<head lang="la">IV. Res Asiae</head><w lemma="%2A%29%2Festi">Ἔστι</w> <w lemma="toi%2Fnun">τοίνυν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fa">Μηδία</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fgeqos">μέγεθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w> <w lemma="a%29cioxrewta%2Fth">ἀξιοχρεωτάτη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="dunasteiw%3Dn">δυναστειῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29reta%5Cs">ἀρετὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w>, <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn:">ἵππων·</w>
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="zw%2F%7Cois">ζῴοις</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpasan">ἅπασαν</w> <w lemma="xorhgei%3D">χορηγεῖ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="basilika%5C">βασιλικὰ</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fmata">συστήματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppotrofiw%3Dn">ἱπποτροφιῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%2Fdois">Μήδοις</w> <w lemma="e%29pitetra%2Ffqai">ἐπιτετράφθαι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="eu%29fui+%2Fan">εὐφυΐαν</w>.
<w lemma="perioikei%3Dtai">περιοικεῖται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flesin">πόλεσιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhni%2Fsi">Ἑλληνίσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28fh%2Fghsin">ὑφήγησιν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w>, <w lemma="fulakh%3Ds">φυλακῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneken">ἕνεκεν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sugkurou%2Fntwn">συγκυρούντων</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3D%7C">αὐτῇ</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ekbata%2Fnwn">Ἐκβατάνων</w>.
<w lemma="au%28%2Fth">αὕτη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fktistai">ἔκτισται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktous">ἄρκτους</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amhdi%2Fas">Μηδίας</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeitai">ἐπίκειται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amaiw%3Dtin">Μαιῶτιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29%2Fceinon">Εὔξεινον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w>,
<w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleion">βασίλειον</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Amh%2Fdwn">Μήδων</w>, <w lemma="plou%2Ftw%7C">πλούτῳ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="polutelei%2Fa%7C">πολυτελείᾳ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fga">μέγα</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="dienhnoxe%2Fnai">διενηνοχέναι</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w>.
<w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parw%2Freian">παρώρειαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29oro%2Fnthn">Ὀρόντην</w>, <w lemma="a%29tei%2Fxistos">ἀτείχιστος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsa">οὖσα</w>, <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3D%7C">αὑτῇ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoi%2Fhton">χειροποίητον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w>, <w lemma="qaumasi%2Fws">θαυμασίως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="kateskeuasme%2Fnhn">κατεσκευασμένην</w>.
<w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5C">ἐστὶ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleia">βασίλεια</w>, <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgein">λέγειν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parasiwpa%3Dn">παρασιωπᾶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan:">ἀπορίαν·</w>
<w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ai%28roume%2Fnois">αἱρουμένοις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29kplhktika%5Cs">ἐκπληκτικὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dihgh%2Fsewn">διηγήσεων</w> <w lemma="profe%2Fresqai">προφέρεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="met%27">μετ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29ch%2Fsews">αὐξήσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnia">ἔνια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnois">εἰθισμένοις</w> <w lemma="e%29cagge%2Fllein">ἐξαγγέλλειν</w> <w lemma="kalli%2Fsthn">καλλίστην</w> <w lemma="u%28po%2Fqesin">ὑπόθεσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnh">προειρημένη</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w>, <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29labw%3Ds">εὐλαβῶς</w> <w lemma="prosporeuome%2Fnois">προσπορευομένοις</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fnnoian">ἔννοιαν</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="a%29pori%2Fan">ἀπορίαν</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzei">παρασκευάζει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dusxrhsti%2Fan">δυσχρηστίαν</w>.
<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="basi%2Fleia">βασίλεια</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mege%2Fqei">μεγέθει</w> <w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28pta%5C">ἑπτὰ</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxonta">ἔχοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="perigrafh%2Fn">περιγραφήν</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="kataskeuasma%2Ftwn">κατασκευασμάτων</w> <w lemma="polutelei%2Fa%7C">πολυτελείᾳ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flhn">μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="e%29mfai%2Fnonta">ἐμφαίνοντα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="kataballome%2Fnwn">καταβαλλομένων</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="culei%2Fas">ξυλείας</w> <w lemma="a%28pa%2Fshs">ἁπάσης</w> <w lemma="kedri%2Fnhs">κεδρίνης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kuparitti%2Fnhs">κυπαριττίνης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29demi%2Fan">οὐδεμίαν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="gegumnw%3Dsqai">γεγυμνῶσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbainen">συνέβαινεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dokou%5Cs">δοκοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="fatnw%2Fmata">φατνώματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fonas">κίονας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="stoai%3Ds">στοαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peristu%2Flois">περιστύλοις</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3Ds">ἀργυραῖς</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrusai%3Ds">χρυσαῖς</w> <w lemma="lepi%2Fsi">λεπίσι</w> <w lemma="perieilh%3Dfqai">περιειλῆφθαι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kerami%2Fdas">κεραμίδας</w> <w lemma="a%29rgura%3Ds">ἀργυρᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsas">πάσας</w>.
<w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dsta">πλεῖστα</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="lepisqh%3Dnai">λεπισθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aleca%2Fndrou">Ἀλεξάνδρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipa%5C">λοιπὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antigo%2Fnou">Ἀντιγόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Aseleu%2Fkou">Σελεύκου</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Anika%2Fnoros">Νικάνορος</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fan">δυναστείαν</w>.
<w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29antio%2Fxou">Ἀντιόχου</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="nao%5Cs">ναὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29%2Fnhs">Αἴνης</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuo%2Fmenos">προσαγορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fonas">κίονας</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxe">εἶχε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="kexruswme%2Fnous">κεχρυσωμένους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kerami%2Fdes">κεραμίδες</w> <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3D">ἀργυραῖ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="sunete%2Fqeinto">συνετέθειντο</w>, <w lemma="pli%2Fnqoi">πλίνθοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xrusai%3D">χρυσαῖ</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgai">ὀλίγαι</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29rgurai%3D">ἀργυραῖ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%2Fmenon">ὑπέμενον</w>.
<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xaraxqe%5Cn">χαραχθὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="basiliko%5Cn">βασιλικὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28qroi%2Fsqh">ἡθροίσθη</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmisma">νόμισμα</w> <w lemma="mikrw%3D%7C">μικρῷ</w> <w lemma="lei%3Dpon">λεῖπον</w> <w lemma="tetrakisxili%2Fwn">τετρακισχιλίων</w> <w lemma="tala%2Fntwn">ταλάντων</w>. —
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<head>Medea and the Palace at Ecbatana</head>In regard to extent of territory <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> is the most considerable of the kingdoms in Asia, as also in respect of<pb n="26" /><note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note52">Description of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, and of the palace at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a>.</note>the number and excellent qualities of its men, and not less so of its horses. For, in fact, it supplies nearly all Asia with these animals, the royal studs being entrusted to the Medes because of the rich pastures in their country.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note53">See<ref target="b5c44" targOrder="U">5, 44</ref>.</note>To protect it from the neighbouring barbarians a ring of Greek cities was built round it by the orders of Alexander. The chief exception to this is <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ecbatana&groupId=551&placeId=1033">Ecbatana</a>, which stands on the north of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>, in the district of Asia bordering on the Maeotis and Euxine. It was originally the royal city of the Medes, and vastly superior to the other cities in wealth and the splendour of its buildings. It is situated on the skirts of Mount Orontes, and is without walls, though containing an artificially formed citadel fortified to an astonishing strength. Beneath this stands the palace, which it is in some degree difficult to describe in detail, or to pass over in complete silence. To those authors whose aim is to produce astonishment, and who are accustomed to deal in exaggeration and picturesque writing, this city offers the best possible subject; but to those who, like myself, are cautious when approaching descriptions which go beyond ordinary notions, it presents much difficulty and embarrassment. However, as regards size, the palace covers ground the circuit of which is nearly seven stades; and by the costliness of the structure in its several parts it testifies to the wealth of its original builders: for all its woodwork being cedar or cypress not a single plank was left uncovered; beams and fretwork in the ceilings, and columns in the arcades and peristyle, were overlaid with plates of silver or gold, while all the tiles were of silver. Most of these had been stripped off during the invasion of Alexander and the Macedonians, and the rest in the reigns of Antigonus and Seleucus Nicanor. However, even at the time of Antiochus's arrival, the temple of Aena<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note54">This goddess is variously called Anaitis (<bibl n="Plut. Art. 27" default="NO" valid="yes">Plut.<title>Artax.</title>27</bibl>) and Nanea (<bibl n="2 Maccabees 1.13" default="NO" valid="yes">2 Macc. 1, 13</bibl>). And is identified by Plutarch with Artemis, and by others with Aphrodite.</note>still had its columns covered with gold, and a considerable number of silver tiles had been piled up in it, and some few gold bricks and a good many silver ones were still remaining. It was<pb n="27" />from these that the coinage bearing the king's impress was collected and struck, amounting to little less than four thousand talents.
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Walbank Commentary