Polybius, Histories

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Book 18 - Chapter 30

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<w lemma="%2A%29ek">Ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyin">ὄψιν</w> <w lemma="labei%3Dn">λαβεῖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="probolh%2Fn">προβολήν</w>, <w lemma="poi%2Fan">ποίαν</w> <w lemma="tin%27">τιν᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%5Cs">εἰκὸς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2Fna">τίνα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kkai%2Fdeka">ἑκκαίδεκα</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Fqos">βάθος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w>.
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<w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsoi">ὅσοι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fmpton">πέμπτον</w> <w lemma="zugo%5Cn">ζυγὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28perai%2Frousi">ὑπεραίρουσι</w>, <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsais">σαρίσαις</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Doi%2F">οἷοί</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="sumbale%2Fsqai">συμβαλέσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunon:">κίνδυνον·</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="probolh%2Fn">προβολήν</w>,
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<w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="w%29%2Fmous">ὤμους</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prohgoume%2Fnwn">προηγουμένων</w> <w lemma="a%29naneneukui%2Fas">ἀνανενευκυίας</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frousi">φέρουσι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frin">χάριν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="korufh%5Cn">κορυφὴν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="a%29sfali%2Fzein">ἀσφαλίζειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kta%2Fcews">ἐκτάξεως</w>, <w lemma="ei%29rgousw%3Dn">εἰργουσῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="puknw%2Fsei">πυκνώσει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="sarisw%3Dn">σαρισῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fsa">ὅσα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="belw%3Dn">βελῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28perpeth%3D">ὑπερπετῆ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prwtostatw%3Dn">πρωτοστατῶν</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmena">φερόμενα</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnatai">δύναται</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptein">προσπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%3Dtas">ἐφεστῶτας</w>.
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<w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="sw%2Fmatos">σώματος</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pagwgh%5Cn">ἐπαγωγὴν</w> <w lemma="piezou%3Dntes">πιεζοῦντες</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="prohgoume%2Fnous">προηγουμένους</w> <w lemma="biai%2Fan">βιαίαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsi">ποιοῦσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w>, <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prwtosta%2Ftais">πρωτοστάταις</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%29%2Fpisqen">τοὔπισθεν</w> <w lemma="metabolh%2Fn">μεταβολήν</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Atoiau%2Fths">Τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagga">φάλαγγα</w> <w lemma="diaqe%2Fsews">διαθέσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fshs">οὔσης</w>, <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="kaqoplismou%3D">καθοπλισμοῦ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhs">ὅλης</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthtas">ἰδιότητας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafora%5Cs">διαφορὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="paraqe%2Fsews">παραθέσεως</w>.
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<w lemma="i%28%2Fstantai">ἵστανται</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="trisi%5C">τρισὶ</w> <w lemma="posi%5C">ποσὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Doi:">Ῥωμαῖοι·</w>
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndra">ἄνδρα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fnhsin">κίνησιν</w> <w lemma="lambanou%2Fshs">λαμβανούσης</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qurew%3D%7C">θυρεῷ</w> <w lemma="ske%2Fpein">σκέπειν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sw%3Dma">σῶμα</w>, <w lemma="summetatiqeme%2Fnous">συμμετατιθεμένους</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="plhgh%3Ds">πληγῆς</w> <w lemma="kairo%2Fn">καιρόν</w>, <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="maxai%2Fra%7C">μαχαίρᾳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="katafora%3Ds">καταφορᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diaire%2Fsews">διαιρέσεως</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dsqai">ποιεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>,
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<w lemma="profane%5Cs">προφανὲς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="xa%2Flasma">χάλασμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%2Fstasin">διάστασιν</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn">ἀλλήλων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="deh%2Fsei">δεήσει</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="e%29la%2Fxiston">ἐλάχιστον</w> <w lemma="trei%3Ds">τρεῖς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pista%2Fthn">ἐπιστάτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="parasta%2Fthn">παραστάτην</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fllousin">μέλλουσιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrhstei%3Dn">εὐχρηστεῖν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="sumbh%2Fsetai">συμβήσεται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%3Don">Ῥωμαῖον</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fstasqai">ἵστασθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="prwtosta%2Ftas">πρωτοστάτας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="falaggitw%3Dn">φαλαγγιτῶν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="sari%2Fsas">σαρίσας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29pa%2Fnthsin">ἀπάντησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>,
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<w lemma="a%28%5Cs">ἃς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ko%2Fptonta">κόπτοντα</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="katataxh%3Dsai">καταταχῆσαι</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpac">ἅπαξ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fywsin">συνάψωσιν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="xei%3Dras">χεῖρας</w>, <w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="bia%2Fsasqai">βιάσασθαι</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="mhde%2Fn">μηδέν</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29festw%2Ftwn">ἐφεστώτων</w> <w lemma="duname%2Fnwn">δυναμένων</w> <w lemma="sumba%2Fllesqai">συμβάλλεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="prwtosta%2Ftais">πρωτοστάταις</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fan">βίαν</w> <w lemma="mh%2Fte">μήτε</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="maxairw%3Dn">μαχαιρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Frgeian">ἐνέργειαν</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="eu%29katano%2Fhton">εὐκατανόητον</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Do%2Fn">οἷόν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="mei%3Dnai">μεῖναι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fswpon">πρόσωπον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flaggos">φάλαγγος</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>, <w lemma="diathrou%2Fshs">διατηρούσης</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%28th%3Ds">αὑτῆς</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxai%3Ds">ἀρχαῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpa">εἶπα</w>.
<head>Roman Soldiers in More Open Order</head>With this point in our minds, it will not be difficult to imagine what the appearance and strength of the whole phalanx is likely to be, when, with lowered sarissae, it advances to the charge sixteen deep. Of these sixteen ranks, all above the fifth are unable to reach with their sarissae far enough to take actual part in the fighting. They, therefore, do not lower them, but hold them with the points inclined upwards over the shoulders of the ranks in front of them, to shield the heads of the whole phalanx; for the sarissae are so closely serried, that they repel missiles which have carried over the front ranks and might fall upon the heads of those in the rear. These rear ranks, however,<pb n="228" />during an advance, press forward those in front by the weight of their bodies; and thus make the charge very forcible, and at the same time render it impossible for the front ranks to face about.Such is the arrangement, general and detailed, of the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note60">The Roman more open order compared with the phalanx.</note>phalanx. It remains now to compare with it the peculiarities and distinctive features of the Roman arms and tactics. Now, a Roman soldier in full armour also requires a space of three square feet. But as their method of fighting admits of individual motion for each man—because he defends his body with a shield, which he moves about to any point from which a blow is coming, and because he uses his sword both for cutting and stabbing,—it is evident that each man must have a clear space, and an interval of at least three feet both on flank and rear, if he is to do his duty with any effect. The result of this will be that each Roman soldier will face two of the front rank of a phalanx, so that he has to encounter and fight against ten spears, which one man cannot find time even to cut away, when once the two lines are engaged, nor force his way through easily—seeing that the Roman front ranks are not supported by the rear ranks, either by way of adding weight to their charge, or vigour to the use of their swords. Therefore it may readily be understood that, as I said before, it is impossible to confront a charge of the phalanx, so long as it retains its proper formation and strength.