Polybius, Histories

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Book 8 - Chapter 28

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<w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sugkei%2Fmena">συγκείμενα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskois">νεανίσκοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous:">Καρχηδονίους·</w>
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<w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fyanta">συνάψαντα</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="mesogai%2Fou">μεσογαίου</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnhn">κειμένην</w> <w lemma="pleura%2Fn">πλευράν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Athmeni%2Fdas">Τημενίδας</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnas">προσαγορευομένας</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flas">πύλας</w>, <w lemma="a%29na%2Fyai">ἀνάψαι</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffou">τάφου</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28uaki%2Fnqou">Ὑακίνθου</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnou">προσαγορευομένου</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29apo%2Fllwnos">Ἀπόλλωνος</w> <w lemma="%2A%28uaki%2Fnqou">Ὑακίνθου</w>,
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Atragi%2Fskon">Τραγίσκον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fdwsi">ἴδωσι</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fndoqen">ἔνδοθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipurseu%3Dsai">ἀντιπυρσεῦσαι</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="suntelesqe%2Fntos">συντελεσθέντος</w>, <w lemma="sbe%2Fsai">σβέσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fdei">ἔδει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fdhn">βάδην</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="diatetagme%2Fnwn">διατεταγμένων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskoi">νεανίσκοι</w> <w lemma="diaporeuqe%2Fntes">διαπορευθέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%2Fmenon">οἰκούμενον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffous">τάφους</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fw">ἕω</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnwn">Ταραντίνων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="mnhma%2Ftwn">μνημάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dres">πλῆρες</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="teleuth%2Fsantas">τελευτήσαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fptesqai">θάπτεσθαι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgion">λόγιον</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Don">ἀρχαῖον</w>.
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<w lemma="fasi%5C">φασὶ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsai">χρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="qeo%5Cn">θεὸν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnois">Ταραντίνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fmeinon">ἄμεινον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lw%3D%7Con">λῷον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsesqai%2F">ἔσεσθαί</w> <w lemma="sfisi">σφισι</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnois">ποιουμένοις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fkhsin">οἴκησιν</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w>.
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<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsantas">νομίσαντας</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kh%3Ds%27">οἰκῆς᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frista">ἄριστα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xrhsmo%2Fn">χρησμόν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="methllaxo%2Ftas">μετηλλαχότας</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxoien">ἔχοιεν</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="qa%2Fptein">θάπτειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="metalla%2Fcantas">μεταλλάξαντας</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28%2F">οἵ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnoi">προειρημένοι</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenoi">παραγενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqioni%2Fkou">Πυθιονίκου</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffon">τάφον</w> <w lemma="e%29karado%2Fkoun">ἐκαραδόκουν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w>.
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<w lemma="suneggisa%2Fntwn">συνεγγισάντων</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="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="praca%2Fntwn">πραξάντων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%2Fn">συνταχθέν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="i%29dei%3Dn">ἰδεῖν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Ani%2Fkwna">Νίκωνα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Atragi%2Fskon">Τραγίσκον</w> <w lemma="a%29naqarrh%2Fsantes">ἀναθαρρήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="purso%5Cn">πυρσὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29nadei%2Fcantes">ἀναδείξαντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%28w%2Frwn">ἑώρων</w> <w lemma="a%29posbennu%2Fmenon">ἀποσβεννύμενον</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmou">δρόμου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spoudh%3Ds">σπουδῆς</w>,
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<w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="fqa%2Fsai">φθάσαι</w> <w lemma="foneu%2Fsantes">φονεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dnos">πυλῶνος</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnous">τεταγμένους</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sugkei%3Dsqai">συγκεῖσθαι</w> [<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w>] <w lemma="sxolh%3D%7C">σχολῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fdhn">βάδην</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>.
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<w lemma="eu%29roh%2Fsantos">εὐροήσαντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fgmatos">πράγματος</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prokatalhfqe%2Fntwn">προκαταληφθέντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fulatto%2Fntwn">φυλαττόντων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fneuon">ἐφόνευον</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="die%2Fkopton">διέκοπτον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="moxlou%2Fs">μοχλούς</w>.
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<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29noixqeisw%3Dn">ἀνοιχθεισῶν</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="de%2Fonta">δέοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fban">Ἀννίβαν</w>, <w lemma="kexrhme%2Fnoi">κεχρημένοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w> <w lemma="summe%2Ftrws">συμμέτρως</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mhdemi%2Fan">μηδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fstasin">ἐπίστασιν</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28do%5Cn">ὁδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>.
The agreement between the young Tarentines and Hannibal was as follows: Hannibal on approaching the city on it eastern side, which lies towards the interior, was to advance towards the Temenid gate and light a fire on the tomb, called by some that of Hyacinthus, by others that of Apollo Hyacinthus.
Tragiscus, when he saw this signal, was to signal back by fire from within the town.
This having been done, Hannibal was to put out the fire and march only slowly in the direction of the gate.
Agreeably to these arrangements, the young men having traversed the inhabited portion of the city reached the cemetery.
For all the eastern part of the Tarentum is full of tombs, since their dead are still buried within the walls owing to a certain ancient oracle, the god, it is said, gate responded to the Tarentines that they would fare better and more prosperously if they made their dwelling-place with the majority.
Thinking, then, that according to the oracle they would be best off if they had the departed also inside the wall, the Tarentines up to this day bury their dead within the gates.
The young men on reaching the tomb of Pythionicus stopped and awaited the event.
When Hannibal drew near and did as agreed, Nicon, Tragiscus, and their companions as soon as they saw the fire felt their courage refreshed, and when they had exhibited their own torch and saw that of Hannibal go out again, they ran at full speed to the gate
wishing to arrive in time to surprise and kill the guards of the gate-tower, it having been agreed that the Carthaginians were to advance at an easy pace.
All went well, and on the guards being surprised, some of the conspirators busied themselves with putting them to the sword, while others were cutting through the bolts.
Very soon the gates were thrown open, and at the proper time Hannibal and his force arrived, having marched at such a pace as ensured that no attention was called to his advance until he reached the city.