed him that if he crossed the river, Molon\'s whole army would declare for him — for the soldiers were jealous of Molon and exceedingly well disposed to the king — Xenoetas, encouraged by this intelligence, decided to cross the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tigris&groupId=255&placeId=510">Tigris</a>.
He first of all made a show of attempting to bridge the river at a place where it forms an island, but as he was not getting ready any of the material required for this purpose, Molon took little notice of the feint.
Xenoetas, however, was all the time engaged in collecting and fitting out boats with all possible care.
Selecting from his whole army the most courageous of the infantry and cavalry, he left Zeuxis and Pythiades in charge of the camp, and proceeded by night to a point about eighty stades below Molon's camp,
where he took his forces safely across in the boats and encamped while it was still night on an advantageous position, the great part of which was surrounded by the river and the rest protected by pools and marshes.