Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 8 - Chapter 30

<w lemma="proxwrei%3Dn">προχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fxeto">εἴχετο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnwn">προκειμένων</w>. <w lemma="a%29pomeri%2Fsas">ἀπομερίσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielw%5Cn">διελὼν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w>, <w lemma="sune%2Fsthse">συνέστησε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskwn">νεανίσκων</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="xeirizo%2Fntwn">χειριζόντων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcin">πρᾶξιν</w>.

<w lemma="a%29kolou%2Fqws">ἀκολούθως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%3D">αὑτοῦ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnwn">ἡγεμόνων</w> <w lemma="sunecape%2Fsteile">συνεξαπέστειλε</w>, <w lemma="prosta%2Fcas">προστάξας</w> <w lemma="dialabei%3Dn">διαλαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gora%5Cn">ἀγορὰν</w> <w lemma="ferousw%3Dn">φερουσῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28dw%3Dn">ὁδῶν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairota%2Ftas">εὐκαιροτάτας</w>.

<w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcwsi">πράξωσι</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fois">ἐγχωρίοις</w> <w lemma="neani%2Fskois">νεανίσκοις</w> <w lemma="e%29cairei%3Dsqai">ἐξαιρεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fggeile">παρήγγειλε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sw%2F%7Czein">σῴζειν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29nabow%3Dntas">ἀναβοῶντας</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fnein">μένειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnous">Ταραντίνους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalei%2Fas">ἀσφαλείας</w>,

<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltw%3Dn">Κελτῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fsi">ἡγεμόσι</w> <w lemma="ktei%2Fnein">κτείνειν</w> <w lemma="diekeleu%2Fsato">διεκελεύσατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29ntugxa%2Fnontas">ἐντυγχάνοντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="xwrisqe%2Fntes">χωρισθέντες</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpratton">ἔπραττον</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="prostaxqe%2Fn">προσταχθέν</w>.

<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdou">εἰσόδου</w> <w lemma="katafanou%3Ds">καταφανοῦς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%2Fnois">Ταραντίνοις</w>, <w lemma="plh%2Frhs">πλήρης</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="kraugh%3Ds">κραυγῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="taraxh%3Ds">ταραχῆς</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnhs">παρηλλαγμένης</w>.

<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2Aga%2Fi+os">Γάϊος</w>, <w lemma="prospesou%2Fshs">προσπεσούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdou">εἰσόδου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="sunnoh%2Fsas">συννοήσας</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="au%28to%5Cn">αὑτὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fnta">ὄντα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fqhn">μέθην</w>, <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="e%29celqw%5Cn">ἐξελθὼν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ketw%3Dn">οἰκετῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhn">πύλην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frousan">φέρουσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fna">λιμένα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Flakos">φύλακος</w> <w lemma="a%29noi%2Fcantos">ἀνοίξαντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="r%28inopu%2Flhn">ῥινοπύλην</w>, <w lemma="diadu%5Cs">διαδὺς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="labo%2Fmenos">λαβόμενος</w> <w lemma="a%29kati%2Fou">ἀκατίου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmou%2Fntwn">ὁρμούντων</w>, <w lemma="e%29mba%5Cs">ἐμβὰς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ketw%3Dn">οἰκετῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="parekomi%2Fsqh">παρεκομίσθη</w>.

<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Afilh%2Fmenon">Φιλήμενον</w>, <w lemma="h%28toimasme%2Fnoi">ἡτοιμασμένοι</w> <w lemma="sa%2Flpiggas">σάλπιγγας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai+ka%5Cs">Ῥωμαϊκὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tai%3Ds">αὐταῖς</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnwn">δυναμένων</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sunh%2Fqeian">συνήθειαν</w>, <w lemma="sta%2Fntes">στάντες</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fatron">θέατρον</w> <w lemma="e%29sh%2Fmainon">ἐσήμαινον</w>.

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="bohqou%2Fntwn">βοηθούντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplois">ὅπλοις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29qismo%5Cn">ἐθισμὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w>, <w lemma="e%29xw%2Frei">ἐχώρει</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dgma">πρᾶγμα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois:">Καρχηδονίοις·</w>

<w lemma="parageno%2Fmenoi">παραγενόμενοι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="platei%2Fais">πλατείαις</w> <w lemma="a%29ta%2Fktws">ἀτάκτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spora%2Fdhn">σποράδην</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fpipton">ἐνέπιπτον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akeltou%2Fs:">Κελτούς·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftw%7C">τοιούτῳ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpw%7C">τρόπῳ</w> <w lemma="foneuome%2Fnwn">φονευομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="polu%2F">πολύ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="diefqa%2Frh">διεφθάρη</w>.

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ath%3Ds">Τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pifainome%2Fnhs">ἐπιφαινομένης</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Ataranti%3Dnoi">Ταραντῖνοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fan">ἡσυχίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kh%2Fseis">οἰκήσεις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpw">οὐδέπω</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenoi">δυνάμενοι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcasqai">τάξασθαι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>.

<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="sa%2Flpigga">σάλπιγγα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mhde%5Cn">μηδὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkhma">ἀδίκημα</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mhd%27">μηδ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%28rpagh%5Cn">ἁρπαγὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fdocan">ἔδοξαν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fnhma">κίνημα</w>.

<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28ra%3Dn">ὁρᾶν</w> <w lemma="pefoneume%2Fnous">πεφονευμένους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="platei%2Fais">πλατείαις</w>, <w lemma="kai%2F">καί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Agalatw%3Dn">Γαλατῶν</w> <w lemma="qewrei%3Dsqai">θεωρεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="skuleu%2Fontas">σκυλεύοντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="nekrou%2Fs">νεκρούς</w>, <w lemma="u%28pe%2Ftrexe%2F">ὑπέτρεχέ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoia">ἔννοια</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fas">παρουσίας</w>.

Separating about two thousand Celts from the others and dividing them into three bodies, he put each under the charge of two of the young men who were managing the affair, sending also some of his own officers to accompany them with orders to occupy the most convenient approaches to the market;

and when they had done this he ordered the Tarentine young men to set apart and save any of the citizens they met and to shout from a distance advising all Tarentines to stay where they were, as their safety was assured.

At the same time he ordered the Carthaginian and Celtic officers to put all Romans they met to the sword. The different bodies hereupon separated and began to execute his orders.

As soon as it was evident to the Tarentines that the enemy were within the walls, the city was filled with clamour and extraordinary confusion.

When Gaius heard of the entrance of the enemy, recognizing that his drunken condition rendered him incapable, he issued from his house with his servants and made for the gate that leads to the harbour, where as soon as the guard there had opened the postern for him, he escaped through it, and getting hold of one of the boats at anchor there embarked on it with his household and crossed to the citadel.

Meanwhile Philemenus and his companions, who had provided themselves with some Roman bugles and some men who had learnt to sound them, stood in the theatre and gave the call to arms.

The Romans responding in arms to the summons and running, as was their custom, towards the citadel, things fell out as the Carthaginians designed.

For reaching the thoroughfares in disorder and in scattered groups, some of them fell among the Carthaginians and some among the Celts, and in this way large numbers of them were slain.

When day broke the Tarentines kept quietly at home unable as they were yet to understand definitely what was happening.

For owing to the bugle call and the fact that no acts of violence or pillage were being committed in the town they thought that the commotion was due to the Romans;

but when they saw many Romans lying dead in the streets and some of the Gauls despoiling Roman corpses, a suspicion entered their minds that the Carthaginians were in the town.

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.

Specifics

8.30.6 - 8.30.6

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν φέρουσαν ἐπὶ τὸν λιμένα</w>:</emph> this gate, opening into the Mare Piccolo, is located by Viola (Not. d. scav. 1881, 393), dal Lago (Riv. stor. ant. i, fasc. 4, 1895–6, 8) and Evans (JHS, 1886, 4 plan) towards S. Lucia; but there is no reason to locate it so far east, and the commander's house was probably fairly near the acropolis. Wuilleumier (i. 242–3) suggests that this gate is the one at the north end of the street mentioned in 34. 9, at the very western end of the lower town. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς τὴν ἄκραν παρεκομίσθη</w>:</emph> 'he was conveyed along the coast to the citadel'.

8.30.7 - 8.30.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">στάντες ἐπὶ τὸ θέατρον</w>:</emph> the site is uncertain. According to Florus (i. 13. 3 f.) 'imminet portui ad prospectum maris positum theatrum'. Viola (Not. d. scav. 1881, 407) suggested that it was later converted into the Roman amphitheatre found south-east of the church del Carmine (see Wuilleumier's map); but there is no archaeological support for this, and Wuilleumier (i. 248) suggests that following normal Greek practice the theatre was built on the side of the Castello, in the south-west of the town (if indeed it lay within the lower town), or alternatively on the slope above the Mare Piccolo, <milestone unit="page" n="106">[106]</milestone> to the east of the Peripato. For this theatre see also Dion. Hal. xix. 5. 2–3; Dio, ix, fg. 39. 5; Oros. iv. 1. 1; Hesych. s.v. <w lang="el-GR">δρόμος</w>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐσήμαινον</w>:</emph> according to Livy (xxv. 10. 4) a single trumpet 'inscienter a Graeco inflata quis aut quibus signum daret incertum efficiebat'.

8.30.10 - 8.30.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τάξασθαι τὸ συμβαῖνον</w>:</emph> 'to form a clear idea of what had happened'. The sense is unusual. Schweighaeuser comments: <w lang="el-GR">τάξασθαι</w> apud P. saepe ponitur pro <w lang="el-GR">συντάξασθαι</w>. itaque, quemadmodum <w lang="el-GR">τάξασθαί τινι</w> (uel <w lang="el-GR">πρός τινα) περί τινος</w> uel seq. infinitiuo, ii. 59. 8, v. 9. 3 etc., . . . significat constituere cum aliquo, agere cum aliquo; sic <w lang="el-GR">τάξασθαί τι</w> absque casu personae denotare poterit constituere aliquid secum, et uelut in animo suo aliquid componere et ordinare, id est, certam sibi notionem rei informare, certum iudicium ferre.' Cf. Livy, xxv. 10. 1, 'quid rei esset nemo satis pro certo scire'.

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.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

Archaeology

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Walbank Commentary

Commentary