Polybius, Histories

Translation

Book 2 - Chapter 3

<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="lafu%2Frwn">λαφύρων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pigrafh%5Cn">ἐπιγραφὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>. <w lemma="dedogme%2Fnwn">δεδογμένων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Fdas">πόδας</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fra%7C">ἡμέρᾳ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="para%2Flhyin">παράληψιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="e%29sti%5Cn">ἐστὶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w>, <w lemma="prosple%2Fousin">προσπλέουσιν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="nukto%5Cs">νυκτὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmboi">λέμβοι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amediwni%2Fan">Μεδιωνίαν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="pentakisxi%2Flioi">πεντακισχίλιοι</w>.

<w lemma="kaqormisqe%2Fntes">καθορμισθέντες</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pigenome%2Fnhs">ἐπιγενομένης</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cn">ἐνεργὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="laqrai%2Fan">λαθραίαν</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenoi">ποιησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%2Fbasin">ἀπόβασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenoi">χρησάμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="ei%29qisme%2Fnh%7C">εἰθισμένῃ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fcei">τάξει</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dgon">προῆγον</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fan">στρατοπεδείαν</w>.

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%5C">Αἰτωλοὶ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fntes">συνέντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="gino%2Fmenon">γινόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcw%7C">παραδόξῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="to%2Flmh%7C">τόλμῃ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illuriw%3Dn">Ἰλλυριῶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dsan">ἦσαν</w> <w lemma="e%29kplagei%3Ds:">ἐκπλαγεῖς·</w> <w lemma="pefronhmatisme%2Fnoi">πεφρονηματισμένοι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="pollou%3D">πολλοῦ</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnou">χρόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="katapisteu%2Fsantes">καταπιστεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fais">ἰδίαις</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmesin">δυνάμεσιν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="poso%5Cn">ποσὸν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qarsw%3Ds">εὐθαρσῶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w>.

<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28plitw%3Dn">ὁπλιτῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28ppe%2Fwn">ἱππέων</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fballon">παρενέβαλλον</w>, <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w> <w lemma="tini">τινι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppou">ἵππου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="eu%29zw%2Fnois">εὐζώνοις</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fous">ὑπερδεξίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5C">πρὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Frakos">χάρακος</w> <w lemma="eu%29fuw%3Ds">εὐφυῶς</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnous">κειμένους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="prokatela%2Fmbanon">προκατελάμβανον</w>.

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29lafrou%5Cs">ἐλαφροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="prospeso%2Fntes">προσπεσόντες</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqei">πλήθει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="ba%2Frei">βάρει</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sunta%2Fcews">συντάξεως</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Fwsan">ἐξέωσαν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="sugkinduneu%2Fontas">συγκινδυνεύοντας</w> <w lemma="h%29na%2Fgkasan">ἠνάγκασαν</w> <w lemma="a%29poxwrh%3Dsai">ἀποχωρῆσαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="bare%2Fa">βαρέα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w>.

<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="u%28perdeci%2Fou">ὑπερδεξίου</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="pedi%2Fw%7C">πεδίῳ</w> <w lemma="tetagme%2Fnous">τεταγμένους</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="e%29tre%2Fyanto">ἐτρέψαντο</w>, <w lemma="sunepiqeme%2Fnwn">συνεπιθεμένων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twloi%3Ds">Αἰτωλοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amediwni%2Fwn">Μεδιωνίων</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.

<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pollou%5Cs">πολλοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteinan">ἀπέκτειναν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="ai%29xmalw%2Ftous">αἰχμαλώτους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabon:">ἔλαβον·</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fplwn">ὅπλων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%3Ds">ἀποσκευῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ge%2Fnonto">ἐγένοντο</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="e%29gkratei%3Ds">ἐγκρατεῖς</w>.

<w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29illurioi%5C">Ἰλλυριοὶ</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcantes">πράξαντες</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="suntaxqe%5Cn">συνταχθὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="basile%2Fws">βασιλέως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakomi%2Fsantes">διακομίσαντες</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29poskeuh%5Cn">ἀποσκευὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllhn">ἄλλην</w> <w lemma="w%29fe%2Fleian">ὠφέλειαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="le%2Fmbous">λέμβους</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fgonto">ἀνήγοντο</w>, <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenoi">ποιούμενοι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w>

<head>The Illyrians Relieve Medion</head>The decision was come to on the day before the election of a new Strategus, and the transference of the command had,<pb n="101" />according to the Aetolian custom, to take place.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note7">The Illyrians relieve Medion.</note>But on that very night a hundred galleys with five thousand Illyrians on board, sailed up to land near Medion. Having dropped anchor at daybreak, they effected a disembarkation with secrecy and despatch; they then formed in the order customary in their country, and advanced in their several companies against the Aetolian lines. These last were overwhelmed with astonishment at the unexpected nature and boldness of the move; but they had long been inspired with overweening self-confidence, and having full reliance in their own forces were far from being dismayed. They drew up the greater part of their hoplites and cavalry in front of their lines on the level ground, and with a portion of their cavalry and their light infantry they hastened to occupy some rising ground in front of their camp, which nature had made easily defensible. A single charge, however, of the Illyrians, whose numbers and close order gave them irresistible weight, served to dislodge the light-armed troops, and forced the cavalry who were on the ground with them to retire to the hoplites. But the Illyrians, being on the higher ground, and charging down from it upon the Aetolian troops formed up on the plain, routed them without difficulty; the Medionians at the same time making a diversion in their favour by sallying out of the town and charging the Aetolians. Thus, after killing a great number, and taking a still greater number prisoners, and becoming masters also of their arms and baggage, the Illyrians, having carried out the orders of their king, conveyed their baggage and the rest of the booty to their boats, and immediately set sail for their own country.

Walbank Commentary

Overview

2.1.0 - 2.12.0

The First Illyrian War (229–8) This war is important to P.'s main theme (2. 2), as it first brought the Romans east of the Adriatic. For the greater part (2–6. 8, 9–10) his source is apparently Greek, and the narrative is strongly prejudiced against Aetolia (cf. 2. 6–4. 5); but 8 and 11–12 represent a Roman tradition, which may well be Fabius (so most historians, e.g. Tubler, Beloch, Gelzer, Holleaux). Bung, 184–6, while accepting Fabius as a possible source for 11–12, is impressed by Bauer, who (AEM, 1895, 136–47) rather improbably associates the pro-Roman version of 8 with the propagandist account of the affair given by Roman legati in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a> (12. 4). There are secondary accounts in Dio, fg. 49 (cf. Zon. viii. 19), very unreliable, and App. Ill. 7–8 (wellinformed on <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, but contaminated by annalistic inventions); see Holleaux, 78 n. 2 (worthlessness of Dio); Fluss, RE, 'Teuta', cols. 1140–2; Zippel, 46 ff. On the war in general see Holleaux, tudes, iv. 9–25 (= REG, 1930, 243–61), for chronology; CAH, vii. 822 ff. (with bibliography, 931–3); E. Badian, BSA, 1952, 72–93 with bibliography; G. Walser, Historia, ii, 1954, 308–18 (preferring Appian to P.); Thiel, Hist. 344 ff. (arguing against Holleaux that the Senate was seeking a chance to intervene). The article by E. Badian mentioned here and passim is BSR, 1952, 72–93.

2.2.9 - 2.4.5

The account of the Aetolian peripeteia is developed by P. as an example of a sudden change of fortune, and also as a welcomerebuff to his old enemies, the Aetolians (despite their alliance with <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Achaea&groupId=272&placeId=533">Achaea</a>, 6. 1).

Specifics

2.3.1 - 2.3.1

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">καθάπερ ἔθος ἐστὶν Αἰτωλοῖς</w>:</emph> cf. iv. 67. 1 for the taking of office immediately on election. <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πρὸς τὴν Μεδιωνίαν</w>:</emph> though Medion is not a coastal town (xviii. 40. 5; Livy, xxxvi. 11. 10), its territory may well have reached the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Ambracian Gulf&groupId=316&placeId=615">Ambracian Gulf</a> between that of Thyrrheum and the valley of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Limnaea&groupId=691&placeId=1263">Limnaea</a>. The 'part nearest to the city' is probably the bay of Loutraki, about 7 miles from the town.

2.3.2 - 2.3.2

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">κατὰ σπείρας</w>:</emph> i.e. in small companies (cf. ii. 66. 5, iii. 19. 5), probably kinship groups, like those envisaged in Homer, Iliad, ii. 362–3, where Agamemnon is advised <w lang="el-GR">κρῖν</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἄνδρας κατὰ φῦλα, κατὰ φρήτρας, Ἀγάμεμνον,ὡς φρήτρη φρήτρηφιν ἀρήγῃ, φῦλα δὲ φύλοις</w>.. Likewise among the German tribes 'non casus nec fortuita conglobatio turmam aut cuneum facit, sed familiae et propinquitates' (Tac. Germ. 7. 3). In recent times the Albanians, descendants of Agron's Illyrians, fought in tribes and 'bairaq' (smaller kinship groups), and the Montenegrin Slavs in 'bratstva' (brotherhoods).

2.3.5 - 2.3.5

<emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">τῷ πλήθει καὶ τῷ βάρει τῆς συντάξεως</w>:</emph> the Illyrian armour was heavy; cf. 66. 5, where Illyrian troops alternate with bronze-shielded Macedonians; 68. 5, 9, for the weight of their arms and formation <w lang="el-GR">(σύνταξις)</w>.

Addenda & corrigenda

2.2.0 - 2.12.0

the article by E. Badian mentioned here and passim is BSR, 1952, 72–93.

2.2.0 - 2.12.0

in the sub-title, for '(231–228)' read '(229–8)'.

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