Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 13

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<w lemma="%2Apa%2Flai">Πάλαι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dianoi%2Fa%7C">διανοίᾳ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fsson">Λίσσον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fn">ὤν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spouda%2Fzwn">σπουδάζων</w> <w lemma="e%29gkrath%5Cs">ἐγκρατὴς</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhse">ὥρμησε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews:">δυνάμεως·</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w>,
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<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="stena%2F">στενά</w>, <w lemma="kate%2Fzeuce">κατέζευξε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arda%2Fcanon">Ἀρδάξανον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="makra%5Cn">μακρὰν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fssou">Λίσσου</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fbolon">περίβολον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaion">μεσόγαιον</w> <w lemma="h%29sfalisme%2Fnon">ἠσφαλισμένον</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsei">φύσει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3D%7C">κατασκευῇ</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="parakei%2Fmenon">παρακείμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Ftasin">ἀνάτασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="e%29rumno%2Fthta">ἐρυμνότητα</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="fantasi%2Fan">φαντασίαν</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fsai">ἐλπίσαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="kra%2Ftos">κράτος</w> <w lemma="e%28lei%3Dn">ἑλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsth">ἀπέστη</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Flpise">ἀπήλπισε</w>.
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<w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fssou">Λίσσου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akro%2Flisson">Ἀκρόλισσον</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fpodos">πρόποδος</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmmetron">σύμμετρον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxon">ὑπάρχον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dienoh%2Fqh">διενοήθη</w> <w lemma="susthsa%2Fmenos">συστησάμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolismo%5Cn">ἀκροβολισμὸν</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="strathgh%2Fmati">στρατηγήματι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fw%7C">οἰκείῳ</w>.
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<w lemma="dou%5Cs">δοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fpausin">ἀνάπαυσιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fsi">Μακεδόσι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parakale%2Fsas">παρακαλέσας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pre%2Fponta">πρέποντα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kairw%3D%7C">καιρῷ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsimw%2Ftaton">χρησιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fraggas">φάραγγας</w> <w lemma="u%28lw%2Fdeis">ὑλώδεις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fkruye">ἔκρυψε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fsthma">διάστημα</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peltasta%5Cs">πελταστὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pau%2Frion">ἐπαύριον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnwn">εὐζώνων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Ftera">θάτερα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="e%29xrh%3Dto">ἐχρῆτο</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w>.
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<w lemma="perielqw%5Cn">περιελθὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="geno%2Fmenos">γενόμενος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="dh%3Dlos">δῆλος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="poihso%2Fmenos">ποιησόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnhs">ἀγνοουμένης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Afili%2Fppou">Φιλίππου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuri%2Fdos">Ἰλλυρίδος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ali%2Fsson">Λίσσον</w> <w lemma="h%28qroisme%2Fnon:">ἡθροισμένον·</w>
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<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akroli%2Fssw%7C">Ἀκρολίσσῳ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fontes">πιστεύοντες</w> <w lemma="metri%2Fan">μετρίαν</w>
<head>Philip\'s capture of Lissus in Illyria</head>Philip\'s attention had long been fixed on Lissus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acrolissus&groupId=278&placeId=548">Acrolissus</a>, and being most anxious to possess himself of these places he started for them with his army.
After two days' march he traversed the defiles and encamped by the river Ardaxanus not far from the town.
Observing that the defences of Lissus, both natural and artificial, were admirable from land as well as sea, and that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acrolissus&groupId=278&placeId=548">Acrolissus</a> which was close to it owing to tits height and its general strength looked as if there would be no hope of taking it by storm, he entirely renounced this latter hope, but did not quite despair of taking the town.
Noticing that the ground between Lissus and the foot of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acrolissus&groupId=278&placeId=548">Acrolissus</a> was convenient for directing an attack from it on the town he decided to open hostilities on this side, and employ a stratagem suitable to the circumstances.
After giving his Macedonians a day's rest and addressing them in such terms as the occasion demanded, he concealed during the night the largest and most efficient portion of his light-armed troops in some thickly-wooded ravines above the aforesaid ground on the side farthest from the sea,
and next day with his peltasts and the rest of the light-armed infantry marched along the sea on the other side of the city.
After thus passing round the city and reaching the place I mentioned, he gave the impression of being about to ascend towards the town on this side.
The arrival of Philip was no secret, and considerable forces from all the neighbouring parts of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a> had collected in Lissus;
but as for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acrolissus&groupId=278&placeId=548">Acrolissus</a> they had such confidence in its natural strength that they had assigned quite a small garrison to it.