Polybius, Histories

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Book 10 - Chapter 28

1
<w lemma="%2A%28%2Fews">Ἕως</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Flpisen">ἤλπισεν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28%2Fcein">ἥξειν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhs">Ἀρσάκης</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fsxwron">πρόσχωρον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="tolmh%2Fsein">τολμήσειν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmei">δυνάμει</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fth%7C">τηλικαύτῃ</w> <w lemma="diekbalei%3Dn">διεκβαλεῖν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nudri%2Fan">ἀνυδρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29pipolh%3Ds">ἐπιπολῆς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="faino%2Fmenon">φαινόμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnois">προειρημένοις</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w>, <w lemma="u%28po%2Fnomoi">ὑπόνομοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w> <w lemma="freati%2Fas">φρεατίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontes">ἔχοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29gnooume%2Fnas">ἀγνοουμένας</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pei%2Frois">ἀπείροις</w>.
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<w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqh%5Cs">ἀληθὴς</w> <w lemma="paradi%2Fdotai">παραδίδοται</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgos">λόγος</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29gxwri%2Fwn">ἐγχωρίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="%2Ape%2Frsai">Πέρσαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fas">Ἀσίας</w> <w lemma="e%29pekra%2Ftoun">ἐπεκράτουν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fdwkan">ἔδωκαν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="a%29rdeuome%2Fnwn">ἀρδευομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29peisagome%2Fnois">ἐπεισαγομένοις</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdwr">ὕδωρ</w> <w lemma="phgai%3Don">πηγαῖον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="genea%5Cs">γενεὰς</w> <w lemma="karpeu%3Dsai">καρπεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran:">χώραν·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fqen">ὅθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Atau%2Frou">Ταύρου</w> <w lemma="polla%5Cs">πολλὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mega%2Flas">μεγάλας</w> <w lemma="u%28da%2Ftwn">ὑδάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29porru%2Fseis">ἀπορρύσεις</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pede%2Fxonto">ἐπεδέχοντο</w> <w lemma="dapa%2Fnhn">δαπάνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kakopa%2Fqeian">κακοπάθειαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="makrou%3D">μακροῦ</w> <w lemma="kataskeua%2Fzontes">κατασκευάζοντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmous">ὑπονόμους</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="mhde%5C">μηδὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="xrwme%2Fnous">χρωμένους</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fdasi">ὕδασι</w> <w lemma="ginw%2Fskein">γινώσκειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmwn">ὑπονόμων</w> <w lemma="po%2Fqen">πόθεν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxousi">ἔχουσι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pirru%2Fseis">ἐπιρρύσεις</w>.
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<w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28rw%3Dn">ὁρῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhs">Ἀρσάκης</w> <w lemma="e%29pibalo%2Fmenon">ἐπιβαλόμενον</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29rh%2Fmou">ἐρήμου</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fa%7C">πορείᾳ</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="thnika%2Fde">τηνικάδε</w> <w lemma="xwnnu%2Fein">χωννύειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Frein">φθείρειν</w> <w lemma="e%29nexei%2Frhse">ἐνεχείρησε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="freati%2Fas">φρεατίας</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="e%29caggelqe%2Fntos">ἐξαγγελθέντος</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29cape%2Fsteile">ἐξαπέστειλε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Anikomh%2Fdhn">Νικομήδην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fwn">χιλίων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w>, <w lemma="oi%28%5C">οἳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katalabo%2Fntes">καταλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29arsa%2Fkhn">Ἀρσάκην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="u%28pokexwrhko%2Fta">ὑποκεχωρηκότα</w>, <w lemma="tina%5Cs">τινὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="fqei%2Frontas">φθείροντας</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmata">στόματα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pono%2Fmwn">ὑπονόμων</w>, <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="treya%2Fmenoi">τρεψάμενοι</w> <w lemma="fugei%3Dn">φυγεῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="a%29nexw%2Frhsan">ἀνεχώρησαν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Foxon">Ἀντίοχον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="basileu%5Cs">βασιλεὺς</w> <w lemma="dianu%2Fsas">διανύσας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ekato%2Fmpulon">Ἑκατόμπυλον</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w>, <w lemma="h%28%5C">ἣ</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fsh%7C">μέσῃ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aparquhnh%3D%7C">Παρθυηνῇ</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fdwn">διόδων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ferousw%3Dn">φερουσῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fric">πέριξ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="e%29ntau%3Dqa">ἐνταῦθα</w> <w lemma="sumpiptousw%3Dn">συμπιπτουσῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnontos">συμβαίνοντος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Flhfe">εἴληφε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proshgori%2Fan">προσηγορίαν</w>.
<head>Antiochus the Great In Media</head>Arsaces expected that Antiochus would come as far as<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note55">The nature of the desert between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a> and Parthia.</note>this district (of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Media&groupId=742&placeId=1354">Media</a>), but that he would not venture to proceed across the adjoining desert with so large a force, if for no other reason, yet from the scarcity of water. For in this tract of country there is no water appearing on the surface, though there are many subterranean channels which have well-shafts sunk to them, at spots in the desert unknown to persons unacquainted with the district. A true account of these channels has been preserved among the natives to the effect that, during the Persian ascendency, they granted the enjoyment of the profits of the land to the inhabitants of some of the waterless districts for five generations, on condition of their bringing fresh water in; and that, there being many large streams flowing down Mount Taurus, these people at infinite toil and expense constructed these underground channels through a long tract of country, in such a way, that the very people who now use the water are ignorant of the sources from which the channels are originally supplied.When, however, Arsaces saw that Antiochus was determined to attempt to cross the desert, he endeavoured at once to choke up and spoil the wells.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note56">Antiochus prepares to cross it: Arsaces orders the wells to be choked.</note>But King Antiochus, upon this being reported to him, despatched Nicomedes with a thousand horse; who found that Arsaces had retired with his main army, but came upon some of his cavalry in the act of choking up the shafts which went down into the underground channels. They promptly attacked these men, and, having routed and forced them to fly, returned back again to Antiochus.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note57">Antiochus arrives at Hecatompylos.</note>The king, having thus accomplished the journey across the desert, arrived before the city Hecatompylos, which is situated in the centre of Parthia, and derives its name from the fact that the roads which lead to all the surrounding districts converge there.