Polybius, Histories

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Book 12 - Chapter 25e

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<w lemma="tei%3Dtai">τεῖται</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pollw%3Dn">πολλῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29krisi%2Fan">ἀκρισίαν</w>. <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5Cn">αὐτὸν</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%3Ds">πραγματικῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fas">ἱστορίας</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="trimerou%3Ds">τριμεροῦς</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28no%5Cs">ἑνὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmasi">ὑπομνήμασι</w> <w lemma="polupragmosu%2Fnhn">πολυπραγμοσύνην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fqesin">παράθεσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Flhs">ὕλης</w>, <w lemma="e%28te%2Frou">ἑτέρου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fan">θέαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="potamw%3Dn">ποταμῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fnwn">λιμένων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="i%29diwma%2Ftwn">ἰδιωμάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diasthma%2Ftwn">διαστημάτων</w>, <w lemma="tri%2Ftou">τρίτου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politika%2Fs">πολιτικάς</w>,
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<w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="e%29fi%2Fentai">ἐφίενται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="polloi%5C">πολλοὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="progegenhme%2Fnhn">προγεγενημένην</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w>, <w lemma="prosfe%2Frontai">προσφέρονται</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%5Cn">ἐπιβολὴν</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dstoi">πλεῖστοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grafo%2Fntwn">γραφόντων</w> <w lemma="a%28plw%3Ds">ἁπλῶς</w> <w lemma="di%2Fkaion">δίκαιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xe%2Freian">εὐχέρειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flman">τόλμαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cdiourgi%2Fan">ῥᾳδιουργίαν</w>,
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<w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="farmakopw%2Flais">φαρμακοπώλαις</w> <w lemma="docokopou%3Dntes">δοξοκοποῦντες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgontes">λέγοντες</w> <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fneka">ἕνεκα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pori%2Fzein">πορίζειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn:">τούτων·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fw">πλείω</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fnioi">ἔνιοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fntwn">δοκούντων</w> <w lemma="eu%29lo%2Fgws">εὐλόγως</w> <w lemma="prosa%2Fgein">προσάγειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan">ἱστορίαν</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="logikoi%5C">λογικοὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29atrw%3Dn">ἰατρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ndiatri%2Fyantes">ἐνδιατρίψαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="bublioqh%2Fkais">βυβλιοθήκαις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnhma%2Ftwn">ὑπομνημάτων</w> <w lemma="peripoihsa%2Fmenoi">περιποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="polupeiri%2Fan">πολυπειρίαν</w> <w lemma="pei%2Fqousin">πείθουσιν</w> <w lemma="au%28tou%5Cs">αὑτοὺς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntes">ὄντες</w> <w lemma="i%28kanoi%5C">ἱκανοὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pibolh%2Fn">ἐπιβολήν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29rkou%2Fntws">ἀρκούντως</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dsi">δοκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="prosfe%2Fresqai">προσφέρεσθαι</w>, ?<w lemma=""></w>* <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29moi%5C">ἐμοὶ</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pragmatikh%5Cn">πραγματικὴν</w> <w lemma="i%28stori%2Fan:">ἱστορίαν·</w>
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29popteu%3Dsai">ἐποπτεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fteron">πρότερον</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%2Fmata">ὑπομνήματα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gnw%3Dnai">γνῶναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%2Fwn">ἀρχαίων</w> <w lemma="dialh%2Fyeis">διαλήψεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nnoi%2Fas">ἐννοίας</w> <w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="pri%5Cn">πρὶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsewn">διαθέσεων</w>, <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w>, <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>, <w lemma="pra%2Fcewn">πράξεων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sunei%3Dnai">συνεῖναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxas">τύχας</w>, <w lemma="ai%28%3Ds">αἷς</w> <w lemma="ke%2Fxrhntai">κέχρηνται</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29nwte%2Frw">ἀνωτέρω</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w>, <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhsto%2Fn">εὔχρηστόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti:">ἐστι·</w>
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<w lemma="sunefi%2Fsthsi">συνεφίστησι</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="progegono%2Fta">προγεγονότα</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllon">μέλλον</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fws">οἰκείως</w>, <w lemma="e%29a%2Fn">ἐάν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqinw%3Ds">ἀληθινῶς</w> <w lemma="i%28storh%3D%7C">ἱστορῇ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="parelhluqo%2Fta:">παρεληλυθότα·</w>
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<w lemma="to%2F">τό</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="o%28rmhqe%2Fnta">ὁρμηθέντα</w> <w lemma="pepei%3Dsqai">πεπεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piginome%2Fnas">ἐπιγινομένας</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fceis">πράξεις</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w>, <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fpeistai">πέπεισται</w> <w lemma="%2Ati%2Fmaios">Τίμαιος</w>, <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fhqes">εὔηθες</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%2Fwn">ἀρχαίων</w> <w lemma="zwgra%2Ffwn">ζωγράφων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frga">ἔργα</w> <w lemma="qeasa%2Fmenos">θεασάμενος</w> <w lemma="i%28kano%5Cs">ἱκανὸς</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Foito">οἴοιτο</w> <w lemma="zwgra%2Ffos">ζωγράφος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosta%2Fths">προστάτης</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="te%2Fxnhs">τέχνης</w>.
<head>General Remarks on Timaeus as an Historian</head>The story of the brazen bull is this. It was made by<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note40">The brazen bull of phalaris.</note>Phalaris at Agrigentum; and he used to force men to get into it, and then by way of punishment light a fire underneath. The metal becoming thus red hot, the man inside was roasted and scorched to death; and when he screamed in his agony, the sound from the machine was very like the bellowing of a bull. When the Carthaginians conquered <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sicily&groupId=973&placeId=1724">Sicily</a> this bull was removed from Agrigentum to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a>. The trap door between the shoulders, through which the victims used to be let down, still remains; and no other reason for the construction of such a bull in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> can be discovered at all: yet Timaeus has undertaken to upset the common story, and to refute the declarations of poets and historians, by alleging that the bull at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Carthage&groupId=441&placeId=820">Carthage</a> did not come from Agrigentum, and that no such figure ever existed there; and he has composed a lengthy treatise to prove this. . . .What epithet ought one to apply to Timaeus, and what word will properly characterise him? A man of his kind appears to me to deserve the very bitterest of the terms which he has applied to others. It has already been sufficiently proved that he is a carping, false and impudent writer; and from what remains to be said he will be shown to be unphilosophical, and, in short, utterly uninstructed. For towards the end of his twenty-first book, in the course of his "harangue of Timoleon," he remarks that "the whole sublunary world being divided into three parts —Asia, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a>, and Europe. . . ."<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note41">See<ref target="b3c37" targOrder="U">3, 37</ref>. The point seems to be that the remark was too commonplace to put into the mouth of a hero.</note>One could scarcely believe such a remark to have come, I don't say from Timaeus, but even from the proverbial Margites. . . .<pb n="102" />