Polybius, Histories
Layout
Translation

Bibliography

(0)
No bibliography content available

Archaeology

Places

Book 9 - Chapter 11

1
<head lang="la">IV. Res Hispaniae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnes">ἡγεμόνες</w>, <w lemma="krath%2Fsantes">κρατήσαντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>, <w lemma="sfw%3Dn">σφῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="h%29du%2Fnanto">ἠδύναντο</w> <w lemma="kratei%3Dn">κρατεῖν</w>,
2
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcantes">δόξαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="po%2Flemon">πόλεμον</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%7Crhke%2Fnai">ἀνῃρηκέναι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29stasi%2Fazon">ἐστασίαζον</w>, <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="paratribo%2Fmenoi">παρατριβόμενοι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmfuton">ἔμφυτον</w> <w lemma="%2Afoi%2Fnici">Φοίνιξι</w> <w lemma="pleoneci%2Fan">πλεονεξίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filarxi%2Fan">φιλαρχίαν</w>.
3
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxwn">ὑπάρχων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asdrou%2Fbas">Ἀσδρούβας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Age%2Fskwnos">Γέσκωνος</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kakopragmosu%2Fnhs">κακοπραγμοσύνης</w> <w lemma="proh%2Fxqh">προήχθη</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29cousi%2Fan">ἐξουσίαν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="pisto%2Ftaton">πιστότατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ibhri%2Fan">Ἰβηρίαν</w> <w lemma="fi%2Flwn">φίλων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29andoba%2Flhn">Ἀνδοβάλην</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flai">πάλαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pobalo%2Fnta">ἀποβαλόντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%5Cn">ἀρχὴν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Frti">ἄρτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29peilhfo%2Fta">ἀπειληφότα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fnoian">εὔνοιαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29peba%2Fleto">ἐπεβάλετο</w> <w lemma="xrhma%2Ftwn">χρημάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="ai%29tei%3Dn">αἰτεῖν</w>.
4
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parakou%2Fsantos">παρακούσαντος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="qarrei%3Dn">θαρρεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnh%7C">προγεγενημένῃ</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstei">πίστει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w>, <w lemma="yeudh%3D">ψευδῆ</w> <w lemma="diabolh%5Cn">διαβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pene%2Fgkas">ἐπενέγκας</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkase">ἠνάγκασε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29andoba%2Flhn">Ἀνδοβάλην</w> <w lemma="dou%3Dnai">δοῦναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28autou%3D">ἑαυτοῦ</w> <w lemma="qugate%2Fras">θυγατέρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%28mhrei%2Fan">ὁμηρείαν</w>.
<head>IV. Affairs of Spain</head>The Carthaginian commanders had mastered the enemy, but were unable to master themselves,
and while thinking they had put an end to the war against the Romans began quarrelling with each other, constant friction being caused by that covetousness and love of domination which is innate in Phoenicians. Hasdrubal, son of Gesco, was one of them,
and his abuse of the authority he wielded went so far that he attempted to extract a large sum of money from Andobales, the most faithful friend the Carthaginians had in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a>, who had formerly been deprived of his principality owing to his attachment to them and had recently been restored to it for the same reason.
When he now refused to pay, relying on his loyalty in the past to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, Hasdrubal brought a false accusation against him and compelled him to give his daughters as hostages.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
9.11.0 - 9.11.0
<p rend="Plain Text">Roman embassy to Ptolemy IV</p> <p rend="Plain Text">On the date of this embassy, perhaps 210, but possibly 211, see above, pp. 9–10. The later date would be more certain if this embassy could be identified with that of Livy, xxvii. 4. 10, an untrustworthy reference to legati sent 'ad Ptolomaeum et Cleopatram reges . . . ad commemorandam renouandamque amicitiam', and bearing gifts. Holleaux (66–67) observes that Philopator's queen was <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Arsinoe&groupId=370&placeId=700">Arsinoe</a>, and that she was never co-regent. There is a case for accepting Livy's embassy in some form. <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> had enjoyed friendly relations since Ptolemy II's embassy to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> in 273 (Livy, ep. 14; Dio, x, fg. 41; Dion. Hal. xx. 14. 1–2; Iustin. xviii. 2. 9; Val. Max. iv. 3. 9; Eutrop. ii. 15; App. Sic. 1); and similarities can be traced between the two coinages (cf. Mattingly, NC, 1946, 63–67; AJA, 1950, 126–8; Svoronos, <w lang="el-GR">Τὰ νομίσματα τοῦ Κράτους τῶν Πτολεμαίων</w> (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Athens&groupId=379&placeId=715">Athens</a>, 1904–8), i. 148 ff., 217 ff., iv. 83 ff., 143 ff.; L. H. Neatby, TAPA, 1950, 89–98). See also E. Manni, Riv. fil. 1949, 79–87 (relationship one of amicitia). However, the identification between Livy's embassy and that here cannot be established.</p>
9.11.0 - 9.20.0
<p rend="Plain Text">On generalship</p> <p rend="Plain Text">The context of this discussion is unknown; but it formed part either of the res Italiae of 210 or of the Spanish or Greek events of 211 (above, p. 10). It is to be regarded as supplementary to the fuller discussion of such matters in the lost book on Tactics (20. 4).</p>
Specifics
9.11.1 - 9.11.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οἱ τῶν Καρχηδονίων ἡγεμόνες</w>:</emph> Hasdrubal, son of Gisgo (§ 3), and Hannibal's two brothers Hasdrubal and Mago; on their mutual hostility cf. x. 7. 3; Livy, xxvi. 41. 20. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κρατήσαντες τῶν ὑπεναντίων</w>:</emph> they had killed first Publius, then Gnaeus Scipio (Livy, xxv. 32. 1–36. 16). </p>
9.11.2 - 9.11.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὴν ἔμφυτον . . . πλεονεξίαν καὶ φιλαρχίαν</w>:</emph> cf. ii. 45. 1, <w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὴν ἔμφυτον ἀδικίαν καὶ πλεονεξίαν</w> (of the Aetolians). Carthaginian greed was traditional and Masinissa spoke of it, especially in Hannibal, to P. (25. 4). </p>
9.11.3 - 9.11.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἀσδρούβας ὁ? Γέσκωνος</w>:</emph> he first appears in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Spain&groupId=983&placeId=1735">Spain</a> in 214 (Livy, xxiv. 41. 5). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἀνδοβάλην</w>:</emph> cf. iii. 35. 2 n., 76. 7 n. for his loyalty to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. It was in trying to destroy him before he could join the Carthaginians with 7,500 Suessetani that P. Scipio had been wiped out (Livy, xxv. 34. 6 ff.). Andobales (Indibilis) must have been deprived of his independent kingdom by the Carthaginians <w lang="el-GR">(διὰ Καρχηδονίους</w>; Paton's version, 'owing to his attachment to them', is nonsense), presumably when Hannibal secured the interior <w lang="el-GR">(πάλαι μέν)</w> but he was evidently content to be a vassal. His complete independence, which Hasdrubal son of Gisgo at once tried to whittle away, was evidently his reward for his share in the destruction of the Scipios <w lang="el-GR">(ἄρτι δὲ πάλιν ἀπειληφότα)</w>. </p>
9.11.4 - 9.11.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ψευδῆ διαβολὴν ἐπενέγκας</w>:</emph> cf. x. 35. 6, where Hasdrubal's behaviour is caused by his mistrust; there Mandonius, Andobales' brother, is served in the same way and both are said to have been <milestone unit="page" n="136">[136]</milestone> compelled to deposit their wives as well as their daughters as hostages. On the handing over of women hostages cf. viii. 36. 3 n. Presumably the hostages took the place of the money Andobales refused to deposit. </p>
9.11.1 - 9.11.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τὸ μεγάλην εἶναι . . . σπἀνιν</w>:</emph> corn was a constant preoccupation during the war, and imports were made from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a> on several occasions: cf. Livy, xxii. 37. 1 (Zon. viii. 26. 14), xxiii. 38. 13, xxvi. 32. 3, 40. 15–16, xxvii. 5. 1–6, 8. 19 (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a>); Livy, xxiii. 32. 9, 41. 6–7, xxv. 20. 2–3 (<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a>); cf. Thiel, 56. On the corn supply at this time see de Saint-Denis, LEC, 1940, 129–30. </p>
9.11.2 - 9.11.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μέχρι τῶν τῆς Ῥώμης πυλῶν</w>:</emph> suggests a date after Hannibal's advance in 211 (cf. 5–9). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔξωθεν . . . μὴ γενομένης ἐπικουρίας</w>:</emph> the war in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> had interfered with the sending of corn to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> (Livy, xxvi. 40. 15–16), but <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a> had helped to provision the army at Capua (Livy, xxv. 20. 2–3). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ πάντα τὰ μέρη . . . πολέμων ἐνεστώτων</w>:</emph> exaggerated, for there was no war at this time in Asia Minor (Holleaux, 87 n. 4). Antiochus was engaged in the far east (cf. 43, x. 27–31) and Philip in Greece; and the Roman–Aetolian treaty of autumn 211 (see above, pp. 11–13) was to bring Attalus in against Philip. But these wars are hardly relevant to the Roman corn supply, which depended on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardinia&groupId=947&placeId=1685">Sardinia</a> until Italian cultivation could be restored (Livy, xxviii. 11. 8–9, xxix. 1. 14; see Hultsch, RE, 'Frumentum', cols. 128–9). <milestone unit="page" n="137">[137]</milestone> </p>
9.11.3 - 9.11.3
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸν Σικελικὸν μέδιμνον πεντεκαίδεκα δραχμῶν</w>:</emph> on the Sicilian medimnus of 11gallons see ii. 15. 1 n. The price here quoted is 45 times as high as that in the Po valley in normal times (2 obols a medimnus, ii. 15. 1), and ten times that in Lusitania (xxxiv. 8. 7). </p>
9.11.4 - 9.11.4
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοιαύτης . . . τῆς περιστάσεως</w>:</emph> 'in spite of this distress'; on <w lang="el-GR">περίστασις</w> cf. i. 65. 7 n. </p>
Addenda & corrigenda
9.11.1 - 9.11.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold">11. 1. <w lang="el-GR">κρατήσαντες κτλ</w>.:</emph> for 'Cnaeus' read 'Gnaeus'. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold">11 a:</emph> l. 14 of the note, for 'L. N. Neatby' read 'L. H. Neatby'. </p>

Commentary