<w lemma="toiau%2Ftas">τοιαύτας</w> <w lemma="ai%29ti%2Fas">αἰτίας</w>. <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntioi">Βυζάντιοι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairo%2Ftaton">εὐκαιρότατον</w> <w lemma="oi%29kou%3Dsi">οἰκοῦσι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="eu%29daimoni%2Fan">εὐδαιμονίαν</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnth">πάντη</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28ma%3Ds">ἡμᾶς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnh%7C">οἰκουμένῃ</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfo%2Ftera">ἀμφότερα</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="a%29fue%2Fstaton">ἀφυέστατον</w>.
<w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fkeintai">ἐπίκεινται</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="kuri%2Fws">κυρίως</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29spleu%3Dsai">εἰσπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mh%2Ft%27">μήτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kpleu%3Dsai">ἐκπλεῦσαι</w> <w lemma="mhde%2Fna">μηδένα</w> <w lemma="dunato%5Cn">δυνατὸν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29mpo%2Frwn">ἐμπόρων</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnwn">ἐκείνων</w> <w lemma="boulh%2Fsews">βουλήσεως</w>.
<w lemma="e%29%2Fxontos">ἔχοντος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="polla%5C">πολλὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fon">βίον</w> <w lemma="eu%29xrh%2Fstwn">εὐχρήστων</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="a%29nqrw%2Fpois">ἀνθρώποις</w>, <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29si%5C">εἰσὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frioi">κύριοι</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntioi">Βυζάντιοι</w>.
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29nagkai%2Fas">ἀναγκαίας</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="ta%2F">τά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="qre%2Fmmata">θρέμματα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="doulei%2Fas">δουλείας</w> <w lemma="a%29gome%2Fnwn">ἀγομένων</w> <w lemma="swma%2Ftwn">σωμάτων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpoi">τόποι</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzousi">παρασκευάζουσι</w> <w lemma="dayile%2Fstaton">δαψιλέστατον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="xrhsimw%2Ftaton">χρησιμώτατον</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws:">ὁμολογουμένως·</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="periousi%2Fan">περιουσίαν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fli">μέλι</w>, <w lemma="khro%2Fn">κηρόν</w>, <w lemma="ta%2Frixos">τάριχος</w> <w lemma="a%29fqo%2Fnws">ἀφθόνως</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="xorhgou%3Dsi">χορηγοῦσι</w>.
<w lemma="de%2Fxontai">δέχονται</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="peritteuo%2Fntwn">περιττευόντων</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flaion">ἔλαιον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="oi%29%2Fnou">οἴνου</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos:">γένος·</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftw%7C">σίτῳ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29mei%2Fbontai">ἀμείβονται</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frws">εὐκαίρως</w> <w lemma="dido%2Fntes">διδόντες</w>, <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lamba%2Fnontes">λαμβάνοντες</w>.
<w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kwlu%2Fesqai">κωλύεσθαι</w> <w lemma="de%2Fon">δέον</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28losxerw%3Ds">ὁλοσχερῶς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29lusitelh%3D">ἀλυσιτελῆ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsi">σφίσι</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29llagh%5Cn">ἀλλαγὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w>, <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="h%29%2Ftoi">ἤτοι</w> <w lemma="boulome%2Fnwn">βουλομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29qelokakei%3Dn">ἐθελοκακεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sundua%2Fzein">συνδυάζειν</w> <w lemma="pote%5C">ποτὲ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2Agala%2Ftais">Γαλάταις</w>, <w lemma="tote%5C">τοτὲ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fona">πλείονα</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%7Cci%5Cn">Θρᾳξὶν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="katoikou%2Fntwn">κατοικούντων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous:">τόπους·</w>
<w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="steno%2Fthta">στενότητα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="parakei%2Fmenon">παρακείμενον</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fplous">ἄπλους</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="h%28mi%3Dn">ἡμῖν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="o%28mologoume%2Fnws">ὁμολογουμένως</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntos">Πόντος</w>.
<w lemma="me%2Fgista">μέγιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsws">ἴσως</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnois">ἐκείνοις</w> <w lemma="perigi%2Fnetai">περιγίνεται</w> <w lemma="lusitelh%3D">λυσιτελῆ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthtas:">ἰδιότητας·</w>
<w lemma="a%28%2Fpan">ἅπαν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="peritteu%3Don">περιττεῦον</w> <w lemma="par%27">παρ᾽</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29cagwgh%3Ds">ἐξαγωγῆς</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="lei%3Dpon">λεῖπον</w> <w lemma="ei%29sagwgh%3Ds">εἰσαγωγῆς</w> <w lemma="e%28toi%2Fmou">ἑτοίμου</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnei">τυγχάνει</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="lusitelou%3Ds">λυσιτελοῦς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fneu">ἄνευ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fshs">πάσης</w> <w lemma="kakopaqei%2Fas">κακοπαθείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kindu%2Fnou:">κινδύνου·</w>
<w lemma="polla%2F">πολλά</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllois">ἄλλοις</w> <w lemma="eu%29%2Fxrhsta">εὔχρηστα</w> <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29kei%2Fnous">ἐκείνους</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="ei%29rh%2Fkamen">εἰρήκαμεν</w>, <w lemma="a%29panta%3D%7C">ἀπαντᾷ</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koinoi%2F">κοινοί</w> <w lemma="tines">τινες</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="eu%29erge%2Ftai">εὐεργέται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontes">ὑπάρχοντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws">εἰκότως</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="xa%2Fritos">χάριτος</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29pikouri%2Fas">ἐπικουρίας</w> <w lemma="koinh%3Ds">κοινῆς</w> <w lemma="tugxa%2Fnoien">τυγχάνοιεν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fnwn">Ἑλλήνων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="barba%2Frwn">βαρβάρων</w> <w lemma="perista%2Fseis">περιστάσεις</w>.
<w lemma="e%29pei%5C">ἐπεὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fstois">πλείστοις</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoei%3Dsqai">ἀγνοεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="i%29dio%2Fthta">ἰδιότητα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29fui+%2Fan">εὐφυΐαν</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w>, <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mikro%5Cn">μικρὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fcw">ἔξω</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dsqai">κεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piskopoume%2Fnwn">ἐπισκοπουμένων</w> <w lemma="merw%3Dn">μερῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="oi%29koume%2Fnhs">οἰκουμένης</w>,
<w lemma="boulo%2Fmeqa">βουλόμεθα</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="ei%29de%2Fnai">εἰδέναι</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%3Dta">τοιαῦτα</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%2Fptai">αὐτόπται</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29xo%2Fntwn">ἐχόντων</w> <w lemma="parhllagme%2Fnon">παρηλλαγμένον</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diafe%2Fron">διαφέρον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpwn">τόπων</w>, <w lemma="ei%29">εἰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="dunato%2Fn">δυνατόν</w>, <w lemma="e%29nnoi%2Fas">ἐννοίας</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tu%2Fpous">τύπους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxein">ἔχειν</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="au%28toi%3Ds">αὑτοῖς</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fggista">ἔγγιστα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqei%2Fas">ἀληθείας</w>,
<w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sumbai%3Dno%2Fn">συμβαῖνόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ti%2F">τί</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dn">ποιοῦν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="thlikau%2Fthn">τηλικαύτην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="eu%29pori%2Fan">εὐπορίαν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhs">προειρημένης</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>.
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<head>Byzantium</head>At the same time the Rhodians went to<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note85">Rhodian and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> war, 220-219 B.C.</note>war with the Byzantines, for reasons which I must now describe.As far as the sea is concerned, <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> occupies a position<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note86">Advantages of the situation of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>.</note>the most secure and in every way the most advantageous of any town in our quarter of the world: while in regard to the land, its situation is in both respects the most unfavourable. By sea it so completely commands the entrance to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, that no merchant can sail in or out against its will. The <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> therefore being rich in what the rest of the world requires for the support of life, the Byzantines are absolute masters of all such things. For those commodities which are the first necessaries of existence, cattle and slaves, are confessedly supplied by the districts round the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> in greater profusion, and of better quality, than by any others: and for luxuries, they supply us with honey, wax, and salt-fish in great abundance; while they take our superfluous stock of olive oil and every kind of wine. In the matter of corn there is a mutual interchange, they supplying or taking it as it happens to be convenient. Now the Greeks would necessarily have been excluded entirely from traffic in these articles, or at least would have had to carry it on at a loss, if the Byzantines had adopted a hostile attitude, and made<pb n="314" />common cause formerly with the Gauls, or still more at this time with the Thracians, or had abandoned the place altogether: for owing to the narrowness of the strait, and the number of the barbarians along its shores, it would have become entirely impassable to our ships. The Byzantines themselves probably feel the advantages of the situation, in the supplies of the necessaries of life, more than any one else; for their superfluity finds a ready means of export, and what they lack is readily imported, with profit to themselves, and without difficulty or danger: but other people too, as I have said, get a great many commodities by their means. As common benefactors therefore of all Greece they might justly expect, not only gratitude, but the united assistance of Greeks, when threatened by the barbarians.But since the peculiar natural advantages of this site are generally unknown, because it lies somewhat outside the parts of the world ordinarily visited; and since it is an universal wish to be acquainted with things of this sort, by ocular inspection, if possible, of such places as have any unusual or remarkable features; or, if that is impossible, by having in our minds some ideas or images of them as like the truth as may be, I must now state the facts of the case, and what it is that makes this city so eminently rich and prosperous.
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Walbank Commentary