Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 71

1
<w lemma="%2Akamou%3Dn">Καμοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Agefrou%3Dn">Γεφροῦν</w>. <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29roi%2Fas">εὐροίας</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parakeime%2Fnhn">παρακειμένην</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arabi%2Fan">Ἀραβίαν</w> <w lemma="katoikou%3Dntes">κατοικοῦντες</w>, <w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%2Fs">αὐτούς</w>, <w lemma="o%28moqumado%5Cn">ὁμοθυμαδὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fqento">προσέθεντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w>.
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<w lemma="proslabw%5Cn">προσλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xorhgi%2Fan">χορηγίαν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katasxw%5Cn">κατασχὼν</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%3Dtin">Γαλᾶτιν</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="%2A%29abi%2Flwn">Ἀβίλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="parabebohqhko%2Ftwn">παραβεβοηθηκότων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="%2Aniki%2Fas">Νικίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29nagkai%3Dos">ἀναγκαῖος</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suggenh%5Cs">συγγενὴς</w> <w lemma="%2Amenne%2Fou">Μεννέου</w>.
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<w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnwn">καταλειπομένων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Agada%2Frwn">Γαδάρων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthti">ὀχυρότητι</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w>, <w lemma="prosstratopedeu%2Fsas">προσστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="susthsa%2Fmenos">συστησάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kateplh%2Fcato">κατεπλήξατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</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="punqano%2Fmenos">πυνθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rabbata%2Fmana">Ῥαββατάμανα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arabi%2Fas">Ἀραβίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="h%28qroisme%2Fnous">ἡθροισμένους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="porqei%3Dn">πορθεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katatre%2Fxein">κατατρέχειν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proskexwrhko%2Ftwn">προσκεχωρηκότων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ara%2Fbwn">Ἀράβων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fnt%27">πάντ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttoni">ἐλάττονι</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fmenos">θέμενος</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosestratope%2Fdeuse">προσεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="bounoi%3Ds">βουνοῖς</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
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<w lemma="perielqw%5Cn">περιελθὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqeasa%2Fmenos">συνθεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffon">λόφον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsodon">πρόσοδον</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fbaine">προσέβαινε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstato">συνίστατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mhxanhma%2Ftwn">μηχανημάτων</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fs">κατασκευάς</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29podou%5Cs">ἀποδοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Anika%2Frxw%7C">Νικάρχῳ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeodo%2Ftw%7C">Θεοδότῳ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Faze">παρεσκεύαζε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pime%2Fleian">ἐπιμέλειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fskeyin">ἐπίσκεψιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="filotimi%2Fas">φιλοτιμίας</w>.
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<w lemma="pollh%5Cn">πολλὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnwn">ποιουμένων</w> <w lemma="spoudh%5Cn">σπουδὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqeo%2Fdoton">Θεόδοτον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkarxon">Νίκαρχον</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="a%28millwme%2Fnwn">ἁμιλλωμένων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fteros">πότερος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="fqa%2Fsei">φθάσει</w> <w lemma="katabalw%5Cn">καταβαλὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prokei%2Fmenon">προκείμενον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w>, <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prosdoki%2Fan">προσδοκίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="pesei%3Dn">πεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fntos">συμβάντος</w> <w lemma="e%29poiou%3Dnto">ἐποιοῦντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="prosbola%5Cs">προσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fferon">προσέφερον</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fna">οὐδένα</w> <w lemma="paralei%2Fpontes">παραλείποντες</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>.
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<w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzontes">καταπειράζοντες</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fnuon">ἤνυον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%3Ds">ἐπιβολῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="sundedramhko%2Ftwn">συνδεδραμηκότων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftwn">αἰχμαλώτων</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcantos">ὑποδείξαντος</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnomon">ὑπόνομον</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fbainon">κατέβαινον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28drei%2Fan">ὑδρείαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="poliorkou%2Fmenoi">πολιορκούμενοι</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29narrh%2Fcantes">ἀναρρήξαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Ffracan">ἐνέφραξαν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Flh%7C">ὕλῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqois">λίθοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnei">γένει</w>.
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<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunei%2Fcantes">συνείξαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nudri%2Fan">ἀνυδρίαν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fdosan">παρέδοσαν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%2Fs">αὑτούς</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fsas">κυριεύσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rabbatama%2Fnwn">Ῥαββαταμάνων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipe">ἀπέλιπε</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkarxon">Νίκαρχον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%28rmozou%2Fshs:">ἁρμοζούσης·</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ippo%2Floxon">Ἱππόλοχον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Akerai%2Fan">Κεραίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29posta%2Fntas">ἀποστάντας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="pentakisxili%2Fwn">πεντακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="e%29capostei%2Flas">ἐξαποστείλας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Asama%2Freian">Σαμάρειαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcas">συντάξας</w> <w lemma="prokaqh%3Dsqai">προκαθῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="prokataskeua%2Fzein">προκατασκευάζειν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="tattome%2Fnois">ταττομένοις</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29ne%2Fzeuce">ἀνέζευξε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai+%2Fdos">Πτολεμαΐδος</w>, <w lemma="e%29kei%3D">ἐκεῖ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="diegnwkw%5Cs">διεγνωκὼς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="paraxeimasi%2Fan">παραχειμασίαν</w>.
The consequence of this series of successes was that the Arab tribes in the neighbourhood, inciting each other to this step, unanimously adhered to him.
Strengthened by the prospect of their help and by the supplies with which they furnished him, he advanced and occupying <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Galatis&groupId=597&placeId=1107">Galatis</a>, made himself master also of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Abila&groupId=267&placeId=522">Abila</a> and the force which had come to assist in its defence under the command of Nicias, a close friend and relative of Menneas.
<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Gadara&groupId=593&placeId=380">Gadara</a> still remained, a town considered to be the strongest in that district, and sitting down before it and bringing siege batteries to bear on it he very soon terrified it into submission.
In the next place, hearing that a considerable force of the enemy was collected at Rabbatama in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Arabia&groupId=349&placeId=671">Arabia</a> and was occupied in overrunning and pillaging the country of the Arabs who had joined him, he dismissed all other projects and starting off at once encamped under the hill on which the town lies.
After making a circuit of the hill and observing that it was only accessible at two spots, he approached it there and chose those places for setting up his battering engines.
Placing some of them in charge of Nicarchus and others under Theodotus, he devoted himself henceforth to directing and superintending their respective activities.
Both Theodotus and Nicarchus displayed the greatest zeal, and there was continuous rivalry as to which would first cast down the wall in front of his machines; so that very shortly and before it was expected, the wall gave way in both places. After this they kept delivering assaults both by night and day, neglecting no opportunity and employing all their force.
Notwithstanding these frequent attempts they met with no success owing to the strength of the force collected in the town, until a prisoner revealed to them the position of the underground passage by which the besieged went down to draw water. This they burst into and filled it up with wood, stones, and all such kinds of things,
upon which those in the city yielded owing to the want of water and surrendered.
Having thus got possession of Rabbatama, Antiochus left Nicarchus in it with an adequate garrison, and now sending the revolted leaders Hippolochus and Ceraeas with a force of five thousand foot to the district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samaria&groupId=941&placeId=81">Samaria</a>, with orders to protect the conquered territory and assure the safety of all the troops he had left in it,
he returned with his army to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ptolemais&groupId=918&placeId=271">Ptolemais</a>, where he had decided to pass the winter.