<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpasan">σύμπασαν</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fan">Σικελίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsei">θέσει</w> <w lemma="teta%2Fxqai">τετάχθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%29kei%2Fnhs">τἀκείνης</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frata">πέρατα</w> <w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apeloponnh%2Fsou">Πελοποννήσου</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsei">θέσει</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="loiph%5Cn">λοιπὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkra">ἄκρα</w>,
<w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> '<w lemma="kei%2Fnh">κείνη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="xerro%2Fnhso%2Fs">χερρόνησός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w>, <w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="nh%3Dsos:">νῆσος·</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="poreuto%2Fs">πορευτός</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plwto%2Fs">πλωτός</w>.
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="sxh%3Dma">σχῆμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeli%2Fas">Σικελίας</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fgwnon">τρίγωνον</w>, <w lemma="ai%28">αἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="korufai%5C">κορυφαὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gwniw%3Dn">γωνιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fwn">ἀκρωτηρίων</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnousi">λαμβάνουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fceis">τάξεις</w>,
<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fan">μεσημβρίαν</w> <w lemma="neu%3Don">νεῦον</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikeliko%5Cn">Σικελικὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w> <w lemma="a%29natei%3Dnon">ἀνατεῖνον</w> <w lemma="%2Apa%2Fxunos">Πάχυνος</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dtai">καλεῖται</w>,
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="keklime%2Fnon">κεκλιμένον</w> <w lemma="o%28ri%2Fzei">ὁρίζει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="porqmou%3D">πορθμοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fxei">ἀπέχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dekadu%2Fo">δεκαδύο</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Apelwria%2Fs">Πελωριάς</w>.
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tri%2Fton">τρίτον</w> <w lemma="te%2Ftraptai">τέτραπται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhn">Λιβύην</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prokeime%2Fnois">προκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnos">Καρχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fois">ἀκρωτηρίοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w>, <w lemma="die%2Fxon">διέχον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fous">σταδίους</w>, <w lemma="neu%2Fei">νεύει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="xeimerina%5Cs">χειμερινὰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fseis">δύσεις</w>, <w lemma="diairei%3D">διαιρεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cn">Λιβυκὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Asardw%3D%7Con">Σαρδῷον</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>, <w lemma="prosagoreu%2Fetai">προσαγορεύεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilu%2Fbaion">Λιλύβαιον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="o%28mw%2Fnumos">ὁμώνυμος</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpw%7C">τόπῳ</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fous">Ῥωμαίους</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstasqai">συνίστασθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fan">πολιορκίαν</w>, <w lemma="tei%2Fxesi%2F">τείχεσί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w> <w lemma="h%29sfalisme%2Fnhn">ἠσφαλισμένην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrw%7C">τάφρῳ</w> <w lemma="baqei%2Fa%7C">βαθείᾳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tena%2Fgesin">τενάγεσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnas">λιμένας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsplous">εἴσπλους</w> <w lemma="pollh%3Ds">πολλῆς</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmenos">δεόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29mpeiri%2Fas">ἐμπειρίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunhqei%2Fas">συνηθείας</w>.
<w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="prosstratopedeu%2Fsantes">προσστρατοπεδεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frou">ἑκατέρου</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi">Ῥωμαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrw%7C">τάφρῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraki">χάρακι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxei">τείχει</w> <w lemma="dialabo%2Fntes">διαλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Frcanto">ἤρξαντο</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fgein">προσάγειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenon">κείμενον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgon">πύργον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Alibuko%5Cn">Λιβυκὸν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flagos">πέλαγος</w>.
<w lemma="proskataskeua%2Fzontes">προσκατασκευάζοντες</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnois">ὑποκειμένοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parektei%2Fnontes">παρεκτείνοντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%5Cs">κατασκευὰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgous">πύργους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnw%7C">προειρημένῳ</w> <w lemma="kate%2Fbalon">κατέβαλον</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kriokopei%3Dn">κριοκοπεῖν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhsan">ἐνεχείρησαν</w>.
<w lemma="ginome%2Fnhs">γινομένης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%3D">ἐνεργοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktikh%3Ds">καταπληκτικῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pu%2Frgwn">πύργων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ponou%2Fntwn">πονούντων</w> <w lemma="a%29n%27">ἀν᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29reipome%2Fnwn">ἐρειπομένων</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="e%29pibaino%2Fntwn">ἐπιβαινόντων</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nto%5Cs">ἐντὸς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>,
<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="i%29sxura%5C">ἰσχυρὰ</w> <w lemma="diatroph%5C">διατροπὴ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fplhcis">κατάπληξις</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poliorkoume%2Fnois">πολιορκουμένοις</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntwn">ὄντων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flei">πόλει</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="politikou%3D">πολιτικοῦ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cs">στρατηγὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29imi%2Flkwn">Ἰμίλκων</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fleipe">παρέλειπε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dunatw%3Dn">δυνατῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29ntoikodomw%3Dn">ἀντοικοδομῶν</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29ntimetalleu%2Fwn">ἀντιμεταλλεύων</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tuxou%3Dsan">τυχοῦσαν</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="parei%3Dxe">παρεῖχε</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fois">ὑπεναντίοις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29piporeuo%2Fmenos">ἐπιπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgois">ἔργοις</w> <w lemma="e%29gxeirw%3Dn">ἐγχειρῶν</w>, <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="pws">πως</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnaito">δύναιτο</w> <w lemma="pu%3Dr">πῦρ</w> <w lemma="e%29mbalei%3Dn">ἐμβαλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flous">παραβόλους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstato">συνίστατο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29ni%2Fote">ἐνίοτε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Ftais">τοιαύταις</w> <w lemma="sumplokai%3Ds">συμπλοκαῖς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29wqo%2Ftwn">εἰωθότων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fptein">πίπτειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="parata%2Fcesi">παρατάξεσι</w>.
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<head>The Topography of Lilybaeum</head>Sicily, then, lies towards Southern <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> very much in the same relative position as the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Peloponnese&groupId=861&placeId=1552">Peloponnese</a> does to the rest of Greece. The only difference is that the one is an island, the other a peninsula; and consequently in the former case there is no communication except by sea, in the latter there is a land communication also. The shape of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> is a triangle, of which the several angles are represented by promontories: that to the south jutting out into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicilian Sea&groupId=972&placeId=1723">Sicilian Sea</a> is called Pachynus; that which looks to the north forms the western extremity of the Straits of Messene and is about twelve stades from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, its name is Pelorus; while the third projects in the direction of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> itself, and is conveniently situated opposite the promontories which cover <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>, at a distance of about a thousand stades: it looks somewhat south of due west, dividing the Libyan from the Sardinian Sea, and is called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>. On this last there is a city of the same name. It was this city that the Romans were now besieging. It was exceedingly strongly fortified: for besides its walls there was a deep ditch running all round it, and on the side of the<pb n="49" />sea it was protected by lagoons, to steer through which into the harbour was a task requiring much skill and practice.The Romans made two camps, one on each side of the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note121">Siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a>, B. C. 250.</note>town, and connected them with a ditch, stockade, and wall. Having done this, they began the assault by advancing their siege-works in the direction of the tower nearest the sea, which commands a view of the Libyan main. They did this gradually, always adding something to what they had already constructed; and thus bit by bit pushed their works forward and extended them laterally, till at last they had brought down not only this tower, but the six next to it also; and at the same time began battering all the others with battering-rams. The siege was carried on with vigour and terrific energy: every day some of the towers were shaken and others reduced to ruins; every day too the siege-works advanced farther and farther, and more and more towards the heart of the city. And though there were in the town, besides the ordinary inhabitants, as many as ten thousand hired soldiers, the consternation and despondency became overwhelming. Yet their commander Himilco omitted no measure within his power. As fast as the enemy demolished a fortification he threw up a new one; he also countermined them, and reduced the assailants to straits of no ordinary difficulty. Moreover, he made daily sallies, attempted to carry or throw fire into the siegeworks, and with this end in view fought many desperate engagements by night as well as by day: so determined was the fighting in these struggles, that sometimes the number of the dead was greater than it ordinarily is in a pitched battle.
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Walbank Commentary