Polybius, Histories

Layout
Translation

Book 2 - Chapter 39

1
<w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%5Cs">οὓς</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29itali%2Fan">Ἰταλίαν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amega%2Flhn">Μεγάλην</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fda">Ἑλλάδα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="prosagoreuome%2Fnhn">προσαγορευομένην</w> <w lemma="e%29neprh%2Fsqh">ἐνεπρήσθη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fdria">συνέδρια</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Apuqagorei%2Fwn">Πυθαγορείων</w>,
2
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="genome%2Fnou">γενομένου</w> <w lemma="kinh%2Fmatos">κινήματος</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerou%3Ds">ὁλοσχεροῦς</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fper">ὅπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Fs">εἰκός</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="prw%2Ftwn">πρώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsths">ἑκάστης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftw">οὕτω</w> <w lemma="paralo%2Fgws">παραλόγως</w> <w lemma="diafqare%2Fntwn">διαφθαρέντων</w>,
3
<w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhnika%5Cs">Ἑλληνικὰς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="a%29naplhsqh%3Dnai">ἀναπλησθῆναι</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fnou">φόνου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fsews">στάσεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pantodaph%3Ds">παντοδαπῆς</w> <w lemma="taraxh%3Ds">ταραχῆς</w>.
4
<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Ds">οἷς</w> <w lemma="kairoi%3Ds">καιροῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstwn">πλείστων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ella%2Fdos">Ἑλλάδος</w> <w lemma="presbeuo%2Fntwn">πρεσβευόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="dialu%2Fseis">διαλύσεις</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstei">πίστει</w> <w lemma="sunexrh%2Fsanto">συνεχρήσαντο</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="kakw%3Dn">κακῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29cagwgh%2Fn">ἐξαγωγήν</w>.
5
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kairou%5Cs">καιροὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29pede%2Fcanto">ἀπεδέξαντο</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ai%28%2Fresin">αἵρεσιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meta%2F">μετά</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnous">χρόνους</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Frmhsan">ὥρμησαν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mimhtai%5C">μιμηταὶ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fsqai">γενέσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>.
6
<w lemma="parakale%2Fsantes">παρακαλέσαντες</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sfa%3Ds">σφᾶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumfronh%2Fsantes">συμφρονήσαντες</w> <w lemma="%2Akrotwnia%3Dtai">Κροτωνιᾶται</w>, <w lemma="%2Asubari%3Dtai">Συβαρῖται</w>, <w lemma="%2Akaulwnia%3Dtai">Καυλωνιᾶται</w>, <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fdeican">ἀπέδειξαν</w> <w lemma="%2Adio%5Cs">Διὸς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28omari%2Fou">Ὁμαρίου</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fs">τάς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="suno%2Fdous">συνόδους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="diabou%2Flia">διαβούλια</w> <w lemma="sunete%2Floun">συνετέλουν</w>, <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29qismou%5Cs">ἐθισμοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmous">νόμους</w> <w lemma="e%29klabo%2Fntes">ἐκλαβόντες</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dioikei%3Dn">διοικεῖν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>. <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Adionusi%2Fou">Διονυσίου</w> <w lemma="%2Asurakosi%2Fou">Συρακοσίου</w> <w lemma="dunastei%2Fas">δυναστείας</w>,
7
<w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="perioikou%2Fntwn">περιοικούντων</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="e%29pikratei%2Fas">ἐπικρατείας</w> <w lemma="e%29mpodisqe%2Fntes">ἐμποδισθέντες</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="e%28kousi%2Fws">ἑκουσίως</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fsthsan">ἀπέστησαν</w>.
8
<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="parado%2Fcws">παραδόξως</w> <w lemma="ptaisa%2Fntwn">πταισάντων</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="%2Aleu%2Fktrois">Λεύκτροις</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhn">μάχην</w>, <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%2Fwn">Θηβαίων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nelpi%2Fstws">ἀνελπίστως</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipoihsame%2Fnwn">ἀντιποιησαμένων</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fas">ἡγεμονίας</w>, <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="a%29krisi%2Fa">ἀκρισία</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w>, <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnous">προειρημένους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="sugxwrou%2Fntwn">συγχωρούντων</w> <w lemma="h%28tth%3Dsqai">ἡττῆσθαι</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="pisteuo%2Fntwn">πιστευόντων</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="nenikh%2Fkasin">νενικήκασιν</w>.
9
<w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%2F">ἀλλά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbhtoume%2Fnwn">ἀμφισβητουμένων</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Ftreyan">ἐπέτρεψαν</w> <w lemma="%2Aqhbai%3Doi">Θηβαῖοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimo%2Fnioi">Λακεδαιμόνιοι</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnois">μόνοις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaioi%3Ds">Ἀχαιοῖς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="a%29poble%2Fyantes">ἀποβλέψαντες</w> —
10
<w lemma="sxedo%5Cn">σχεδὸν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="e%29laxi%2Fsthn">ἐλαχίστην</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> — <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="pi%2Fstin">πίστιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flhn">ὅλην</w> <w lemma="kaloka%29gaqi%2Fan">καλοκἀγαθίαν</w>. <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dxon">εἶχον</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w>.
11
<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ato%2Fte">Τότε</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="yilw%3Ds">ψιλῶς</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%5C">αὐτὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proai%2Fresin">προαίρεσιν</w> <w lemma="u%28ph%3Drxe">ὑπῆρχε</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds:">αὐτοῖς·</w> <w lemma="a%29pote%2Flesma">ἀποτέλεσμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pra%3Dcis">πρᾶξις</w> <w lemma="a%29cio%2Flogos">ἀξιόλογος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fwn">ἰδίων</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fkousa">ἀνήκουσα</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w>,
12
<w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnasqai">δύνασθαι</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dnai">φῦναι</w> <w lemma="prosta%2Fthn">προστάτην</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fcion">ἄξιον</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proaire%2Fsews">προαιρέσεως</w>, <w lemma="a%29ei%5C">ἀεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="u%28podei%2Fcanta">ὑποδείξαντα</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29piskotei%3Dsqai">ἐπισκοτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fesqai">κωλύεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w>
<head>The First Achaean League</head>And first: When the burning of the Pythagorean<pb n="135" />clubs in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magna Grecia&groupId=728&placeId=1335">Magna Grecia</a> was followed by great constitutional disturbances, as was natural on the sudden disappearance of the leading men in each state; and the Greek cities in that part of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Italy&groupId=656&placeId=1199">Italy</a> became the scene of murder, revolutionary warfare, and every kind of confusion; deputations were sent from most parts of Greece to endeavour to bring about some settlement of these disorders.<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note88">The Pythagorean clubs, beginning in combinations for the cultivation of mystic philosophy and ascetic life, had grown to be political,—a combination of the upper or cultivated classes to secure political power. Thus Archytas was for many years ruler in Tarentum (<bibl n="Strab. 1.3.4" default="NO" valid="yes">Strabo, I.3.4</bibl>). The earliest was at Croton, but they were also established in many cities of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Magna Graecia&groupId=728&placeId=1334">Magna Graecia</a>. Sometime in the fourth century B. C. a general democratic rising took place against them, and their members were driven into exile.<bibl n="Strab. 8.7.1" default="NO" valid="yes">Strabo, 8.7.1</bibl>;<bibl n="Just. 20.4" default="NO" valid="yes">Justin, 20, 4</bibl>; Iamblichus<title>vit. Pythag.,</title>240-262.</note>But the disturbed states preferred the intervention of the Achaeans above all others, and showed the greatest confidence in them, in regard to the measures to be adopted for removing the evils that oppressed them. Nor was this the only occasion on which they displayed this preference. For shortly afterwards there was a general movement among them to adopt the model of the Achaean constitution. The first states to move in the matter were Croton, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sybaris&groupId=992&placeId=1750">Sybaris</a>, and Caulonia, who began by erecting a common temple to Zeus Homorios,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note89">The MS. vary between<foreign lang="greek">ὁμάριος</foreign>and<foreign lang="greek">ὁμόριος.</foreign>The latter form seems to mean "god of a common frontier." But an inscription found at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Orchomenus&groupId=814&placeId=1470">Orchomenus</a> gives the form<foreign lang="greek">ἀμάριος,</foreign>which has been connected with<foreign lang="greek">ἡμάρα</foreign>"day."</note>and a place in which to hold their meetings and common councils.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note90"><foreign lang="greek">Ζεύς ὁμάριος</foreign>or<foreign lang="greek">ἀμάριος.</foreign></note>They then adopted the laws and customs of the Achaeans, and determined to conduct their constitution according to their principles; but finding themselves hampered by the tyranny of Dionysius of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Syracuse&groupId=994&placeId=1753">Syracuse</a>, and also by the encroachment of the neighbouring barbarians, they were forced much against their will to abandon them.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note91">B. C. 405-367.</note>Again, later on, when the Lacedaemonians met with their unexpected reverse at Leuctra, and the Thebans as unexpectedly claimed the hegemony in Greece, a feeling of uncertainty prevailed throughout the country, and especially among the Lacedaemonians and Thebans themselves, because the former refused to allow that they were beaten, the latter felt hardly certain that they had conquered.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note92">B. C. 371.</note>On this occasion, once more, the<pb n="136" />Achaeans were the people selected by the two parties, out of all Greece, to act as arbitrators on the points in dispute. And this could not have been from any special view of their power, for at that time they were perhaps the weakest state in Greece; it was rather from a conviction of their good faith and high principles, in regard to which there was but one opinion universally entertained. At that period of their history, however, they possessed only the elements of success; success itself, and material increase, were barred by the fact that they had not yet been able to produce a leader worthy of the occasion. Whenever any man had given indications of such ability, he was systematically thrust into the background and hampered, at one time by the Lacedaemonian government, and at another, still more effectually, by that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>.