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Book 5 - Chapter 63

1
<w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>. <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunedreu%2Fsantes">συνεδρεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aswsi%2Fbion">Σωσίβιον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="proestw%3Dtes">προεστῶτες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fas">βασιλείας</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndexome%2Fnwn">ἐνδεχομένων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon">ἔλαβον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn">παρόν</w>.
2
<w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Fsanto">ἐβουλεύσαντο</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%2Fn">παρασκευήν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="diapresbeuo%2Fmenoi">διαπρεσβευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kateklu%2Fein">κατεκλύειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>, <w lemma="sunergou%3Dntes">συνεργοῦντες</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfasin">ἔμφασιν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="prou+parxou%2Fsh%7C">προϋπαρχούσῃ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%2Fou">Πτολεμαίου</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyei:">διαλήψει·</w>
3
<w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="polemei%3Dn">πολεμεῖν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsantos">τολμήσαντος</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgou">λόγου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="dida%2Fcontos">διδάξοντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pei%2Fsontos">πείσοντος</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29posth%3Dnai">ἀποστῆναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akoi%2Flhn">Κοίλην</w> <w lemma="%2Asuri%2Fan">Συρίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
4
<w lemma="kriqe%2Fntwn">κριθέντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29agaqokle%2Fa">Ἀγαθοκλέα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aswsi%2Fbion">Σωσίβιον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="taxqe%2Fntes">ταχθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpempon">ἐξέπεμπον</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fas">πρεσβείας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>.
5
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diapemya%2Fmenoi">διαπεμψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rodi%2Fous">Ῥοδίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fous">Βυζαντίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akuzikhnou%2Fs">Κυζικηνούς</w>, <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlou%2Fs">Αἰτωλούς</w>, <w lemma="e%29pespa%2Fsanto">ἐπεσπάσαντο</w> <w lemma="presbei%2Fas">πρεσβείας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w>.
6
<w lemma="ai%28%5C">αἳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenai">παραγενόμεναι</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdosan">ἔδοσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%2Fs">ἀφορμάς</w>, <w lemma="diapresbeuo%2Fmenai">διαπρεσβευόμεναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frous">ἀμφοτέρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="basilei%3Ds">βασιλεῖς</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrofh%5Cn">ἀναστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou">πολέμου</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fs">παρασκευάς</w>.
7
<w lemma="tau%2Ftais">ταύταις</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunexe%5Cs">συνεχὲς</w> <w lemma="e%29xrhma%2Ftizon">ἐχρημάτιζον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Ame%2Fmfei">Μέμφει</w> <w lemma="prokaqh%2Fmenoi">προκαθήμενοι</w>, <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w> <w lemma="a%29pede%2Fxonto">ἀπεδέχοντο</w>, <w lemma="filanqrw%2Fpws">φιλανθρώπως</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29panth%2Fseis">ἀπαντήσεις</w>.
8
<w lemma="a%29nekalou%3Dnto">ἀνεκαλοῦντο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqroizon">συνήθροιζον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin">πόλεσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="misqodotoume%2Fnous">μισθοδοτουμένους</w>.
9
<w lemma="e%29cape%2Fstellon">ἐξαπέστελλον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="cenolo%2Fgous">ξενολόγους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fazon">παρεσκεύαζον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prou+pa%2Frxousi">προϋπάρχουσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="paraginome%2Fnois">παραγινομένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="sitarxi%2Fas">σιταρχίας</w>.
10
<w lemma="w%28sau%2Ftws">ὡσαύτως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto">ἐγίνοντο</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%2Fn">παρασκευήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29na%5C">ἀνὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="diatre%2Fxontes">διατρέχοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndreian">Ἀλεξάνδρειαν</w>, <w lemma="i%28%2Fna">ἵνα</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29lli%2Fph%7C">ἐλλίπῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xorhgiw%3Dn">χορηγιῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnas">προκειμένας</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>.
11
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fpla">ὅπλα</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29klogh%5Cn">ἐκλογὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diai%2Fresin">διαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29exekra%2Ftei">Ἐχεκράτει</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqettalw%3D%7C">Θετταλῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Afoci%2Fda%7C">Φοξίδᾳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Amelitaiei%3D">Μελιταιεῖ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w>,
12
<w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rulo%2Fxw%7C">Εὐρυλόχῳ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Fgnhti">Μάγνητι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aswkra%2Ftei">Σωκράτει</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="%2Aboiwti%2Fw%7C:">Βοιωτίῳ·</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aknwpi%2Fas">Κνωπίας</w> <w lemma="%2A%29allariw%2Fths">Ἀλλαριώτης</w>.
13
<w lemma="eu%29kairo%2Ftata">εὐκαιρότατα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pela%2Fbonto">ἐπελάβοντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%2Ftines">οἵτινες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmhtri%2Fw%7C">Δημητρίῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnw%7C">Ἀντιγόνῳ</w> <w lemma="sustrateuo%2Fmenoi">συστρατευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrois">ὑπαίθροις</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w>.
14
<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="paralabo%2Fntes">παραλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29ndexome%2Fnws">ἐνδεχομένως</w> <w lemma="e%29xei%2Frizon">ἐχείριζον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratiwtikw%3Ds">στρατιωτικῶς</w>.
At length, however, Agathocles and Sosibius, who were then the king's chief ministers, took counsel together and decided on the only course possible under present circumstances.
For they resolved to occupy themselves with preparations for war, but in the meanwhile by negotiations to make Antiochus relax his activity, pretending to fortify him in the opinion of Ptolemy he had all along entertained,
which was that he would not venture to fight, but would by overtures and through his friends attempt to reason with him and persuade him to evacuate <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Coele-Syria&groupId=484&placeId=908">Coele-Syria</a>.
On arriving at this decision Agathocles and Sosibius, who were charged with the conduct of the matter, began to communicate with Antiochus, and dispatching embassies at the same time to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhodes&groupId=931&placeId=1665">Rhodes</a>, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>, Cyzicus, and Aetolia invited these states to send missions to further the negotiations.
The arrival of these missions, which went backwards and forwards between the two kings, gave them ample facilities for gaining time to prosecute at leisure their warlike preparations.
Establishing themselves at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Memphis&groupId=752&placeId=1371">Memphis</a> they continued to receive these missions as well as Antiochus\' own envoys, replying to all in conciliatory terms.
Meanwhile they recalled and assembled at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> the mercenaries in their employment in foreign parts,
sending out recruiting officers also and getting ready provisions for the troops they already had and for those they were raising.
They also attended to all other preparations, paying constant visit to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Alexandria&groupId=1063&placeId=1868">Alexandria</a> by turns to see that none of the supplies required for their purpose were wanting.
The task of providing arms, selecting the men and organizing them they entrusted to Echecrates the Thessalian and Phoxidas of Melita,
assisted by Eurylochus the Magnesian, Socrates the Boeotian, and Cnopias of Allaria.
They were most well advised in availing themselves of the services of these men, who having served under Demetrius and Antigonus had some notion of the reality of war of campaigning in general.
Taking the troops in hand they got them into shape by correct military methods.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
5.57.0 - 5.87.0
<p rend="Plain Text">The Fourth Syrian War (219–217):Contemporary Events in Asia Minor</p>
Specifics
5.63.1 - 5.63.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα καὶ Σωσίβιον</w>:</emph> on Sosibius see 35. 7 n. On Agathocles, the son of Oenanthe (xiv. 11. 1), see xv. 25 ff.; according to the Ravenna scholia to Aristophanes, Thesm. 1059, he wrote a commentary to Philopator's tragedy Adonis. </p>
5.63.6 - 5.63.6
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διαπρεσβευόμεναι πρὸς ἀμφοτέρους τοὺς βασιλεῖς</w>:</emph> 'going backwards and forwards between the two kings'; <w lang="el-GR">διαπρεσβεύεσθαι</w> in the sense 'go on an embassy' is rare, and given in neither Schweighaeuser's Lexicon Polybianum nor in LSJ. </p>
5.63.8 - 5.63.8
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς μισθοφόρους τοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἔξω πόλεσιν</w>:</emph> i.e. Ptolemaic possessions in Asia Minor and elsewhere; cf. 34. 6–8. </p>
5.63.9 - 5.63.9
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ξενολόγους</w>:</emph> on the activities of such recruiting officers, who frequently covered vast areas in the search for mercenaries, see Griffith, 254–63; Launey, i. 30–32. </p>
5.63.11 - 5.63.11
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὴν τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκλογὴν καὶ διαίρεσιν</w>:</emph> 'the choice of men and their distribution'; the method of <w lang="el-GR">διαίρεσις</w> is described in 64. 1. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> Mercenary captains. These men had been attracted from Antigonid service by better prospects in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a>. The three Thessalians and the <milestone unit="page" n="588">[588]</milestone> Boeotian may have served in Antigonid armies as allies, and the Cretan Cnopias may have gone to Greece under some such treaty as those between Doson and Eleutherna and Hierapytna (ii. 66. 6 n.). Mahaffy (Hermath., 1899, 147) makes an interesting comparison with the exiled Napoleonic officers who organized the Egyptian army which cleared the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> of Greeks and subsequently swept the Turks from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syria&groupId=995&placeId=502">Syria</a> on behalf of Ibrahim Pasha. </p>

Commentary