Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 8 - Chapter 37

<head lang="la">VI. Res Siciliae</head><w lemma="%2A%29echriqmh%2Fsato">Ἐξηριθμήσατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fmous:">δόμους·</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> [<foreign lang="la">scil.</foreign><w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgos">πύργος</w>] <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="sunno%2Fmwn">συννόμων</w> <w lemma="li%2Fqwn">λίθων</w> <w lemma="w%29%7Ckodomhme%2Fnos">ᾠκοδομημένος</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="li%2Fan">λίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29sullo%2Fgiston">εὐσυλλόγιστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Ds">γῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Flcewn">ἐπάλξεων</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fstasin">ἀπόστασιν</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Suidas v.</foreign><w lemma="%2Asunno%2Fmwn">Συννόμων</w>. <foreign lang="la">v. Liv. XXV, 23, 10.</foreign>]

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ameta%5C">Μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="au%29tomo%2Flou">αὐτομόλου</w> <w lemma="diasafh%2Fsantos">διασαφήσαντος</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="qusi%2Fan">θυσίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fgousi">ἄγουσι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fndhmon">πάνδημον</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arte%2Fmidi">Ἀρτέμιδι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="siti%2Fois">σιτίοις</w> <w lemma="litoi%3Ds">λιτοῖς</w> <w lemma="xrw%3Dntai">χρῶνται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnin">σπάνιν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fnw%7C">οἴνῳ</w> <w lemma="dayilei%3D">δαψιλεῖ</w>, <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epiku%2Fdous">Ἐπικύδους</w> <w lemma="dedwko%2Ftos">δεδωκότος</w> <w lemma="polu%5Cn">πολὺν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fwn">Συρακοσίων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prosanalabw%5Cn">προσαναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Ama%2Frkos">Μάρκος</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="tapeino%2Fteron">ταπεινότερον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fsas">νομίσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpous">ἀνθρώπους</w> <w lemma="mequ%2Fein">μεθύειν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnesin">ἄνεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fndeian">ἔνδειαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="chra%3Ds">ξηρᾶς</w> <w lemma="trofh%3Ds">τροφῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzein">καταπειράζειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w>.

<w lemma="taxu%5C">ταχὺ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w> <w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w> <w lemma="sunteqeisw%3Dn">συντεθεισῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29armo%2Fstwn">εὐαρμόστων</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w>, <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fneto">ἐγένετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sunexh%3D">συνεχῆ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdei%2Fois">ἐπιτηδείοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstaton">ἐπιφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon">κίνδυνον</w> <w lemma="e%29koinologei%3Dto">ἐκοινολογεῖτο</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllontos">μέλλοντος</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdas">ἐλπίδας</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndidou%2Fs">ἐνδιδούς</w>.

<w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pourgh%2Fsontas">ὑπουργήσοντας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosoi%2Fsontas">προσοίσοντας</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flece">ἐξέλεξε</w> <w lemma="diasafw%3Dn">διασαφῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmous">ἑτοίμους</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paraggello%2Fmenon">παραγγελλόμενον</w>. <w lemma="peiqarxhsa%2Fntwn">πειθαρχησάντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="labw%5Cn">λαβὼν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fzonta">ἁρμόζοντα</w> <w lemma="kairo%5Cn">καιρὸν</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fgeire">ἤγειρε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous:">πρώτους·</w>

<w lemma="prope%2Fmyas">προπέμψας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmaci">κλίμαξι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xilia%2Frxou">χιλιάρχου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosanamnh%2Fsas">προσαναμνήσας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29some%2Fnwn">ἐσομένων</w> <w lemma="dwrew%3Dn">δωρεῶν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ndragaqh%2Fsasi">ἀνδραγαθήσασι</w>, <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29cegei%2Fras">ἐξεγείρας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftous">πρώτους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmati">διαστήματι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fan">σημαίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29caposte%2Fllei:">ἐξαποστέλλει·</w>

<w lemma="genome%2Fnwn">γενομένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="braxu%5C">βραχὺ</w> <w lemma="dialipw%5Cn">διαλιπὼν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%28%2Fpeto">εἵπετο</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="stratia%3Ds">στρατιᾶς</w>.

<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontes">φέροντες</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmakas">κλίμακας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqon">ἔλαθον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="proserei%2Fsantes">προσερείσαντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="a%29profasi%2Fstws">ἀπροφασίστως</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fbasin">ἀνάβασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29potetagme%2Fnoi">ἀποτεταγμένοι</w>.

<w lemma="laqo%2Fntwn">λαθόντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fntwn">στάντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w>, <w lemma="ou%29ke%2Fti">οὐκέτι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantes">ἅπαντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fqeon">ἀνέθεον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w>.

<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenoi">ἐπιπορευόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29fodei%2Fan">ἐφοδείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="eu%28%2Friskon:">εὕρισκον·</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgous">πύργους</w> <w lemma="h%28qroisme%2Fnoi">ἡθροισμένοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qusi%2Fan">θυσίαν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fpinon">ἔπινον</w>, <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29koimw%3Dnto">ἐκοιμῶντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="mequsko%2Fmenoi">μεθυσκόμενοι</w>.

<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftois">πρώτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fntes">ἐπιστάντες</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffnw">ἄφνω</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28suxi%2Fas">ἡσυχίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaqon">ἔλαθον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstous">πλείστους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29poktei%2Fnantes">ἀποκτείναντες</w>.

<w lemma="e%29peidh%5C">ἐπειδὴ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ecapu%2Flois">Ἑξαπύλοις</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Fggizon">ἤγγιζον</w> <w lemma="katabai%2Fnontes">καταβαίνοντες</w>, <w lemma="e%29nw%7Ckodomhme%2Fnhn">ἐνῳκοδομημένην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Fthn">πρώτην</w> <w lemma="puli%2Fda">πυλίδα</w> <w lemma="diei%3Dlon">διεῖλον</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fn">τόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29de%2Fcanto">ἐδέξαντο</w> <w lemma="stra%2Fteuma">στράτευμα</w>. <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakou%2Fsas">Συρακούσας</w> <w lemma="ei%28%3Dlon">εἷλον</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Cod. Wescheri fol. 100 v. 341, 9 ss.</foreign>]

<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Aou%29deno%5Cs">Οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwko%2Ftos">ἐπεγνωκότος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politw%3Dn">πολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fstasin">ἀπόστασιν</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhs">μεγάλης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Suidas v.</foreign><w lemma="%2A%29apo%2Fstasis">Ἀπόστασις</w>. <foreign lang="la">v. Liv. XXV, 24, 6.</foreign>] <w lemma="%2Atou%5Cs">Τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="qarrei%3Dn">θαρρεῖν</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w>,

<w lemma="kratou%3Dntas">κρατοῦντας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29epipola%5Cs">Ἐπιπολὰς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w>. [<foreign lang="la">Suidas v.</foreign><w lemma="%2A%29epipola%2Fs">Ἐπιπολάς</w>. <foreign lang="la">v. Liv. XXV, 24, 9.</foreign>]

<head>VI. Affairs of Sicily</head><head>Capture of Syracuse</head>He counted the courses. For the masonry of the tower was even, so that it was very easy to reckon the distance of the battlements from the ground. . . .

A few days afterwards a deserter reported that for three days they had been celebrating in the town a general festival in honour of Artemis, and that while they ate very sparingly of bread owing to its scarcity, they took plenty of wine, as both Epicydes and the Syracusans in general had supplied it in abundance; and Marcellus now recollected his estimate of the height of the wall at its lowest point, and thinking it most likely that the men would be drunk owing to their indulgence in wine and the want of solid food, determined to try his chance.

Two ladders high enough for the wall were soon constructed, and he now pushed on his design, communicating the project to those whom he regarded as fittest to undertake the first ascent and bear the brunt of the danger, with promises of great rewards.

He next selected other men who would assist them and bring up the ladders; simply instructing these latter to hold themselves in readiness to obey the word of command. His orders having been complied with he woke up the first batch of men at the proper hour of the night.

Having sent the ladder-bearers on in front escorted by a maniple and a tribune, and having reminded the scaling party of the rewards that awaited them if they behaved with gallantry, he subsequently woke up all his army and sent the first batches off at intervals maniple by maniple.

When these amounted to about a thousand, he waited for a short time and followed with the rest of his army.

When the ladder-bearers had succeeded in planting them against the wall unobserved, the scaling party at once mounted without hesitation,

and when they also got a firm footing on the wall, without being observed, all the rest ran up the ladders, in no fixed order as at first but everyone as best he could.

At first as they proceeded along the wall they found no sentries at their posts, the men having assembled in the several towers owing to the sacrifice, some of them still drinking and others drunk and asleep.

Suddenly and silently falling on those in the first tower and in the one next to it they killed most of them without being noticed, and when they reached <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hexapyli&groupId=631&placeId=1162">Hexapyli</a> they descended, and bursting open the first postern-door that is built into the wall there, admitted through it the general and the rest of the army. This was how the Romans took <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>. . . .

None of the citizens knew what was happening owing to the distance, the city being large. . . .

The Romans were rendered very confident by their conquest of Epipolae. . . .

Walbank Commentary

Specifics

8.37.1 - 8.37.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐξηριθμήσατο τοὺς δόμους</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 23. 8–12; Plut. Marc. 18. The Spartan Damippus (cf. vii. 5. 3) had been taken prisoner by the Romans on his way as envoy from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> to Philip V; and the Romans, in order to placate the Spartans and through them the Aetolians, whose help in Greece they were already courting, expressed willingness to discuss his ransom. During several meetings held for this purpose near the portus Trogilorum, beside a tower called Galeagra, one of the Romans counted the courses in the wall and found it to be lower than had been thought. H. W. Parke (JHS, 1944, 100–2) has made a strong case for locating portus Trogilorum (the Trogilus of Thuc. vi. 99. 1 and vii. 2. 4) at S. Panagia, a ravine and harbour north-east of Scala Graeca (Hexapyla) (cf. 3. 2 n.), and the Galeagra tower will be a tower in the Dionysian wall approximately where, a little to the west of S. Panagia, it turns southwards and up the slope towards the Scala Graeca. The meeting-place was therefore near the site of the attack mentioned in 3. 6. Hence the Romans were familiar with the wall hereabouts, but (perhaps because it stood on a slope) had overestimated its height (cf. Livy, xxv. 23. 12, 'humilioremque aliquanto pristina opinione sua et ceterorum omnium ratus esse'). In 428 the Plataeans used the same method to estimate the Theban wall of circumvallation: Thuc. iii. 20. 3–4. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἦν γὰρ . . . ᾠκοδομημένος</w>:</emph> though Livy (xxv. 23. 8–12) refers only to the height of the wall, it is clear from Plut. Marc. 18. 2, <w lang="el-GR">πύργον τινὰ κατεσκέψατο φυλαττόμενον μὲν ἀμελῶς, ἄνδρας δὲ δυνάμενον δέξασθαι κρύφα</w>, that the subject is <w lang="el-GR">ὁ πύργος</w> (as Schweighaeuser saw). Hultsch, who misunderstands Schweighaeuser, prefers <w lang="el-GR">ὁ περίβολος</w>, but Plutarch puts the matter beyond doubt. The postern gate referred to may be that described by P. Orsi, Not. d. scav. 1893, 168 (sketch on p. 170); cf. Holm, Gesch. Sic. iii. 360. But Holm admits that that is a large gate, and a smaller one which stood nearby may be the one referred to here.

8.37.2 - 8.37.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας</w>:</emph> after Marcellus received the information about the wall: cf. Livy, xxv. 23. 13–14. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">θυσίαν . . . πάνδημον . . . Ἀρτέμιδι</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 23. 14; Plut. <milestone unit="page" n="112">[112]</milestone> Marc. 18. 3. Artemis was worshipped under several cult titles at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>, where there was a month Artamitios; cf. Wernicke, RE, 'Artemis (2)', cols. 1407–8; Böhringer, Die Mnzen von Syrakus (Berlin–Leipzig, 1929), 95–102. We are well informed about, and possess three accounts of the origins of, the great spring festival of purification to Artemis Lyaea: see the Prolegomena to Theocritus, in H. L. A. Ahrens, Bucolicorum graecorum reliquiae (Leipzig, 1855–9), ii. 5; Diomedes, Grammatici latini (ed. Keil), i. 486; Probus on Virgil, Ecl. introd. (quoted in full in Nilsson, Griechische Feste, 200–1). But whether this is the festival referred to here, and what is the relation of either to the festival of Artemis in Theoc. ii. 66–68, is not known; they may be identical (Nilsson, op. cit. 207). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πολὺν δὲ Συρακοσίων</w>:</emph> it seems odd that the Syracusans had state cellars distinct from those available to Epicydes (cf. De Sanctis, iii. 2. 367). Livy (xxv. 23. 14) reads only ab Epicyde praebito but adds 'universae plebei et per tribus a principibus diuiso'. Perhaps here (and elsewhere in this section, from the <w lang="el-GR">περὶ στρατηγημάτων)</w> the transmission of P.'s text is faulty. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">προσαναλαβὼν . . . ταπεινότερον</w>:</emph> <w lang="el-GR">προσαναλαβών</w> has no real sense here. Hultsch translates 'postquam (e longinquo) muri altitudinem (secundum trianguli rationem) recepit', thus assuming the use of trigonometry to calculate the height of the wall; and elsewhere (RE, 'Dioptra', cols. 1073–4) he assumes the use of the <w lang="el-GR">διόπτρα</w> (on which see ix. 19. 9 n., x. 46. 1 n.). But the height was already known from the counting of regular courses and neither Livy nor Plutarch mentions any other method. Bttner-Wobst therefore seems justified in preferring Suidas, <w lang="el-GR">Ἀνανεωσάμενος</w> and <w lang="el-GR">Προσανανεωσάμενος</w>, for an alternative reading: <w lang="el-GR">ὁ δὲ Μάρκος προσανανεωσάμενος τὴν τοῦ τείχους ταπεινότητα . . . ἐπεβάλετο καταπειράζειν τῆς ἔλπιδος</w>, 'recalling to mind the lowness of the wall etc.' Perhaps what P. wrote was <w lang="el-GR">τότε προσανανεωσάμενος ὁ Μάρκος τὸ τεῖχος καθ᾿ ὃ μέρος ἦν ταπεινότερον</w>, 'recalling the wall where it was rather low', 'recalling the low point on the wall'.

8.37.3 - 8.37.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καὶ τοῖς μὲν ἐπιτηδείοις . . . ἐκοινολογεῖτο</w>:</emph> as it stands not Polybian (so rightly Hultsch and Bttner-Wobst); but the sense is clear. Livy (xxv. 23. 15) has 'electisque . . . ad rem tantam agendam audendamque idoneis centurionibus militibusque'.

8.37.5 - 8.37.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">προσαναμνήσας</w>:</emph> i.e. to those due to scale the walls.

8.37.9 - 8.37.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπιπορευόμενοι τὴν ἐφοδείαν</w>:</emph> cf. x. 15. 1. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ γὰρ εἰς τοὺς πύργους ἡθροισμένοι</w>:</emph> either the excerptor has omitted <w lang="el-GR">τῶν φυλάκων</w> after <w lang="el-GR">ἡθροισμένοι</w> (so Hultsch) or, more probably, one should omit <w lang="el-GR">οἱ</w> (with Anon. de obsid. tol. 59 (320 Thvenot), who quotes this passage) and read <w lang="el-GR">εἰς γὰρ τοὺς πύργους ἡθροισμένοι . . . οἱ μὲν κτλ</w>. <milestone unit="page" n="113">[113]</milestone>

8.37.10 - 8.37.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς μὲν πρῶτοις καὶ τοῖς ἑξῆς</w>:</emph> 'those in the front tower and that next to it'. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐπειδὴ . . . ἤγγιζον καταβαίνοντες</w>:</emph> the present participle is very awkward and suggests compression by the excerptor.

8.37.11 - 8.37.11

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐνῳκοδομημένην τὴν πρώτην πυλίδα διεῖλον</w>:</emph> T reads <w lang="el-GR">την απυλιδα</w> and Mueller's <w lang="el-GR">τινὰ πυλίδα</w> (cf. iv. 71. 7; Thuc. vi. 51. 1) seems preferable to Wescher's <w lang="el-GR">πρώτην</w>, adopted by Hultsch and Bttner-Wobst. Livy, xxv. 24. 3 has 'prope Hexapylon est portula; ea magna ui refringi coepta est', and that it was the first postern seems of no significance. <w lang="el-GR">ἐ?νῳκοδομημένην</w> will be 'built into the wall'; cf. Polyaen. i. 40. 4. Since the Romans descended inside the gate, it is not clear why they had to burst it open, unless this is simply a reference to cutting through the bars in the absence of a <w lang="el-GR">βαλανάγρα</w> (cf. 28. 12 n., vii. 16. 5 n.). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">δι᾿ ἧς . . . στράτευμα</w>:</emph> the excerptor summarizes the event; Livy, xxv. 24. 3 ff. gives a truer version. The following word, inaccurate since the immediate seizure was restricted to Epipolae, also belongs to the excerptor.

8.37.12 - 8.37.12

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐδενὸς ἐπεγνωκότος κτλ</w>.:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 24. 6, 'magna pars tamen ignara tanti mali erat et grauatis omnibus uino somnoque et in uastae magnitudinis urbe partium sensu non satis pertinente in omnia'. Further, the point of attack, the Hexapyla, was on the opposite side of Epipolae from the city proper.

8.37.13 - 8.37.13

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοὺς δὲ Ῥωμαίους . . . τόπου</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxv. 24. 9, 'omnia circa Epipolas armis completas'; but Livy does not mention Roman confidence in this sentence. P. will have continued his account of Sicilian events in viii down to the seizure of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a> proper, like Livy, xxv. 23. 1–31. 11. See Niese, ii. 532–9; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 297–9, 305–8; Hallward, CAH, viii. 67–69 (the two latter date the fall of the city to spring, 211; but see above, pp. 6–8).

Addenda & corrigenda

8.37.7 - 8.37.7

<emph rend="bold">37. 7. <w lang="el-GR">ἐξ αὐτῆς</w>:</emph> delete this note; the phrase has its common meaning, 'immediately'.

Polybius, Histories

Bibliography

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Walbank Commentary

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