Polybius, Histories

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Book 16 - Chapter 29

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<w lemma="%2A%28o">Ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="e%29bou%2Fleto">ἐβούλετο</w> <w lemma="parele%2Fsqai">παρελέσθαι</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="a%29forma%5Cs">ἀφορμὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fqras">ἐπιβάθρας</w>. — <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fina">Ἵνα</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29a%5Cn">ἐὰν</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqhtai">πρόθηται</w> <w lemma="diabai%2Fnein">διαβαίνειν</w> <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fqran">ἐπιβάθραν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxoi">ἔχοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabudon">Ἄβυδον</w>. —
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ath%5Cn">Τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29abu%2Fdou">Ἀβύδου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ashstou%3D">Σηστοῦ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsin">θέσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flewn">πόλεων</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="pleio%2Fnwn">πλειόνων</w> <w lemma="e%29cariqmei%3Dsqai">ἐξαριθμεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="ma%2Ftaion">μάταιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai%2F">εἶναί</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Ffelos">ὄφελος</w>, <w lemma="i%28storhke%2Fnai">ἱστορηκέναι</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn:">τόπων·</w>
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<w lemma="kefalaiwdw%3Ds">κεφαλαιωδῶς</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28pomnh%3Dsai">ὑπομνῆσαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29naginw%2Fskontas">ἀναγινώσκοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fsews">ἐπιστάσεως</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fxrhston">ἄχρηστον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzw">νομίζω</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fn">παρόν</w>.
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<w lemma="gnoi%2Fh">γνοίη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnas">προειρημένας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnwn">ὑποκειμένων</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sugkri%2Fsews">συγκρίσεως</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fgesqai">λέγεσθαι</w> <w lemma="mello%2Fntwn">μελλόντων</w>.
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<w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fn">μέν</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29wkeanou%3D">Ὠκεανοῦ</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnou">προσαγορευομένου</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tisin">τισιν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29atlantikou%3D">Ἀτλαντικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w>. <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="ei%29spleu%3Dsai">εἰσπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ou%29xi%5C">οὐχὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hrakle%2Fous">Ἡρακλέους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="peraiwqe%2Fnta">περαιωθέντα</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmatos">στόματος</w>,
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<w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aproponti%2Fda">Προποντίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="a%29fike%2Fsqai">ἀφικέσθαι</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="ou%29xi%5C">οὐχὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="%2Ashstou%3D">Σηστοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%29abu%2Fdou">Ἀβύδου</w> <w lemma="diasth%2Fmatos">διαστήματος</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenon">ποιησάμενον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fsploun">εἴσπλουν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fs">πρός</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fxhs">τύχης</w> <w lemma="poioume%2Fnhs">ποιουμένης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%5Cn">κατασκευὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="porqmw%3Dn">πορθμῶν</w>, <w lemma="pollapla%2Fsion">πολλαπλάσιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hrakle%2Fous">Ἡρακλέους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fsponton:">Ἑλλήσποντον·</w>
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%2Fr">γάρ</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="e%28ch%2Fkonta">ἑξήκοντα</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabudon">Ἄβυδον</w> <w lemma="duei%3Dn">δυεῖν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2F">εἴ</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="tekmairome%2Fnou">τεκμαιρομένου</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pollaplasi%2Fan">πολλαπλασίαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w>.
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<w lemma="eu%29kairo%2Fteron">εὐκαιρότερον</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fous">Ἡρακλείους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmato%2Fs">στόματός</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabudon">Ἄβυδον</w>.
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28p%27">ὑπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpwn">ἀνθρώπων</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%2Fmenon">οἰκούμενον</w> <w lemma="pu%2Flhs">πύλης</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fqesin">διάθεσιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flous">ἀλλήλους</w> <w lemma="e%29pimici%2Fan">ἐπιμιξίαν</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="gefurou%2Fmenon">γεφυρούμενον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pezeu%2Fein">πεζεύειν</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Fras">ἀμφοτέρας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29pei%2Frous">ἠπείρους</w> <w lemma="proairoume%2Fnwn">προαιρουμένων</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plwteuo%2Fmenon">πλωτευόμενον</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds:">συνεχῶς·</w>
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<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28hraklei%2Fous">Ἡρακλείους</w> <w lemma="sth%2Flas">στήλας</w> <w lemma="spa%2Fnion">σπάνιον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsin">χρῆσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spani%2Fois">σπανίοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29nepimici%2Fan">ἀνεπιμιξίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29qnw%3Dn">ἐθνῶν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="pe%2Frasi">πέρασι</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alibu%2Fhs">Λιβύης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnwsi%2Fan">ἀγνωσίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="qala%2Ftths">θαλάττης</w>.
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<w lemma="au%29th%5C">αὐτὴ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29abudhnw%3Dn">Ἀβυδηνῶν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flis">πόλις</w> <w lemma="perie%2Fxetai">περιέχεται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29mfoi%3Dn">ἀμφοῖν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Dn">τοῖν</w> <w lemma="meroi%3Dn">μεροῖν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphs">Εὐρώπης</w> <w lemma="a%29krwthri%2Fwn">ἀκρωτηρίων</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fna">λιμένα</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmenon">δυνάμενον</w> <w lemma="ske%2Fpein">σκέπειν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="panto%5Cs">παντὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmou">ἀνέμου</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29normou%3Dntas">ἐνορμοῦντας</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29kto%5Cs">ἐκτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="lime%2Fna">λιμένα</w> <w lemma="katagwgh%3Ds">καταγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="ou%29damw%3Ds">οὐδαμῶς</w> <w lemma="ou%29damh%3D%7C">οὐδαμῇ</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28rmh%3Dsai">ὁρμῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29cu%2Fthta">ὀξύτητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3D">ῥοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="po%2Fron">πόρον</w>.
<head>The <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> Compared with Gibraltar</head>Philip was anxious to anticipate the Romans in<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note43">B. C. 200.</note>seizing bases of operation and landing-places in this country (Asia). . . .In order that, if it should be his purpose again to cross to Asia, he might have a landing-place at Abydos.The position of Abydos and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sestos&groupId=969&placeId=1717">Sestos</a>, and the advantages of<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note44">The Dardanelles compared with the Straits of Gibraltar.</note>the situation of those towns it would, I think, be waste of time for me to state in great detail, because the singularity of those sites has made them familiar to all persons of intelligence. Still I imagine that it will not be otherwise than useful to remind my readers briefly of the facts, by way of attracting their attention. A man would best realise the advantages of these cities, not by regarding their sites by themselves, but by comparing and contrasting them with those about to be mentioned. For just as it is impossible to sail from the Ocean,—or as some call it the Atlantic,—into our sea, except by passing between the Pillars of Heracles, so is it impossible to sail from our sea into the Propontis and the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> except through the channel separating <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sestos&groupId=969&placeId=1717">Sestos</a> and Abydos. But as though Fortune had designed these two straits to counterbalance each other, the passage between the Pillars of Heracles is many times as broad as that of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a>,—the former being sixty, the latter two stades; the reason being, as far as one may conjecture, the great superiority in size of the external Ocean to our sea: while the channel at Abydos is more convenient than that at the Pillars of Heracles. For the former being lined on both sides<pb n="196" />by human habitations is of the nature of a gate admitting mutual intercourse, sometimes being bridged over by those who determine to cross on foot, and at all times admitting a passage by sea. But the channel at the Pillars of Heracles is seldom used, and by very few persons, owing to the lack of intercourse between the tribes inhabiting those remote parts of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Libya&groupId=686&placeId=427">Libya</a> and Europe, and owing to the scantiness of our knowledge of the external Ocean. The city of Abydos itself is enclosed on both sides by two European promontories, and possesses a harbour capable of sheltering ships anchoring in it from every wind; while there is no possibility of anchoring at any point near the city outside the harbour mouth, owing to the rapidity and violence of the current setting through the strait.