Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 59

1
<w lemma="%2Aou%29">Οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxos">Ἀντίοχος</w> <w lemma="kriqe%2Fntwn">κριθέντων</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="%2Adiognh%2Ftw%7C">Διογνήτῳ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="naua%2Frxw%7C">ναυάρχῳ</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleukei%2Fas">Σελευκείας</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apamei%2Fas">Ἀπαμείας</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsas">ὁρμήσας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratia%3Ds">στρατιᾶς</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w> <w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="prosestratope%2Fdeuse">προσεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppo%2Fdromon">ἱππόδρομον</w>.
2
<w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdoton">Θεόδοτον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28mio%2Flion">ἡμιόλιον</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fshs">ἁρμοζούσης</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhn">Κοίλην</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fan">Συρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="katalhyo%2Fmenon">καταληψόμενον</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="stena%5C">στενὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokaqhso%2Fmenon">προκαθησόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w>.
3
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleukei%2Fas">Σελευκείας</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsin">θέσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>.
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<w lemma="keime%2Fnhs">κειμένης</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="%2Akiliki%2Fas">Κιλικίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkhs">Φοινίκης</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fros">ὄρος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="pamme%2Fgeqes">παμμέγεθες</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kalou%3Dsi">καλοῦσι</w> <w lemma="%2Akorufai%3Don:">Κορυφαῖον·</w>
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<w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28spe%2Fras">ἑσπέρας</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="prosklu%2Fzei">προσκλύζει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="katalh%3Dgon">καταλῆγον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnou">κειμένου</w> <w lemma="%2Aku%2Fprou">Κύπρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afoini%2Fkhs">Φοινίκης</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%29ou%3Ds">ἠοῦς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresin">μέρεσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Frkeitai">ὑπέρκειται</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antioxe%2Fwn">Ἀντιοχέων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleuke%2Fwn">Σελευκέων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmasi">κλίμασι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkeian">Σελεύκειαν</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="diezeugme%2Fnhn">διεζευγμένην</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fraggi">φάραγγι</w> <w lemma="koi%2Flh%7C">κοίλῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusba%2Ftw%7C">δυσβάτῳ</w>, <w lemma="kaqh%2Fkousan">καθήκουσαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="periklwme%2Fnhn">περικλωμένην</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="krhmnoi%3Ds">κρημνοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Ftrais">πέτραις</w> <w lemma="a%29porrw%3Dci">ἀπορρῶξι</w> <w lemma="periexome%2Fnhn">περιεχομένην</w>.
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<w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="neu%2Fousan">νεύουσαν</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Fria">ἐμπόρια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proa%2Fsteion">προάστειον</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w>, <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="teteixisme%2Fnon">τετειχισμένον</w>.
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<w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpan">σύμπαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ku%2Ftos">κύτος</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxesi">τείχεσι</w> <w lemma="polutele%2Fsin">πολυτελέσιν</w> <w lemma="h%29sfa%2Flistai">ἠσφάλισται</w>, <w lemma="keko%2Fsmhtai">κεκόσμηται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="naoi%3Ds">ναοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kodomhma%2Ftwn">οἰκοδομημάτων</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kprepw%3Ds">ἐκπρεπῶς</w>.
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<w lemma="pro%2Fsbasin">πρόσβασιν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="pleura%5Cn">πλευρὰν</w> <w lemma="klimakwth%5Cn">κλιμακωτὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoi%2Fhton">χειροποίητον</w>, <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fmasi">ἐγκλίμασι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="skaiw%2Fmasi">σκαιώμασι</w> <w lemma="puknoi%3Ds">πυκνοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%2Fsi">συνεχέσι</w> <w lemma="dieilhmme%2Fnhn">διειλημμένην</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenos">καλούμενος</w> <w lemma="%2A%29oro%2Fnths">Ὀρόντης</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cs">ποταμὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kbola%2Fs">ἐκβολάς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnwn">λαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fbanon">Λίβανον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antili%2Fbanon">Ἀντιλίβανον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29amu%2Fkhs">Ἀμύκης</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fon">πεδίον</w>, <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28knei%3Dtai">ἱκνεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxeian">Ἀντιόχειαν</w>,
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<w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenos">φερόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="u%28podexo%2Fmenos">ὑποδεχόμενος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrwpei%2Fas">ἀνθρωπείας</w> <w lemma="lu%2Fmas">λύμας</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28eu%2Fmatos">ῥεύματος</w>, <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleukei%2Fas">Σελευκείας</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dtai">ποιεῖται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29kbolh%5Cn">ἐκβολὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
As soon as this decision had been taken, Antiochus ordered his admiral Diognetus to sail to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>, while he himself, leaving <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Apamea&groupId=340&placeId=660">Apamea</a> with his army, came and encamped at the hippodrome about five stades from the town.
He sent off Theodotus Hemiolius with a sufficient force to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a> to occupy the narrow passage and protect him on that side.
The situation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> and the nature of its surroundings are as follows.
It lies on the sea between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cilicia&groupId=467&placeId=350">Cilicia</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phoenicia&groupId=894&placeId=464">Phoenicia</a>, and above it rises a very high mountain called Coryphaeum,
washed on its western side by the extreme waters of the sea separating <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Cyprus&groupId=119&placeId=356">Cyprus</a> from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Phoenicia&groupId=894&placeId=464">Phoenicia</a>, but overlooking with its eastern slopes the territories of Antioch and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a> lies on its southern slope, separated from it by a deep and difficult ravine. The town descends in a series of broken terraces to the sea, and is surrounded on most sides by cliffs and precipitous rocks.
On the level ground at the foot of the slope which descends towards the sea lies the business quarter and a suburb defended by very strong walls.
The whole of the main city is similarly fortified by walls of very costly construction and is splendidly adorned with temples and other fine buildings.
On the side looking to the sea it can only be approached by a flight of steps cut in the rock with frequent turns and twists all the way up.
Not far from the town is the mouth of the river Orontes, which rising in the neighbourhood of Libanus and Antilibanus and traversing what is known as the plain of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Amyce&groupId=322&placeId=626">Amyce</a>, passes through Antioch
carrying off all the sewage of that town by the force of its current and finally falling into the Cyprian Sea near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Seleucia&groupId=233&placeId=484">Seleucia</a>.