Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 9 - Chapter 3

<head lang="la">II. Res Italiae</head><w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ku%2Fklw%7C">κύκλῳ</w> <w lemma="perilamba%2Fnwn">περιλαμβάνων</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29appi%2Fou">Ἀππίου</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="h%29kroboli%2Fzeto">ἠκροβολίζετο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katepei%2Fraze">κατεπείραζε</w>, <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenos">βουλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn:">μάχην·</w>

<w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sunupakou%2Fontos">συνυπακούοντος</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fa%7C">πολιορκίᾳ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dnon">συμβαῖνον</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="e%29piferome%2Fnwn">ἐπιφερομένων</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Flais">ἴλαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="kraugh%3Ds">κραυγῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29sakontizo%2Fntwn">εἰσακοντιζόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parembolh%2Fn">παρεμβολήν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pezw%3Dn">πεζῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w> <w lemma="prospipto%2Fntwn">προσπιπτόντων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaspa%3Dn">διασπᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xara%2Fkwma">χαράκωμα</w> <w lemma="peirwme%2Fnwn">πειρωμένων</w>.

<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%5Cs">ὣς</w> <w lemma="e%29du%2Fnato">ἐδύνατο</w> <w lemma="kinh%3Dsai">κινῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="proqe%2Fsews">προθέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnois">εὐζώνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29petri%2Fbonto">ἀπετρίβοντο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptontas">προσπίπτοντας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fsi">βαρέσι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalizo%2Fmenoi">ἀσφαλιζόμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifora%5Cn">ἐπιφορὰν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="belw%3Dn">βελῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmenon">ἔμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcei">τάξει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w>.

<w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbas">Ἀννίβας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dusarestou%2Fmenos">δυσαρεστούμενος</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="parapesei%3Dn">παραπεσεῖν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kkalei%3Dsqai">ἐκκαλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29bouleu%2Feto">ἐβουλεύετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Ftwn">ἐνεστώτων</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="xrh%5C">χρὴ</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w>.

<w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fois">Καρχηδονίοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnonta">συμβαίνοντα</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fxein">παρέχειν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="puqome%2Fnois">πυθομένοις</w>.

<w lemma="ti%2Fs">τίς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="a%29pisth%2Fsai">ἀπιστήσαι</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w>, <w lemma="pollai%3Ds">πολλαῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%28tthme%2Fnoi">ἡττημένοι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fwn">Καρχηδονίων</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntes">τολμῶντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="sugkaqi%2Fstasqai">συγκαθίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fkein">εἴκειν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kxwrei%3Dn">ἐκχωρεῖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pai%2Fqrwn">ὑπαίθρων</w>;

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparh%3Dgon">ἀντιπαρῆγον</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pwrei%2Fais">ὑπωρείαις</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaqi%2Fsantes">καθίσαντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fa">πεδία</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pifane%2Fstaton">ἐπιφανέστατον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkoun">ἐπολιόρκουν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxurota%2Fthn">ἰσχυροτάτην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="ku%2Fklw%7C">κύκλῳ</w> <w lemma="prosmaxome%2Fnwn">προσμαχομένων</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fwn">πολεμίων</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pinoh%2Fsantes">ἐπινοήσαντες</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntofqalmei%3Dn:">ἀντοφθαλμεῖν·</w>

<w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi%2F">Καρχηδόνιοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w>, <w lemma="a%29dialei%2Fptws">ἀδιαλείπτως</w> <w lemma="nikw%3Dntes">νικῶντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxais">μάχαις</w>, <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dtton">ἧττον</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fois">ἐνίοις</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29dusxrhstou%3Dnto">ἐδυσχρηστοῦντο</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnwn">ἡττωμένων</w>.

<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="parai%2Ftion">παραίτιον</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="gegone%2Fnai">γεγονέναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="sunteqewrh%3Dsqai">συντεθεωρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anni%2Fbou">Ἀννίβου</w> <w lemma="su%2Fntagma">σύνταγμα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="ai%29%2Ftion">αἴτιον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="nika%3Dn">νικᾶν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdoni%2Fous">Καρχηδονίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpesqai">λείπεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w>.

<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2F">αἵ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="h%28ttwme%2Fnwn">ἡττωμένων</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparagwgai%5C">ἀντιπαραγωγαὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxas">μάχας</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fnonto:">ἐγίνοντο·</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftwn">τοιούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ntiparh%3Dgon">ἀντιπαρῆγον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="bla%2Fyein">βλάψειν</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppiko%2Fn">ἱππικόν</w>.

<w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akapu%2Fhn">Καπύην</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnont%27">συμβαίνοντ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frois">ἑκατέροις</w> <w lemma="a%29ph%2Fnta">ἀπήντα</w>.

<head>II. Affairs of Italy</head><head>Siege of Capua</head>Hannibal surrounding the camp of Appius Claudius at first harassed him by skirmishing with the object of provoking him to come out and give battle.

But as none paid any attention, his attack finally became very much like an attempt to storm the camp, the cavalry advancing in squadrons, and with loud cries hurling their javelins into the camp, while the infantry attacked in maniples and attempted to tear down the palisade.

But even thus he was unable to move the Romans from their purpose; they used their light-armed forces to repel the assault on the palisade, and kept their heavy-armed troops in their ranks under their standards protecting themselves from the shower of missiles.

Hannibal was dissatisfied in general at being unable either to penetrate into the town or to provoke the Romans to battle, and began to consider what it was best to do under the circumstances.

It seems to me indeed that the state of matters was such as might puzzle not only the Carthaginians, but anyone who heard of it.

For who could believe that the Romans, who had been beaten in so many battles by the Carthaginians, and did not yet even dare to face the enemy in the field, nevertheless refused to retire or to abandon the open country?

While up to now they had contented themselves with following the enemy\'s movements upon the hills, they had now established themselves in the plain in the finest district of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, and were besieging the strongest city of all, with that very enemy surrounding and attacking them whom they could not even bear the thought of confronting;

while the Carthaginians who had won an unbroken series of victories were at times in equal difficulties with the losers.

In my opinion the reason of this conduct on the part of both, was that both had perceived that it was to Hannibal's force of cavalry that the Carthaginians owed their victories and the Romans their defeats.

Consequently both the former tactics of the beaten armies after the battles in moving along parallel to their adversaries were justified, since they were marching through country where the enemy's cavalry could not hurt them,

and the present conduct of both before Capua was only what was to be expected.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

9.3.1 - 9.9.10

The siege of Capua and Hannibal's march on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> These events form part of the res Italiae of Ol. 142, 1 = 211, and Livy (xxvi. 7–12) describes them under A.U.C. 543 (see above, pp. 8–9). After the fall of Tarentum (winter 213/12: viii. 24–34) the Roman cause in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> languished. The loss of Tarentum was accompanied by that of Thurii (viii. 24. 3 n.), <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Metapontum&groupId=763&placeId=1383">Metapontum</a>, and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Heraclea&groupId=624&placeId=1147">Heraclea</a> (viii. 34. 1 n.), giving Hannibal all the Greek cities of the south except <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rhegium&groupId=927&placeId=1659">Rhegium</a>. In 212 the new consuls planned to invest Capua. Hanno, sent from the Bruttii into Campania to hinder this, was heavily defeated near <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Beneventum&groupId=398&placeId=742">Beneventum</a> (Livy, xxv. 13–14; De Santis, iii. 2. 291 n. 148); and, when Hannibal himself advanced into Campania, shortage of supplies soon drove him back into southern <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> (Livy, xxv. 18–19) and at last the consuls could close the siege-lines around Capua (Livy, xxv. 20. 1–4). Meanwhile a good general had been lost in Ti. Sempronius Gracchus (cf. viii. 35. 1 n.). In 211 the siege of <milestone unit="page" n="118">[118]</milestone> Capua continued under Ap. Claudius Pulcher and Q. Fulvius Flaccus, the consuls of 212, whose command was extended (Livy, xxv. 41. 13, xxvi. 1. 2). The events here described are also covered by Livy, xxvi. 4. 1–12. 2; Appian, Hann. 38–43; Sil. It. xii. 479–752; Val. Max. ii. 3. 3; Frontin. Strat. iv. 7. 29; there is an abbreviated version of P. (3. 1–4, 4. 6–7, 10) in Anon. de obsid. tol. 119–23 (322–3 Thvenot). P.'s account probably rests on Silenus and Fabius, the former where the narrative is from the Carthaginian aspect, the latter for details on the Roman side; but cf. 6. 6 n. Livy diverges at several points from P. His own account of Hannibal's march on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> will probably derive from Valerius Antias (Livy, xxvi. 8. 1–11. 9); but he also records Coelius' route (Livy, xxvi. 11. 10–13). For the last battle outside Capua too he follows one source and records the version of a second (Livy, xxvi. 5. 4–6. 8, 6. 9–12), the latter coinciding with App. Hann. 41. which, however, refers the events mentioned (the entry of elephants and Latin-speaking spies into a Roman camp) to Fulvius' camp during the pursuit of Hannibal after he has left <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. The usual view attributes Livy's alternative version (and Appian's) to Coelius (cf. Th. Zielinski, Die letzten Jahre des zweiten punischen Krieges (Leipzig, 1880), 118; H. Haupt, Mlanges Graux (Paris, 1884), 23–34; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 340; H. Sack, Hannibals Marsch auf Rom (Diss. Frankfurt, 1937); Scullard, NC, 1949, 167). But Klotz, who denies that Appian's source used Coelius, argues that Livy's main account of the battle outside Capua is from Coelius, and the more sober alternative, common to Appian, from Valerius Antias. This seems unlikely; and in favour of a Coelian element in Appian is his reference (Hann. 39) to a detachment sent to help <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a> from Alba Fucens, which seems to fit the Coelian version of Hannibal's route (see below, 5. 8 n.). Resemblances between P. and Livy are due to the use of Silenus by P. and also by Coelius, whom Livy is following. On the source problem see Kahrstedt, iii. 275–9; De Sanctis, iii. 2. 336–42; Klotz, Appians Darstellung, 55–57; Jahrb. 1940, 175–80; Livius, 172; Gelzer, Kl. Schr. iii. 241–2; E. T. Salmon, Phoenix, 1957, 153–63; E. W. Davis, ibid. 1959, 113–20.

Specifics

9.3.1 - 9.3.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">Ἀννίβας . . . περιλαμβάνων τὸν χάρακα</w>:</emph> Hannibal wintered 212/11 among the Bruttii (Livy, xxv. 22. 14, xxvi. 5. 3); in spring he marched to Campania cum delectis peditum equitumque, followed by thirty-three elephants (Livy, xxvi. 5. 3). These elephants appeared both in Valerius Antias and in Coelius Antipater (cf. Livy, xxvi. 6. 9, apud alios); Bomilcar had landed them at Locri in 215 (Livy, xxiii. 41. 10–12; Thiel, 70–71; Scullard, NC, 1949, 167–8, quoting evidence from coins). Livy (xxvi. 5. 4) records that Hannibal's camp was behind Mt. Tifata. P. mentions only Appius (i.e. Ap. Claudius Pulcher, cos. 212; cf. viii. 1. 7 n., 3. 1 n., 3. 6, 7. 1–12) in <milestone unit="page" n="119">[119]</milestone> command at Capua (cf. 4. 8, 7. 2, 7. 7) and only a single camp and army (4. 1); but this does not mean that his source was necessarily unaware that Claudius' colleague Q. Fulvius Flaccus (cf. Mnzer, RE, 'Fulvius (59)', cols. 243–6) was also outside the town with his consular army of 212 (Livy, xxvi. 1. 2); see on this Gelzer, Kl. Schr., iii. 241–2. Ap. Claudius' line of circumvallation round Capua must clearly have been double, to afford protection against Hannibal's relieving force; and <w lang="el-GR">χάραξ</w> will here be the outer palisade (not Appius' camp, as Paton takes it). See Strachan-Davidson, ad loc. This outer defence consisted of both a trench and a palisade (cf. 4. 4), like the line built by Hannibal to hold the Romans in the citadel at Tarentum (viii. 33. 4). <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">βουλόμενος ἐκκαλεῖσθαι πρὸς μάχην</w>:</emph> Livy (xxvi. 5. 4–6. 8) gives this attack on the Roman line elaborate treatment, and also recounts an alternative version (Livy, xxvi. 6. 9–12); the latter, with its entry of elephants and Latin-speaking spies into the Roman camp, is also in App. Hann. 41, but it there refers to Fulvius' camp on the way from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>. On the source-problem see 3. 1–9. 10 n. P. is typically more interested in why Hannibal failed and why the Roman resistance was successful.

9.3.2 - 9.3.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πολιορκίᾳ παραπλήσιον</w>:</emph> 'like an attempt to storm the position'; cf. viii. 7. 5, x. 12. 1, for this sense of <w lang="el-GR">πολιορκία</w>. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν</w>:</emph> would normally mean 'into the camp'; but here <w lang="el-GR">παρεμβολή</w> seems to be the area between the inner and outer Roman lines of circumvallation, including the camp proper.

9.3.3 - 9.3.3

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀσφαλιζόμενοι . . . τῶν βελῶν</w>:</emph> 'warding off the shower of missiles': a slightly awkward phrase, since it is the heavy-armed <w lang="el-GR">(τοῖς . . . βαρέσι τῶν ὅπλων)</w> who themselves ward off the missiles, as they remain under their standards <w lang="el-GR">(κατὰ τὰς σημαίας)</w>.

9.3.7 - 9.3.7

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">ἀντιπαρῆγον . . . ταῖς ὑπωρείαις</w>:</emph> on the Fabian tactics adopted after Trasimene cf. iii. 90. 1, 90. 9, 92. 6, etc. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">οὐδ᾿ ἐπινοήσαντες . . . ἀντοφθαλμεῖν</w>:</emph> 'whom they could not even bear the thought of confronting'.

9.3.9 - 9.3.9

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τὸ παρ᾿ Ἀννί?βου σύνταγμα</w>:</emph> P. writes as a cavalry officer (cf. xxviii. 6. 9, xxix. 23. 5) who fully appreciates the significance of that arm (cf. iv. 8. 10, x. 23. 1–8); cf. Mahaffy, Greek Life and Thought (London, 1887), 522 n. 1; von Scala, 24 n. 1.

9.3.10 - 9.3.10

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">αἵ τε . . . ἀντιπαραγωγαί</w>:</emph> 'the tactics of advancing parallel to the enemy'; P. has already discussed the merits of Fabius' tactics in iii. 89. 1–90. 6, but without reference to the point here given main prominence, the avoidance of Hannibal's cavalry.

Polybius, Histories

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