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Book 9 - Chapter 11a

1
<head lang="la">V. Res Italiae</head><w lemma="%2A%28%2Foti">Ὅτι</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="presbeuta%5Cs">πρεσβευτὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteilan">ἐξαπέστειλαν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="%2Aptolemai%3Don">Πτολεμαῖον</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftw%7C">σίτῳ</w> <w lemma="xorhghqh%3Dnai">χορηγηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnin">σπάνιν</w>,
2
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantos">ἅπαντος</w> <w lemma="e%29fqarme%2Fnou">ἐφθαρμένου</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhs">Ῥώμης</w> <w lemma="pulw%3Dn">πυλῶν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fcwqen">ἔξωθεν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnhs">γενομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fte">ἅτε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmwn">πολέμων</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="parakaqhme%2Fnwn">παρακαθημένων</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fgupton">Αἴγυπτον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>.
3
<w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tosou%3Dton">τοσοῦτον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rw%2Fmhn">Ῥώμην</w> <w lemma="proebebh%2Fkei">προεβεβήκει</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fdimnon">μέδιμνον</w> <w lemma="pentekai%2Fdeka">πεντεκαίδεκα</w> <w lemma="draxmw%3Dn">δραχμῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>.
4
<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fsews">περιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="h%29me%2Floun">ἠμέλουν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemikw%3Dn">πολεμικῶν</w>. —
<head>V. Affairs of Italy</head><head>Roman Embassy to Ptolemy</head>The Romans sent envoys to Ptolemy wishing to procure a supply of corn, as they were suffering from a great scarcity of it,
all the crops in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> up to the gates of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> having been destroyed by the armies, and no help from abroad having been forthcoming, since all over the world except in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Egypt&groupId=556&placeId=368">Egypt</a> there were wars in progress and hostile forces in the field.
The scarcity at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> had reached such a pitch that the Sicilian medimnus cost fifteen drachmae.
But in spite of this distress the Romans did not neglect their military preparations. . ..

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