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Book 9 - Chapter 26a

1
<head lang="la">VI. Res Siciliae</head><w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perime%2Ftrou">περιμέτρου</w> <w lemma="tekmai%2Frontai">τεκμαίρονται</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqh">μεγέθη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w>.
2
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fph%7C">εἴπῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopolitw%3Dn">Μεγαλοπολιτῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fbolon">περίβολον</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="o%29ktw%5C">ὀκτὼ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w>, <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="diplh%3Dn">διπλῆν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedai%2Fmona">Λακεδαίμονα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Flhs">Μεγάλης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fpiston">ἄπιστον</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>.
3
<w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunauch%3Dsai%2F">συναυξῆσαί</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fph%7C">εἴπῃ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fan">στρατοπεδείαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="perigrafh%5Cn">περιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="diplasi%2Fan">διπλασίαν</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29xou%2Fshs">ἐχούσης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fmetron">περίμετρον</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="e%29kplhktiko%5Cn">ἐκπληκτικὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="fai%2Fnetai">φαίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>.
4
<w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="paidikoi%3Ds">παιδικοῖς</w> <w lemma="maqh%2Fmasi">μαθήμασι</w> <w lemma="paradidome%2Fnwn">παραδιδομένων</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gewmetri%2Fas">γεωμετρίας</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mnhmoneu%2Fomen">μνημονεύομεν</w>.
5
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="proh%2Fxqhn">προήχθην</w> <w lemma="ei%29pei%3Dn">εἰπεῖν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="politeuome%2Fnwn">πολιτευομένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fais">ἡγεμονίαις</w> <w lemma="a%29nastrefome%2Fnwn">ἀναστρεφομένων</w> <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kplh%2Fttesqai">ἐκπλήττεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="qauma%2Fzontas">θαυμάζοντας</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzw">μείζω</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollw%3D%7C">πολλῷ</w> <w lemma="mei%2Fzw">μείζω</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopolitw%3Dn">Μεγαλοπολιτῶν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fbolon">περίβολον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousan">ἔχουσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fttw">ἐλάττω</w>,
6
<w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="tekmai%2Fresqai">τεκμαίρεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="stoxazome%2Fnous">στοχαζομένους</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perime%2Ftrou">περιμέτρου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratopedeiw%3Dn">στρατοπεδειῶν</w>.
7
<w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="a%29di%2Fkhma">ἀδίκημα</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="e%29pifa%2Fseis">ἐπιφάσεις</w>. <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="perikeklasme%2Fnas">περικεκλασμένας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bounw%2Fdeis">βουνώδεις</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="u%28polamba%2Fnousi">ὑπολαμβάνουσι</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fxesqai">κατέχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdwn">ἐπιπέδων</w>.
8
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="toiou%3Dton">τοιοῦτον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="teixi%2Fa">τειχία</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kodomiw%3Dn">οἰκοδομιῶν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29gkli%2Fmasi">ἐγκλίμασι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29da%2Ffwn">ἐδάφων</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="oi%29kodomei%3Dsqai">οἰκοδομεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29rqa%2Fs">ὀρθάς</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffous">λόφους</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="bebhke%2Fnai">βεβηκέναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>.
9
<w lemma="gnoi%2Fh">γνοίη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="fainome%2Fnou">φαινομένου</w> <w lemma="paidikw%3Ds">παιδικῶς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w>.
10
<w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="noh%2Fsai">νοήσαι</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="a%29natetame%2Fnas">ἀνατεταμένας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kli%2Fmasin">κλίμασιν</w> <w lemma="oi%29ki%2Fas">οἰκίας</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="i%29sou+yei%3Ds">ἰσοϋψεῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w>, <w lemma="fanero%5Cn">φανερὸν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdou">ἐπιπέδου</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="te%2Fgh">τέγη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29kiw%3Dn">οἰκιῶν</w>, <w lemma="i%29%2Fson">ἴσον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fllhlon">παράλληλον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fstai">ἔσται</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffois">λόφοις</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnw%7C">ὑποκειμένῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="teixw%3Dn">τειχῶν</w> <w lemma="qemeli%2Fois">θεμελίοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdw%7C">ἐπιπέδῳ</w>.
11
<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dsqai">ἡγεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="politeu%2Fesqai">πολιτεύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w>, <w lemma="a%29gnoou%2Fntwn">ἀγνοούντων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w>
<head>VI. Sicilian Affairs</head>Most people judge of the size of cities simply from their circumference.
So that when one says that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> is fifty stades in circumference and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> forty-eight, but that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> is twice as large as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, the statement seems incredible to me.
And when in order to puzzle them still most, one tells them that a city or camp with a circumference of forty stades may be twice as large as one the circumference of which is one hundred stades, this statement seems to them absolutely astounding.
The reason of this is that we have forgotten the lessons in geometry we learnt as children.
I was led to make these remarks by the fact that not only ordinary men but even some statesmen and commanders of armies are thus astounded, and wonder how it is possible for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> to be larger and even much larger than <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>, although its circumference is smaller;
or at other times attempt to estimate the number of men in a camp by taking into consideration its circumference alone.
Another very similar error is due to the appearance of cities. Most people suppose that cities set upon broken and hilly ground can contain more houses than those set upon flat ground.
This is not so, as the walls of the houses are not built at right angles to the slope, but to the flat ground at the foot on which the hill itself rests.
The truth of this can be made manifest to the intelligence of a child.
For if one supposes the houses on a slope to be raised to such a height that their roofs are all level with each other, it is evident that the flat space thus formed by the roofs will be equal in area and parallel to the flat space in which the hill and the foundations of the houses rest.
So much for those who aspire to political power and the command of armies but are ignorant of such things and surprised by them.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
9.21.0 - 9.26.0
<p rend="Plain Text">Hannibal's character</p> <p rend="Plain Text">On the placing of this discussion, from the extracts on virtue and vice (P) see above, p. 10. P. indicates in x. 26. 9 the principles on which he inserts such a character sketch. There is further discussion of Hannibal at xi. 19 and xxiii. 13. 2. On ancient views of Hannibal's character see K. Christ, Historia, 1968, 461–95.</p>
9.26.10 - 9.26.11
<p rend="Plain Text">Conclusion of digression. P. ends by referring to the two circumstances which hinder judgement (cf. 22. 10), and reiterates the two charges of avarice and cruelty (cf. 22. 8).</p>
9.26.0 - 9.26.0
<p rend="Plain Text">Computation of the size of cities</p> <p rend="Plain Text"> This extract, continuous with 27 in the excerpta antiqua, must form part of the res Siciliae of Ol. 142, 2 = 210 B.C. (cf. above, p. 11). It may have been introduced in connexion with a description of Agrigentum (cf. 27. 1, <w lang="el-GR">κατὰ τὰ προειρημένα)</w>, but it is possible that his recent discussion of the part played by geometry in the art of a general (14. 5 ff.) has led P. to revert to this theme, despite 20. 10, <milestone unit="page" n="155">[155]</milestone> <w lang="el-GR">καὶ περὶ μὲν τούτων ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἡμῖν εἰρήσθω</w> . The chapter makes two points: (a) perimeter and area are not necessarily proportional; (b) the effective area of a town is not increased by the existence of uneven ground. </p>
9.26.2 - 9.26.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> Perimeters of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>. 48 stades (nearly 6 miles) corresponds reasonably well to the length of the walls of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> as determined by excavation; cf. Wace, BSA, 1905–6, 284–8; 1906–7, 5–16; Dickins, BSA, 1905–6, 436–7; summary in Bölte, RE, '<a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>', cols. 1359–60; plan in BSA, 1906–7, pl. 1 (1:8,000), reproduced by Bölte, op. cit., cols. 1353–4; cf. Baedeker, Greece <emph rend="superscript">4</emph> , map facing p. 365. P.'s figure of 50 stades for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> has been confirmed to within half a mile. Loring made the circuit of the walls 46 stades (or 47 if one adds the breadth of the river twice), and argued that the circuit as excavated or deduced by the British School is that known to P., since it is the original circuit; this would imply no reduction in the circuit after the destruction by Cleomenes, as one party favoured (cf. v. 93. 5). See the plan in E. A. Gardner, W. Loring, G. C. Richards, and W. J. Woodhouse, Excavations at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> (London, 1892), 114 and pl. 1 (where, however, the scale in stades is incorrect; cf. Bury, JHS, 1898, 15 n. 1); Kiepert, FOA, xiii; von Hiller, RE, 'Megala polis', cols. 133–4 (who, col. 130, misunderstands P. to say that <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> contained twice the population of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διπλῆν . . . τὴν Λακεδαίμονα τῆς Μεγάλης πόλεως</w> :</emph> modern calculations do not confirm this. The area included within the walls of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a> is 4,090,724 sq. yds.; but the perimeter of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> is itself irregular, and from the map in BSA, 1906–7, it does not appear that the area within the walls can have amounted to more than 2,500,000 sq. yds. at the most. </p>
9.26.3 - 9.26.3
<p rend="Plain Text">Comparative sizes of towns (or camps). P.'s general point is correct, but he quotes an extreme example. The largest area that can be enclosed by a perimeter of given length takes the form of a circle. A circle of 40 stades circumference has an area of about 127.75 sq. stades. A figure containing only half this area in a perimeter of 100 stades would have to measure almost 49 stades by less than 1.5 stadesa scarcely feasible shape for either a city or a camp.</p>
Specifics
9.26.1 - 9.26.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἔκ τε τῶν προειρημένων . . . φανερόν</w>:</emph> cf. 25. 3. After discussing the influence of friends in respect of cruelty (24) and avarice (25), he now turns to the other factor (cf. 22. 10), the complexity of events. </p>
9.26.2 - 9.26.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">αἱ πόλεις μετέωροι</w>:</emph> the fall of Capua, which followed Hannibal's march on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> (3. 1–9. 10, 9. 10 a n.) was not followed by any swing over of cities to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. For the taking of Atella and Calatia <milestone unit="page" n="154">[154]</milestone> see 9. 10 a n. In 210 the Romans recovered Salapia in Apulia (Livy, xxvi. 38. 6–14) and Marmoreae and Meles in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Samnium&groupId=943&placeId=1678">Samnium</a> (Livy, xxvii. 1. 1); and about this time Tisia among the Bruttii (its site is unknown) was both acquired and lost (App. Hann. 44). In 209 the consuls Q. Fabius Maximus and Q. Fulvius Flaccus took several towns (Livy, xxvii. 15. 2–4; Eutrop. iii. 16). Livy xxvi. 38. 1–3 has observations similar to P.'s, but the context is different: 'Hannibal ante omnia angebat quod Capua pertinacius oppugnata ab Romanis quam defensa ab se multorum Italiae populorum animos auerterat, quos neque omnes terrere praesidiis nisi uellet in multas paruasque partes carpere exercitum quod minime tum expediebat poterat, nec deductis praesidiis spei liberam uel obnoxiam timori sociorum relinquere fidem. praeceps in auaritiam et crudelitatem animus ad spolianda quae tueri nequibat, ut uastata hosti relinquerentur, inclinauit'; above, p. 11. Here, however, Hannibal's treatment of the cities he has to abandon is mentioned as leading others to go over (Livy, xxvi. 38. 4–5), not to illustrate Hannibal's character; and the fall of Salapia (Livy, xxvi. 38. 6–14) exemplifies this. </p>
9.26.6 - 9.26.6
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀγωνιῶν μὴ . . . συγκαταφθείρῃ τοὺς ἰδίους στρατιώτας</w> :</emph> as he lost his cavalry at Salapia (Livy, xxvi. 38. 12–14). </p>
9.26.7 - 9.26.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μετανιστὰς εἰς ἄλλας πόλεις</w>:</emph> cf. Livy, xxvii. 1. 14 for the transfer of the people of Herdonea to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metapontum&groupId=763&placeId=1383">Metapontum</a> and Thurii and the burning of the town (in 210). But Appian's account (Hann. 4. 8) of the transfer of the people of Atella to Thurii is inaccurate; Atella had already fallen to the Romans just after Capua (9. 10 a n.). </p>
9.26.9 - 9.26.9
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">βίαιοι προφάσεις</w>:</emph> 'pretexts for using violence' (Strachan-Davidson, quoting Thuc. iii. 82. 2, <w lang="el-GR">βίαιος διδάσκαλος)</w>. One might have expected a <w lang="el-GR">βίαιος πρόφασις</w> to be 'an excuse put forward violently', as <w lang="el-GR">βίαιος θάνατος</w> is 'a death produced violently'; and Schweighaeuser queries the text. Bttner-Wobst suggests <w lang="el-GR">βίαιοι</w> 〈<w lang="el-GR">πρά?ξεις</w>〉 <w lang="el-GR">προφάνως</w>. But a change is probably unnecessary. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">διὰ τῶν εἰσιόντων στρατιωτῶν εἰς τὰς πόλεις</w> :</emph> presumably the cities into which the transferred populations were brought. </p>
9.26.1 - 9.26.1
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὰ μεγέθη τῶν προειρημένων</w>:</emph> the size of cities is evidently under discussion; <w lang="el-GR">μέγεθος</w> is 'area'. </p>
9.26.6 - 9.26.6
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἀνδρῶν</w>:</emph> this is really the same mistake of arguing from the perimeter to the area, since in a camp, unlike a city, the area will normally be directly related to the population. P. may be thinking of a Greek camp, which might vary considerably in shape and layout to suit the site, rather than the regular Roman camp (cf. vi. 42. 1–5). <milestone unit="page" n="156">[156]</milestone> </p>
9.26.7 - 9.26.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἕτερον ἀδίκημα</w>:</emph> Bekker suggested <w lang="el-GR">ἀγνόημα</w>; but this word is not found elsewhere in P. On the whole it is best to keep <w lang="el-GR">ἀδίκημα</w> with the rather unusual sense of 'error' (cf. Reiske, iv. 494: e<w lang="el-GR">τὸ δίκαιον</w> saepe uerum et rectum est . . . adeoque <w lang="el-GR">ἀδίκημα</w> est aberratio a uero, etiam in opinatione'). </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περὶ τὰς τῶν πόλεων ἐπιφάσεις</w>:</emph> 'concerning the surface-areas of cities'; <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιφάσεις</w> (so Schweighaeuser for <w lang="el-GR">ἀποφάσεις)</w> will be much the same as <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιφάνεια</w>. Shuckburgh, presumably keeping <w lang="el-GR">ἀποφάσεις</w>, renders: 'a similar mistake is also made in pronouncing as to the number of inhabitants of cities'; but such a meaning cannot be extracted from the Greek. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">περικεκλασμένας καὶ βουνώδεις</w>:</emph> sc. <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιφάσεις</w>; 'a broken and hilly surface-area', cf. xii. 20. 6, xviii. 22. 9. Schweighaeuser, Paton, and Shuckburgh all supply <w lang="el-GR">πόλεις</w>, but the adjectives are more suited to <w lang="el-GR">ἐπιφάσεις</w>. By an odd aberration LSJ (s.v. <w lang="el-GR">περικλάω)</w> joins <w lang="el-GR">οἰκίαι περικεκλασμέναι</w>. </p>
9.26.8 - 9.26.8
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">μὴ τοῖς ἐγκλίμασι . . . πρὸς ὀρθάς</w>:</emph> 'not at right angles to the slopes'. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τοῖς ὑποκειμένοις ἐπιπέδοις</w>:</emph> 'the horizontal plane underlying these'; a mathematical concept. Paton 'to the flat ground at the foot on which the hill itself rests' could mislead. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐφ᾿ ὧν . . . βεβηκέναι συμβαίνει</w>:</emph> 'on which the hills themselves stand'; cf. for <w lang="el-GR">βεβηκέναι</w>, viii. 4. 10 n. </p>
9.26.9 - 9.26.9
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἐκ τοῦ φαινομένου παιδικῶς ὅμως</w>:</emph> 'from an argument which is after all clear to a child's intelligence'. </p>
Addenda & corrigenda
9.22.0 - 9.26.0
<p rend="Plain Text">on ancient views of Hannibal's character see K. Christ, Historia, 1968, 461–95.</p>

Commentary