Polybius, Histories

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Book 2 - Chapter 65

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<w lemma="%2Atou%3D">Τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Frous">θέρους</w> <w lemma="e%29nistame%2Fnou">ἐνισταμένου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunelqo%2Fntwn">συνελθόντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnwn">Μακεδόνων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xeimasi%2Fas">χειμασίας</w>, <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="stratia%5Cn">στρατιὰν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%2Fn">Λακωνικήν</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedo%2Fnas">Μακεδόνας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="fa%2Flagga">φάλαγγα</w> <w lemma="muri%2Fous">μυρίους</w>, <w lemma="peltasta%5Cs">πελταστὰς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29agria%3Dnas">Ἀγριᾶνας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftas">Γαλάτας</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftous">τοσούτους</w>, <w lemma="misqofo%2Frous">μισθοφόρους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntas">πάντας</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>,
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<w lemma="%2A%29axaiw%3Dn">Ἀχαιῶν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pile%2Fktous">ἐπιλέκτους</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="trisxili%2Fous">τρισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="triakosi%2Fous">τριακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Ftas">Μεγαλοπολίτας</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoniko%5Cn">Μακεδονικὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="kaqwplisme%2Fnous">καθωπλισμένους</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dto">ἡγεῖτο</w> <w lemma="%2Akerkida%3Ds">Κερκιδᾶς</w> <w lemma="%2Amegalopoli%2Fths">Μεγαλοπολίτης</w>, <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxwn">συμμάχων</w> <w lemma="%2Aboiwtw%3Dn">Βοιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w>,
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<w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="penth%2Fkonta">πεντήκοντα</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="tosou%2Ftous">τοσούτους</w>, <w lemma="%2A%29illuriw%3Dn">Ἰλλυριῶν</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="e%28cakosi%2Fous">ἑξακοσίους</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="%2Adhmh%2Ftrios">Δημήτριος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Afa%2Frios">Φάριος</w>,
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<w lemma="w%28%2Fst%27">ὥστ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="dismuri%2Fous">δισμυρίους</w> <w lemma="o%29ktakisxili%2Fous">ὀκτακισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="xili%2Fous">χιλίους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="prosdokw%3Dn">προσδοκῶν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ffodon">ἔφοδον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllas">ἄλλας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbola%5Cs">εἰσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="h%29sfali%2Fsato">ἠσφαλίσατο</w> <w lemma="fulakai%3Ds">φυλακαῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffrois">τάφροις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fndrwn">δένδρων</w> <w lemma="e%29kkopai%3Ds">ἐκκοπαῖς</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Asellasi%2Fan">Σελλασίαν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="e%29stratope%2Fdeue">ἐστρατοπέδευε</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="u%28parxou%2Fshs">ὑπαρχούσης</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3D%7C">αὐτῷ</w> <w lemma="stratia%3Ds">στρατιᾶς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="muria%2Fdas">μυριάδας</w>, <w lemma="stoxazo%2Fmenos">στοχαζόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Fgon">λόγον</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsasqai">ποιήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fous">ὑπεναντίους</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="ei%29sbolh%2Fn:">εἰσβολήν·</w> <w lemma="o%28%5C">ὃ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="suneku%2Frhse">συνεκύρησε</w>.
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<w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffwn">λόφων</w> <w lemma="e%29p%27">ἐπ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29so%2Fdou">εἰσόδου</w> <w lemma="keime%2Fnwn">κειμένων</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29%2Fan">Εὔαν</w>, <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fteron">ἕτερον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Folumpon">Ὄλυμπον</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dsqai">καλεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w>,
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aoi%29nou%3Dnta">Οἰνοῦντα</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="ferou%2Fshs">φερούσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frthn">Σπάρτην</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnhs">Κλεομένης</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="lo%2Ffwn">λόφων</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fmfw">συνάμφω</w> <w lemma="ta%2Ffron">τάφρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fraka">χάρακα</w> <w lemma="probalo%2Fmenos">προβαλόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29%2Fan">Εὔαν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftace">ἔταξε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="perioi%2Fkous">περιοίκους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="summa%2Fxous">συμμάχους</w>, <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="e%29pe%2Fsthse">ἐπέστησε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29delfo%5Cn">ἀδελφὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29klei%2Fdan">Εὐκλείδαν</w>, <w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Folumpon">Ὄλυμπον</w> <w lemma="katei%3Dxe">κατεῖχε</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakedaimoni%2Fwn">Λακεδαιμονίων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w>.
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<w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29pipe%2Fdois">ἐπιπέδοις</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="potamo%5Cn">ποταμὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Ftera">ἑκάτερα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%28dou%3D">ὁδοῦ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="misqofo%2Frwn">μισθοφόρων</w> <w lemma="parene%2Fbalen">παρενέβαλεν</w>.
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<w lemma="%2A%29anti%2Fgonos">Ἀντίγονος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="parageno%2Fmenos">παραγενόμενος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthta">ὀχυρότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Akleome%2Fnh">Κλεομένη</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsi">πᾶσι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="oi%29kei%2Fois">οἰκείοις</w> <w lemma="me%2Fresi">μέρεσι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="duna%2Fmews">δυνάμεως</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="eu%29sto%2Fxws">εὐστόχως</w> <w lemma="prokateilhfo%2Fta">προκατειληφότα</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fas">εὐκαιρίας</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="paraplh%2Fsion">παραπλήσιον</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fmpan">σύμπαν</w> <w lemma="sxh%3Dma">σχῆμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="stratopedei%2Fas">στρατοπεδείας</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gaqw%3Dn">ἀγαθῶν</w> <w lemma="o%28ploma%2Fxwn">ὁπλομάχων</w> <w lemma="probolh%3Ds:">προβολῆς·</w>
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<w lemma="ou%29de%5Cn">οὐδὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fleipe">ἀπέλειπε</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fqesin">ἐπίθεσιν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fulakh%2Fn">φυλακήν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="para%2Ftacis">παράταξις</w> <w lemma="e%29nergo%5Cs">ἐνεργὸς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="parembolh%5C">παρεμβολὴ</w> <w lemma="duspro%2Fsodos:">δυσπρόσοδος·</w>
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<w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%29fo%2Fdou">ἐφόδου</w> <w lemma="katapeira%2Fzein">καταπειράζειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sumple%2Fkesqai">συμπλέκεσθαι</w>
<head>Battle of Sellasia</head>Summer having now come, and the Macedonian and<pb n="160" />Achaean soldiers having assembled from their winter quarters, Antigonus moved his army, along with his allies, into <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note135">The summer campaign. The army of Antigonus.</note>The main force consisted of ten thousand Macedonians for the phalanx, three thousand light armed, and three hundred cavalry. With these were a thousand Agraei; the same number of Gauls; three thousand mercenary infantry, and three hundred cavalry; picked troops of the Achaeans, three thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry; and a thousand Megalopolitans armed in the Macedonian manner, under the command of Cercidas of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Megalopolis&groupId=745&placeId=1360">Megalopolis</a>. Of the allies there were two thousand infantry, and two hundred cavalry, from Boeotia; a thousand infantry and fifty cavalry from Epirus; the same number from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>; and sixteen hundred from <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Illyria&groupId=647&placeId=1186">Illyria</a>, under the command of Demetrius of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pharos&groupId=879&placeId=1586">Pharos</a>. The whole amounted to twenty-eight thousand infantry and twelve hundred cavalry.Cleomenes had expected the attack, and had secured the<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note136">The position of Cleomenes at <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a>.</note>passes into the country by posting garrisons, digging trenches, and felling trees; while he took up position at a place called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sellasia&groupId=966&placeId=1714">Sellasia</a>, with an army amounting to twenty thousand, having calculated that the invading forces would take that direction: which turned out to be the case. This pass lies between two hills, called respectively <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Evas&groupId=590&placeId=1100">Evas</a> and Olympus, and the road to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> follows the course of the river Oenus. Cleomenes strengthened both these hills by lines of fortification, consisting of trench and palisade. On <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Evas&groupId=590&placeId=1100">Evas</a> he posted the perioeci and allies, under the command of his brother Eucleides; while he himself held Olympus with the Lacedaemonians and mercenaries. On the level ground along the river he stationed his cavalry, with a division of his mercenaries, on both sides of the road. When Antigonus arrived, he saw at once the strength of the position, and the skill with which Cleomenes had selected the different branches of his army to occupy the points of vantage, so that the whole aspect of the position was like that of skilled soldiers drawn up ready for a charge. For no preparation for attack or defence had been omitted; but everything was in order, either for offering battle with effect, or for holding an almost unassailable position.<pb n="161" />