Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 8 - Chapter 24

<head lang="la">V. Res Italiae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%3Dnoi">Ταραντῖνοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fas">εὐδαιμονίας</w> <w lemma="u%28perh%2Ffanon">ὑπερήφανον</w> <w lemma="e%29pekale%2Fsanto">ἐπεκαλέσαντο</w> <w lemma="%2Apu%2Frron">Πύρρον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirw%2Fthn:">Ἠπειρώτην·</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsa">πᾶσα</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fa">ἐλευθερία</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fas">ἐξουσίας</w> <w lemma="poluxroni%2Fou">πολυχρονίου</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fron">κόρον</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnein">λαμβάνειν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="zhtei%3D">ζητεῖ</w> <w lemma="despo%2Fthn:">δεσπότην·</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsa%2F">τυχοῦσά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="misei%3D">μισεῖ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnesqai">φαίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dron">χεῖρον</w> <w lemma="metabolh%2Fn:">μεταβολήν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnois">Ταραντίνοις</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Exc. Vat. p. 374 M. 27, 2 H. 23.</foreign><w lemma="pa%3Dsa">πᾶσα</w> — <foreign lang="la">26.</foreign><w lemma="misei%3D">μισεῖ</w> <foreign lang="la">etiam cod. Urb. fol. 114 extr. margo.</foreign>]

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="krei%3Dtton">κρεῖττον</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntos">παρόντος</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Exc. Vat. p. 375 M. 27, 8 H.</foreign>]

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aprospeso%2Fntwn">Προσπεσόντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Ata%2Franta">Τάραντα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Aqouri%2Fous">Θουρίους</w>, <w lemma="h%29gana%2Fktei">ἠγανάκτει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqh">πλήθη</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Suidas v.</foreign><w lemma="%2Aprospeso%2Fntwn">Προσπεσόντων</w>.]

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ato%5C">Τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29codei%2Fan">ἐξοδείαν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%2Fsantes">ὁρμήσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fsantes">συνεγγίσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3D%7C">παρεμβολῇ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Flloi">ἄλλοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sugkaqe%2Fntes">συγκαθέντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fs">εἴς</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28lw%2Fdh">ὑλώδη</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmeinan">ἔμειναν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afilh%2Fmenos">Φιλήμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkwn">Νίκων</w> <w lemma="prosh%3Dlqon">προσῆλθον</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fkwn">φυλάκων</w> <w lemma="e%29pilabome%2Fnwn">ἐπιλαβομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgonto">ἀνήγοντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29po%2Fntes">εἰπόντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fnes">τίνες</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dhlou%3Dntes">δηλοῦντες</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="qe%2Flousi">θέλουσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="strathgw%3D%7C">στρατηγῷ</w> <w lemma="summi%3Dcai">συμμῖξαι</w>.

<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29panaxqe%2Fntes">ἐπαναχθέντες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffasan">ἔφασαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flesqai">βούλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="dialexqh%3Dnai">διαλεχθῆναι</w>.

<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmws">ἑτοίμως</w> <w lemma="prosdecame%2Fnou">προσδεξαμένου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pelogi%2Fzonto">ἀπελογίζοντο</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="patri%2Fda">πατρίδα</w>, <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flas">ποικίλας</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="kathgori%2Fas">κατηγορίας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>, <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3Dn">δοκεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29lo%2Fgws">ἀλόγως</w> <w lemma="e%29mbai%2Fnein">ἐμβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhn">ὑποκειμένην</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.

<w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="e%29paine%2Fsas">ἐπαινέσας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%5Cn">ὁρμὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="filanqrw%2Fpws">φιλανθρώπως</w> <w lemma="a%29podeca%2Fmenos">ἀποδεξάμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fpemye">ἐξέπεμψε</w>, <w lemma="suntaca%2Fmenos">συνταξάμενος</w> <w lemma="paragi%2Fnesqai">παραγίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summignu%2Fnai">συμμιγνύναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fxos">τάχος</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w>.

<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%5Cn">παρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29ke%2Fleuse">ἐκέλευσε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dta">πρῶτα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29celasqe%2Fntwn">ἐξελασθέντων</w> <w lemma="prwi+%5C">πρωῒ</w> <w lemma="qremma%2Ftwn">θρεμμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29peida%5Cn">ἐπειδὰν</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cn">ἱκανὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fsxwsi">ἀπόσχωσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="parembolh%3Ds">παρεμβολῆς</w>, <w lemma="perielasame%2Fnous">περιελασαμένους</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="a%29palla%2Fttesqai:">ἀπαλλάττεσθαι·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="melh%2Fsein">μελήσειν</w>.

<w lemma="e%29poi%2Fei">ἐποίει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrofh%5Cn">ἀναστροφὴν</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polupragmonh%3Dsai">πολυπραγμονῆσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskous">νεανίσκους</w>, <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzein">παρασκευάζειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftas">πολίτας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="krati%2Fstou">κρατίστου</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnois">ποιουμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="lh%7Cstei%2Fas">λῃστείας</w> <w lemma="e%29co%2Fdous">ἐξόδους</w>.

<w lemma="praca%2Fntwn">πραξάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkwna">Νίκωνα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggelqe%2Fn">παραγγελθέν</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="perixarh%5Cs">περιχαρὴς</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Flis">μόλις</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%3Ds">ἀφορμῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29peilh%3Dfqai">ἐπειλῆφθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnhn">προκειμένην</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>,

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afilh%2Fmenon">Φιλήμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="parw%2Frmhnto">παρώρμηντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnteucin">ἔντευξιν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="hu%28rhke%2Fnai">ηὑρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqumon">πρόθυμον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fas">λείας</w> <w lemma="dayi%2Fleian">δαψίλειαν</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%5Cn">ἱκανὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="pareskeuake%2Fnai">παρεσκευακέναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w>.

<w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29podo%2Fmenoi">ἀποδόμενοι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29wxou%2Fmenoi">εὐωχούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fas">λείας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29pisteu%2Fonto">ἐπιστεύοντο</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnois">Ταραντίνοις</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="zhlwta%5Cs">ζηλωτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsxon">ἔσχον</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgous">ὀλίγους</w>.

<head>V. Affairs of Italy</head>It was the pride engendered by prosperity which made the Tarentines call in Pyrrhus of Epirus. For in every case where a democracy has for long enjoyed power, it naturally begins to be sick of present conditions and next looks out for a master, and having found one very soon hates him again, as the change is manifestly much for the worse. And this was what happened then to the Tarentines. . . .

They started from the city at first as if for an expedition, and on approaching the camp of the Carthaginians at night, the rest concealed themselves in a wood by the roadside while Philemenus and Nicon went up to the camp.

There they were arrested by the guards and brought before Hannibal; for they had not said a word as to who they were or whence they came, but had simply stated that they wished to meet the general.

They were at once taken before Hannibal and said that they desired to speak with him in private.

When he most readily granted them the interview, they gave him an account of their own situation and that of their country, bringing many different accusations against the Romans so as not to seem to have entered on their present design without valid reasons.

Hannibal having thanked them and received their advances in the kindest manner, sent them back for the time after arranging that they should come and meet him again very soon.

For the present he bade them as soon as they were at a certain distance from his camp surround and drive off the first herds of cattle that had been driven out to pasture and the men in charge of them and pursue their way without fear, for he would see to their safety.

This he did with the object first of giving himself time to inquire into the proposal made by the young men and next of gaining for them the confidence of the townsmen, who would believe that it was really on forays that they left the town.

Nicon and his friends did as they were bidden, and Hannibal was now delighted in having at length succeeded in finding a means of executing his design,

while Philemenus and the rest were much encouraged in their project now that the interview had safely taken place, and they had found Hannibal so willing, and the quantity of booty had established their credit sufficiently with their countrymen.

Selling some of the captured cattle and feasting on others they not only gained the confidence of the Tarentines, but had many emulators.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

8.23.0 - 8.34.0

Hannibal's capture of Tarentum These events are from the second set of res Italiae in viii, and date to winter 213/12; see above, p. 5; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 334–6. The capture of Tarentum is the first Italian incident of which P.'s account survives, since his description of the revolt of Capua and the resistance of Petelia in vii. 1. During the years 215/13 Roman strength had grown. In 215 Hannibal's further gains in Campania were restricted to the fortress of Casilinum (Livy, xxiii. 17–19), though among the Bruttii Petelia and Consentia had gone (vii. 1. 3 n.; Livy, xxiii. 30. 5), followed by Croton, Locri (Livy, xxiii. 30. 6–8, xxiv. 1; Diod. xxvi. 13), and Caulonia (Livy, xxvii. 12. 4–6, referring to 209). In 214 the Romans recovered Casilinum (Livy, xxiv. 19. 1–11), Compsa, and Aecae (Livy, xxiv. 20. 5), and scored a success against Hanno near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Beneventum&groupId=398&placeId=742">Beneventum</a> (Livy, xxiv. 14–16, 18. 12; Val. Max. v. 6. 8; Zon. ix. 4); and in 213 Q. Fabius junior recaptured Arpi in Apulia (Livy, xxiv. 45–47; Appian, Hann. 31). See De Sanctis, iii. 2. 236–7, 251–62, 271–4; Hallward, CAH, viii. 75–77. On Hannibal's capture of Tarentum see also Livy, xxv. 7. 10–11. 20, which clearly derives from the same source as P., though it contains details he omits (see below). Livy's source will be Coelius, P.'s Silenus (cf. Klotz, Livius, 165–7, against Hesselbarth, 489; Kahrstedt, iii. 257; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 365–7, who regard P. as Livy's source), and from the substantial agreement between P. and Livy, both P. and Coelius <milestone unit="page" n="100">[100]</milestone> appear to have followed Silenus fairly closely (Klotz, Livius, 167); P.'s narrative is written entirely from the Carthaginian point of view. On the topography of Tarentum and Hannibal's attack see A. Stazio, Atti del IV Convegno di Studi sulla <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magna Grecia&groupId=728&placeId=1335">Magna Grecia</a> (Taranto, 1964), 159 ff.

8.24.1 - 8.24.1

Tarentum and Pyrrhus. Apparently part of an introduction to the revolt, which covered the earlier history of Tarentum, its constitutional development and decay, and a description of its topography (cf. 34. 3). There can hardly have been a direct comparison between the calling in of Pyrrhus, the work of the democracy, and the appeal to Hannibal by a conspiracy of nobles after provocation (Livy, xxv. 8. 3, 'tredecim fere nobiles iuuenes Tarentini coniurauerunt'). References to Tarentine luxury (cf. Wuilleumier, i. 233–5) are found by the fourth century (cf. Theopompus, FGH, 115 F 100 (Athen. iv. 166 E), 233 (Athen. iv. 166 E–F), and, for drunkenness, Plato, Laws, i. 637 B; cf. Athen. iv. 155 F; and they were probably stressed by Timaeus, who publicized the growth of <w lang="el-GR">τρυφή</w> in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sybaris&groupId=992&placeId=1750">Sybaris</a> and Croton which followed the growth of power of these states (cf. vii. 1. 2 n.). The sequence here outlinedprosperity and pride, excessive freedom, a <w lang="el-GR">δεσπότης</w> is that attributed, in vii. 1. 1–2, to Capua and recalls in outline the final stages of the anacyclosis (vi. 9. 7–9). It is apparently characteristic of a systematic Greek interpretation of the decline of Tarentum. Thus Strabo (vi. 280) traces prosperity under Archytas (cf. vi. 3. 7 n.), followed by <w lang="el-GR">τρυφή</w>, deterioration, and the calling in of foreign condottieri a process ending in the gratuitous provocation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and the Pyrrhic War; and Plutarch (Pyrrh. 13. 2 ff., 16. 2) also has a version hostile both to Tarentine democracy and to Pyrrhus, the destroyer of freedom. This version could come from the annalists; so O. Hamburger, Untersuchungen ber den pyrrischen Krieg (Diss. Wrzburg, 1927), 14; Wuilleumier, 104; Lvque, 35–36, 302. But it seems likely that an account so consistent with Greek political theorizing comes originally from a Greek source; this could be a Tarentine aristocratic source transmitted via Timaeus (cf. Schubert, 35; W. Hoffmann, Hermes, 1936, 22). This would not exclude later adoption of this version by Roman annalists (cf. Livy, xxiii. 7. 5). The picture of Pyrrhus as <w lang="el-GR">δεσπότης</w> involves some distortion of the facts: see the discussion in Niese, ii. 32 n. 3; Wuilleumier, 113; Lvque, 302–3. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπεκαλέσαντο Πύρρον</w>:</emph> cf. i. 6. 5 n., ii. 20. 6 n. Pyrrhus crossed over in May 280 (cf. Lvque, 285–8), but the Tarentine appeal cannot be precisely dated within 281. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πᾶσα . . . ἐλευθερία . . . φύσιν ἔχει κόρον λαμβάνειν κτλ</w>.:</emph> cf. vii. 1. 2 (of Capua), <w lang="el-GR">οὐ δυνάμενοι . . . φέρειν τὴν παροῦσαν εὐδαιμονίαν ἐκάλουν τὸν Ἀννίβαν</w>. P. probably means 'democracy' by <w lang="el-GR">ἐλευθερία</w> (cf. vi. 57. 9, <w lang="el-GR">τῶν . . . ὀνομάτων τὸ κάλλιστον . . . τὴν ἐλευθερίαν καὶ δημοκρατίαν)</w>, and that is how Paton translates it. <milestone unit="page" n="101">[101]</milestone> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τάχυ πάλιν μισεῖ</w>:</emph> 'it quickly goes on to hate him'.

Specifics

8.24.3 - 8.24.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς Τάραντα καὶ τοὺς Θουρίους</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 7. 11–14, 8. 1–2, 15. 7–8. To secure the loyalty of Thurii and Tarentum the Romans held hostages from among their leading families and kept them loosely guarded in the atrium of Libertas at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. A Tarentine named Phileas came to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in the guise of a legatus, evidently backed by the pro-Hannibalic party, and persuaded the hostages to escape. They were apprehended at Tarracina, brought back to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>, scourged and hurled from the Tarpeian rock. News of this punishment, huius atrocitas poenae (Livy, xxv. 8. 1), precipitated the revolt of both cities; on Thurii see Livy, xxv. 15. 7–17; App. Hann. 34. <w lang="el-GR">τὰ πλήθη</w> will be the people of Thurii and Tarentum.

8.24.4 - 8.24.4

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐξοδείαν ὁρμήσαντες</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 8. 4, per speciem uenandi. But in 25. 4 P. distinguishes between <w lang="el-GR">ἐξοδεία</w>, 'a foray', and <w lang="el-GR">κυνηγία</w>, 'hunting'. The subject is the tredecim fere nobiles iuuenes who formed the conspiracy (Livy, xxv. 8. 3); and their return with cattle and prisoners (§ 9) would better suit the alleged foray than Livy's hunting expedition. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῇ παρεμβολῇ τῶν Καρχηδονίων</w>:</emph> Hannibal had remained in the vicinity 'spe per proditionem urbis Tarentinorum potiundae' (Livy, xxv. 1. 1); on the position of the camp see 26. 2. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ὁ δὲ Φιλήμενος καὶ Νίκων</w>:</emph> so too Livy, xxv. 8. 5; Appian (Hann. 32) calls the leader of the conspiracy Cononeus (cf. Frontinus, Strat. iii. 3. 6). Wuilleumier, i. 150 n. 8, suggests this is another name of Philemenus, just as Nicon was also called Percon (Livy, xxvi. 39. 15); but Appian seems to be following a separate tradition.

8.24.9 - 8.24.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῶν ἐξελασθέντων πρωῒ θρεμμάτων</w>:</emph> 'the herds of cattle that would be driven out to pasture the next morning'.

8.24.10 - 8.24.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πίστιν . . . πρὸς τοὺς πολίτας</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 8. 6, 'ut fidem popularibus facerent'; but this nuance that it was the populares who were loyal to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> is not present in P. For <w lang="el-GR">ἀπὸ τοῦ κρατίστου</w> cf. 17. 4 n.

Addenda & corrigenda

8.24.0 - 8.34.0

on the topography of Tarentum and Hannibal's attack see A. Stazio, Atti del IV Convegno di Studi sulla <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magna Grecia&groupId=728&placeId=1335">Magna Grecia</a> (Taranto, 1964), 159 ff.

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