Polybius, Histories

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Book 5 - Chapter 9

1
<w lemma="%2Akai%5C">Καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fws">ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmou:">πολέμου·</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="e%29pra%2Ftteto:">ἐπράττετο·</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="oi%29%3Dda">οἶδα</w>.
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<w lemma="labo%2Fntes">λαβόντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%2Fw%7C">Δίῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Adwdw%2Fnh%7C">Δωδώνῃ</w> <w lemma="pepragme%2Fnwn">πεπραγμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="stoa%5Cs">στοὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nepi%2Fmprasan">ἐνεπίμπρασαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29naqhma%2Ftwn">ἀναθημάτων</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiron">διέφθειρον</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="polutelh%3D">πολυτελῆ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuai%3Ds">κατασκευαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelei%2Fas">ἐπιμελείας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="teteuxo%2Fta">τετευχότα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhs">δαπάνης</w>.
3
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="puri%5C">πυρὶ</w> <w lemma="katelumh%2Fnanto">κατελυμήναντο</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%29rofa%2Fs">ὀροφάς</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fskayan">κατέσκαψαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdafos">ἔδαφος</w>. <w lemma="a%29ne%2Ftreyan">ἀνέτρεψαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndria%2Fntas">ἀνδριάντας</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttous">ἐλάττους</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fwn:">δισχιλίων·</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="die%2Ffqeiran">διέφθειραν</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsoi">ὅσοι</w> <w lemma="qew%3Dn">θεῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafa%5Cs">ἐπιγραφὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fpous">τύπους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon:">εἶχον·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsxonto">ἀπέσχοντο</w>.
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<w lemma="kate%2Fgrafon">κατέγραφον</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="toi%2Fxous">τοίχους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="perifero%2Fmenon">περιφερόμενον</w> <w lemma="sti%2Fxon">στίχον</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pidecio%2Fthtos">ἐπιδεξιότητος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asa%2Fmou">Σάμου</w> <w lemma="fuome%2Fnhs">φυομένης</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ui%28o%5Cs">υἱὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Axrusogo%2Fnou">Χρυσογόνου</w>, <w lemma="su%2Fntrofos">σύντροφος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sti%2Fxos">στίχος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28ra%3D%7Cs">ὁρᾷς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="di%3Don">δῖον</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="be%2Flos">βέλος</w> <w lemma="die%2Fptato">διέπτατο</w>;
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fsth">μεγίστη</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fstasis">παράστασις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flous">φίλους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dikai%2Fws">δικαίως</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fttontas">πράττοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqhko%2Fntws">καθηκόντως</w>, <w lemma="a%29munome%2Fnous">ἀμυνομένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fois">ὁμοίοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Adi%3Don">Δῖον</w> <w lemma="a%29se%2Fbeian">ἀσέβειαν</w>. <w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>.
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<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%29rqo%5Cs">ὀρθὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w>, <w lemma="skopei%3Dn">σκοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsw%7C">μέσῳ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fresti">πάρεστι</w>, <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Frois">ἑτέροις</w> <w lemma="tisi%2Fn">τισίν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="paradei%2Fgmasin">παραδείγμασιν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcews">παρατάξεως</w> <w lemma="nikh%2Fsas">νικήσας</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxh%7C">μάχῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhn">Κλεομένην</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fa">βασιλέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frths">Σπάρτης</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%2Fs">αὐτός</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%29%5Cn">ὢν</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frios">κύριος</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Floito">βούλοιτο</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29mpoliteuome%2Fnois">ἐμπολιτευομένοις</w>, <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%3Dxe">ἀπεῖχε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Ds">κακῶς</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="gegono%2Ftas">γεγονότας</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="a%29podou%5Cs">ἀποδοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrion">πάτριον</w> <w lemma="poli%2Fteuma">πολίτευμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="megi%2Fstwn">μεγίστων</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3Dn">ἀγαθῶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftios">αἴτιος</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinh%3D%7C">κοινῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fois">Λακεδαιμονίοις</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fan">οἰκείαν</w> <w lemma="a%29phlla%2Fgh">ἀπηλλάγη</w>.
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<w lemma="toigarou%3Dn">τοιγαροῦν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29kri%2Fqh">ἐκρίθη</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29erge%2Fths">εὐεργέτης</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metalla%2Fcas">μεταλλάξας</w> <w lemma="swth%2Fr">σωτήρ</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fois">Λακεδαιμονίοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhsin">Ἕλλησιν</w> <w lemma="a%29qana%2Ftou">ἀθανάτου</w> <w lemma="te%2Fteuxe">τέτευχε</w> <w lemma="timh%3Ds">τιμῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fchs">δόξης</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w>
Up to now all that had been done was right and fair according to the laws of war, but what shall I say of that which followed?
For mindful of what the Aetolians had done at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dium&groupId=542&placeId=1019">Dium</a> and Dodona they burnt the colonnades and destroyed the rest of the rich and artistic votive offerings, some of which were most elaborate and expensive works.
And not only did they damage the roofs of these buildings by the fire, but razed them to the ground. They also threw down the statues numbering not less than two thousand and destroyed many of them, sparing however, such as represented gods or bore inscribed dedications to gods.
On the walls they scribbled the often quoted verse due to Samus, son of Chrysogonus and a foster-brother of the king, whose talent was beginning already at this date to reveal itself:
and the king and his intimates indeed had a perverse conviction that they were acting rightly and properly in thus retaliating upon the Aetolians for their sacrilegious treatment of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Dium&groupId=542&placeId=1019">Dium</a>.
I am quite of the opposite opinion, and we have the material at hand for judging if I am right or not, by taking examples not from elsewhere but from the previous history of this royal house.
When Antigonus after defeating Cleomenes king of the Lacedaemonians in a pitched battle became master of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>
and had absolute authority to treat the city and citizens as he chose, so far from injuring those who were at his mercy, he restored to them on the contrary their national constitution and their liberty, and did not return to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> before he had conferred the greatest public and private benefits on the Lacedaemonians.
Not only therefore was he regarded as their benefactor at the time but after his death he was venerated as their preserver, and it was not in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> alone but throughout Greece that he received undying honour and glory in acknowledgement of this conduct.