<w lemma="%2Aoi%28">Οἱ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akarxhdo%2Fnioi">Καρχηδόνιοι</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="strathgo%5Cn">στρατηγὸν</w> <w lemma="katasth%2Fsantes">καταστήσαντες</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3Dn">αὑτῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkan">Ἀμίλκαν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aba%2Frkan">Βάρκαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pikalou%2Fmenon">ἐπικαλούμενον</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftw%7C">τούτῳ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flon">στόλον</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frisan:">ἐνεχείρισαν·</w>
<w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="paralabw%5Cn">παραλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="nautika%5Cs">ναυτικὰς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmeis">δυνάμεις</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsen">ὥρμησεν</w> <w lemma="porqh%2Fswn">πορθήσων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>. <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%29ktwkaide%2Fkaton">ὀκτωκαιδέκατον</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pole%2Fmw%7C">πολέμῳ</w>.
<w lemma="katasu%2Fras">κατασύρας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alokri%2Fda">Λοκρίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abrettianh%5Cn">Βρεττιανὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="a%29pople%2Fwn">ἀποπλέων</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="kath%3Dre">κατῆρε</w> <w lemma="panti%5C">παντὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Flw%7C">στόλῳ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormi%3Dtin">Πανορμῖτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalamba%2Fnei">καταλαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aei%28rkth%3Ds">Εἱρκτῆς</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Ferukos">Ἔρυκος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Apano%2Frmou">Πανόρμου</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftth%7C">θαλάττῃ</w>, <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Frein">διαφέρειν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="e%29pithdeio%2Fthti">ἐπιτηδειότητι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="stratope%2Fdwn">στρατοπέδων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xronismo%2Fn">χρονισμόν</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fros">ὄρος</w> <w lemma="peri%2Ftomon">περίτομον</w> <w lemma="e%29canesthko%5Cs">ἐξανεστηκὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="perikeime%2Fnhs">περικειμένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fyos">ὕψος</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%2Fn">ἱκανόν</w>. <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="peri%2Fmetros">περίμετρος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnw">ἄνω</w> <w lemma="stefa%2Fnhs">στεφάνης</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="lei%2Fpei">λείπει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w>, <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="periexo%2Fmenos">περιεχόμενος</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fbotos">εὔβοτος</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gewrgh%2Fsimos">γεωργήσιμος</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pelagi%2Fous">πελαγίους</w> <w lemma="pnoia%5Cs">πνοιὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="kei%2Fmenos">κείμενος</w>, <w lemma="qanasi%2Fmwn">θανασίμων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qhri%2Fwn">θηρίων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fmoiros">ἄμοιρος</w>.
<w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="krhmnoi%3Ds">κρημνοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29prosi%2Ftois">ἀπροσίτοις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fk">ἔκ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaian">μεσόγαιαν</w> <w lemma="parh%2Fkontos">παρήκοντος</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fghs">ὀλίγης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="braxei%2Fas">βραχείας</w> <w lemma="deo%2Fmena">δεόμενα</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28tw%3D%7C">αὑτῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="masto%2Fn">μαστόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5Cs">ὃς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29kropo%2Flews">ἀκροπόλεως</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="skoph%3Ds">σκοπῆς</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuou%3Ds">εὐφυοῦς</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnei">λαμβάνει</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcin">τάξιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.
<w lemma="kratei%3D">κρατεῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnos">λιμένος</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frou">εὐκαίρου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Adrepa%2Fnwn">Δρεπάνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alilubai%2Fou">Λιλυβαίου</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmon">δρόμον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdatos">ὕδατος</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Ffqonon">ἄφθονον</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxei">ὑπάρχει</w>.
<w lemma="proso%2Fdous">προσόδους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="tritta%5Cs">τριττὰς</w> <w lemma="dusxerei%3Ds">δυσχερεῖς</w>, <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>, <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>. <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="katastratopedeu%2Fsas">καταστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="parabo%2Flws">παραβόλως</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ami%2Flkas">Ἀμίλκας</w>,
<w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fas">οἰκείας</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhs">ἄλλης</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fdos">ἐλπίδος</w> <w lemma="mhdemia%3Ds">μηδεμιᾶς</w> <w lemma="a%29ntexo%2Fmenos">ἀντεχόμενος</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsous">μέσους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fous">πολεμίους</w> <w lemma="e%28auto%5Cn">ἑαυτὸν</w> <w lemma="dedwkw%2Fs">δεδωκώς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mikrou%5Cs">μικροὺς</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tuxo%2Fntas">τυχόντας</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fois">Ῥωμαίοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnous">κινδύνους</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fasen">παρεσκεύασεν</w>.
<w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmw%2Fmenos">ὁρμώμενος</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parali%2Fan">παραλίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fas">Ἰταλίας</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="me%2Fxri">μέχρι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Akumai%2Fwn">Κυμαίων</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>,
<w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="parastratopedeusa%2Fntwn">παραστρατοπεδευσάντων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Apanormitw%3Dn">Πανορμιτῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fois">σταδίοις</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="poiki%2Flous">ποικίλους</w> <w lemma="a%29gw%3Dnas">ἀγῶνας</w> <w lemma="sunesth%2Fsato">συνεστήσατο</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29niautou%2Fs">ἐνιαυτούς</w>. <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="gra">γρα</w>
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<head>Hamilcar Barcas' Seven Years in Hercte</head>Next year, the eighteenth of the war, the Carthaginians<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note145">B. C. 247.</note>appointed Hamilcar Barcas general, and put the management of the fleet in his hands.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note146">Occupation of Hercte by Hamilcar.</note>He took over the command, and started to ravage the Italian coast. After devastating the districts of Locri, and the rest of Bruttium, he sailed away with his whole fleet to the coast of Panormus and seized on a place called Hercte, which lies between Eryx and Panormus on the coast, and is reputed the best situation in the district for a safe and permanent camp. For it is a mountain rising sheer on every side, standing out above the surrounding country to a considerable height. The table-land on its summit has a circumference of not less than a hundred stades, within which the soil is rich in pasture and suitable for agriculture; the sea-breezes render it healthy; and it is entirely free from all dangerous animals. On the side which looks towards the sea, as well as that which faces the central part of the island, it is enclosed by inaccessible precipices; while the spaces between them require only slight fortifications, and of no great extent, to make them secure. There is in it also an eminence, which serves at once as an acropolis and as a convenient tower of observation, commanding the surrounding district. It also commands a harbour conveniently situated for the passage from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Drepana&groupId=544&placeId=1023">Drepana</a> and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Lilybaeum&groupId=690&placeId=1261">Lilybaeum</a> to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a>, in which there is always abundant depth of water; finally, it can only be reached by three ways—two from the land side, one from the sea, all of them difficult. Here Hamilcar entrenched himself. It was a bold measure: but he had no city which he could count upon as friendly, and no other hope on which he could rely; and<pb n="65" />though by so doing he placed himself in the very midst of the enemy, he nevertheless managed to involve the Romans in many struggles and dangers. To begin with, he would start from this place and ravage the sea-board of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> as far as Cumae; and again on shore, when the Romans had pitched a camp to overawe him, in front of the city of Panormus, within about five stades of him, he harassed them in every sort of way, and forced them to engage in numerous skirmishes, for the space of nearly three years.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note147">B. C. 247-244.</note>Of these combats it is impossible to give a detailed account in writing.
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Walbank Commentary