Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 44

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<w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="po%2Frou">πόρου</w>. <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dn">ποιοῦν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairota%2Fthn">εὐκαιροτάτην</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdoni%2Fwn">Καλχηδονίων</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dt%27">τοῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="u%28f%27">ὑφ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28mw%3Dn">ἡμῶν</w> <w lemma="ei%29rhme%2Fnon">εἰρημένον</w>, <w lemma="kai%2Fper">καίπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fyews">ὄψεως</w> <w lemma="o%28moi%2Fas">ὁμοίας</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frais">ἀμφοτέραις</w> <w lemma="dokou%2Fshs">δοκούσης</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fsews">θέσεως</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29ll%27">ἀλλ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fmws">ὅμως</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="boulhqe%2Fnta">βουληθέντα</w> <w lemma="katapleu%3Ds%27">καταπλεῦς᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="de%2F">δέ</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%5Cn">κἂν</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flh%7C">βούλῃ</w>, <w lemma="fe%2Frei">φέρει</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Ds">ῥοῦς</w>, <w lemma="kaqa%2Fper">καθάπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29rti%2Fws">ἀρτίως</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fpomen">εἴπομεν</w>.
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<w lemma="shmei%3Don">σημεῖον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou:">τούτου·</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fnos">Καλχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="oi%28">οἱ</w> <w lemma="boulo%2Fmenoi">βουλόμενοι</w> <w lemma="diai%2Frein">διαίρειν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnantai">δύνανται</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dn">πλεῖν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29qei%3Dan">εὐθεῖαν</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fgousin">παράγουσιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Abou%3Dn">Βοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="%2Axruso%2Fpolin">Χρυσόπολιν</w>,
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<w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29aqhnai%3Doi">Ἀθηναῖοι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="katasxo%2Fntes">κατασχόντες</w> <w lemma="%2A%29alkibia%2Fdou">Ἀλκιβιάδου</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh%7C">γνώμῃ</w> <w lemma="paragwgia%2Fzein">παραγωγιάζειν</w> <w lemma="e%29peba%2Flonto">ἐπεβάλοντο</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dton">πρῶτον</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="ple%2Fontas">πλέοντας</w>, <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmprosqen">ἔμπροσθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29fia%3Dsi">ἀφιᾶσι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="fe%2Frontai">φέρονται</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28%2Fmoia">ὅμοια</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Ftera">θάτερα</w> <w lemma="plou%3Dn">πλοῦν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews:">πόλεως·</w>
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<w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhspo%2Fntou">Ἑλλησπόντου</w> <w lemma="tre%2Fxh%7C">τρέχῃ</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="no%2Ftois">νότοις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="t%27">τ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellh%2Fsponton">Ἑλλήσποντον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fntou">Πόντου</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="e%29thsi%2Fois">ἐτησίοις</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fwn">Βυζαντίων</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="o%29rqo%2Fs">ὀρθός</w>, <w lemma="a%28%2Fma">ἅμα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="eu%29parako%2Fmisto%2Fs">εὐπαρακόμιστός</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="plou%3Ds">πλοῦς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aproponti%2Fdos">Προποντίδος</w> <w lemma="stena%5C">στενὰ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fabudon">Ἄβυδον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="%2Ashsto%2Fn">Σηστόν</w>, <w lemma="ka%29kei%3Dqen">κἀκεῖθεν</w> <w lemma="w%28sau%2Ftws">ὡσαύτως</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w>,
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<w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fnos">Καλχηδόνος</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29asi%2Fan">Ἀσίαν</w> <w lemma="ta%29nanti%2Fa">τἀναντία</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kolpw%2Fdh">κολπώδη</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="para%2Fploun">παράπλουν</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxein">ὑπάρχειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="protei%2Fnein">προτείνειν</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Akuzikhnw%3Dn">Κυζικηνῶν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29f%27">ἀφ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%28ellhspo%2Fntou">Ἑλλησπόντου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="fero%2Fmenon">φερόμενον</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fna">Καλχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="xrh%2Fsasqai">χρήσασθαι</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Aeu%29rw%2Fphn">Εὐρώπην</w> <w lemma="plw%3D%7C">πλῷ</w>, <w lemma="ka%29%2Fpeita">κἄπειτα</w> <w lemma="suneggi%2Fzonta">συνεγγίζοντα</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Abuza%2Fntion">Βυζάντιον</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpois">τόποις</w> <w lemma="ka%2Fmptein">κάμπτειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prostre%2Fxein">προστρέχειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Akalxhdo%2Fna">Καλχηδόνα</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fna">προειρημένα</w> <w lemma="dusxere%2Fs">δυσχερές</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28moi%2Fws">ὁμοίως</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="e%29kple%2Fonta">ἐκπλέοντα</w> <w lemma="prostre%2Fxein">προστρέχειν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aqra%2F%7Ckh%7C">Θρᾴκῃ</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="a%29du%2Fnaton">ἀδύνατον</w> <w lemma="dia%2F">διά</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="r%28ou%3Dn">ῥοῦν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmous">ἀνέμους</w> <w lemma="e%28kate%2Frous">ἑκατέρους</w> <w lemma="a%29ntipi%2Fptein">ἀντιπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Fras">ἀμφοτέρας</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pibola%2Fs">ἐπιβολάς</w>,
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<w lemma="e%29peidh%2Fper">ἐπειδήπερ</w> <w lemma="ei%29sa%2Fgei">εἰσάγει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2Apo%2Fnton">Πόντον</w> <w lemma="no%2Ftos">νότος</w>, <w lemma="e%29ca%2Fgei">ἐξάγει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="bore%2Fas">βορέας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkh">ἀνάγκη</w> <w lemma="xrh%3Dsqai">χρῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fteron">ἑκάτερον</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="dro%2Fmon">δρόμον</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29ne%2Fmois">ἀνέμοις</w>.
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<w lemma=""></w> <w lemma="%2Ata%5C">Τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="qa%2Flattan">θάλατταν</w> <w lemma="eu%29kairi%2Fan">εὐκαιρίαν</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dnta">ποιοῦντα</w> <w lemma="%2Abuzanti%2Fois">Βυζαντίοις</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dt%27">ταῦτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w>, <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="gh%3Dn">γῆν</w>
<head>Contrast between <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> and Calchedon</head>What then makes <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> a most excellent site, and Calchedon the reverse, is just this: and although at first sight both positions seem equally convenient, the practical fact is that it is difficult to sail up to the latter, even if you wish to do so; while the current carries you to the former, whether you will or no, as I have just now shown.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note91">B.C. 410.</note>And a proof of my assertion is this: those who want to cross from Calchedon to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> cannot sail straight across the channel, but coast up to the Cow and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Chrysopolis&groupId=464&placeId=867">Chrysopolis</a>,—which the Athenians formerly seized, by the advice of Alcibiades, when they for the first time levied customs on ships sailing into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>,<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note92"><bibl n="Xen. Hell. 1.1.22" default="NO" valid="yes">Xenophon,<title>Hellen.</title>1, 1, 22</bibl>.</note>—and then drift down the current, which carries them as a matter of course to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>. And the same is the case with a voyage on either side of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>. For if a man is running before a south wind from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a>, or to the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a> before the Etesian winds, if he keeps to the European shore, he has a direct and easy course to the narrow part of the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> between Abydos and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sestos&groupId=969&placeId=1717">Sestos</a>, and thence also back again to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>: but if he goes from Calchedon along the Asiatic coast, the case is exactly the reverse, from the fact that the coast is broken up by deep bays, and that the territory of Cyzicus projects to a considerable distance. Nor can a man coming from the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Hellespont&groupId=620&placeId=1141">Hellespont</a> to Calchedon obviate this by keeping to the European coast as far as <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a>, and then striking across to Calchedon; for the current and other circumstances which I have mentioned make it difficult. Similarly, for one sailing out from Calchedon it is absolutely impossible to make straight for <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Thrace&groupId=1030&placeId=509">Thrace</a>, owing to the intervening current, and to the fact that both winds are unfavourable to both voyages; for as the south wind blows into the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Pontus&groupId=910&placeId=1634">Pontus</a>, and the north wind from it, the one or the other of these must be encountered in both these voyages. These, then, are the advantages enjoyed by <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Byzantium&groupId=415&placeId=767">Byzantium</a> in regard to the sea: I must now describe its disadvantages on shore.