Polybius, Histories

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Book 4 - Chapter 63

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<w lemma="doni%2Fan">δονίαν</w>. <w lemma="%2Afi%2Flippos">Φίλιππος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Amakedoni%2Fan">Μακεδονίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29kou%2Fsas">ἀκούσας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paraxrh%3Dma">παραχρῆμα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29gnoi%2Fas">ἀγνοίας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filoneiki%2Fas">φιλονεικίας</w> <w lemma="ta%29pi%2Fxeira">τἀπίχειρα</w> <w lemma="kekomisme%2Fnos">κεκομισμένος</w>, <w lemma="e%29polio%2Frkei">ἐπολιόρκει</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fambrakon">Ἄμβρακον</w>.
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<w lemma="xrhsa%2Fmenos">χρησάμενος</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fmasin">χώμασιν</w> <w lemma="e%29nergw%3Ds">ἐνεργῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="loiph%3D%7C">λοιπῇ</w> <w lemma="paraskeuh%3D%7C">παρασκευῇ</w> <w lemma="taxe%2Fws">ταχέως</w> <w lemma="kateplh%2Fcato">κατεπλήξατο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="xwri%2Fon">χωρίον</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Frais">ἡμέραις</w> <w lemma="tettara%2Fkonta">τετταράκοντα</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fsais">πάσαις</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29fei%5Cs">ἀφεὶς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="fula%2Fttontas">φυλάττοντας</w> <w lemma="u%28pospo%2Fndous">ὑποσπόνδους</w>, <w lemma="o%29%2Fntas">ὄντας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="pentakosi%2Fous">πεντακοσίους</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpeirwtw%3Dn">Ἠπειρωτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29piqumi%2Fan">ἐπιθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29plh%2Frwse">ἐπλήρωσε</w>, <w lemma="paradou%5Cs">παραδοὺς</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fambrakon">Ἄμβρακον</w>,
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<w lemma="au%29to%5Cs">αὐτὸς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29nalabw%5Cn">ἀναλαβὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="%2Axara%2Fdran">Χαράδραν</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="diabh%3Dnai">διαβῆναι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29ambrakiko%5Cn">Ἀμβρακικὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpon">κόλπον</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%3D">οὗ</w> <w lemma="stenw%2Ftato%2Fn">στενώτατόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="i%28ero%5Cn">ἱερὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Faktion">Ἄκτιον</w>.
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<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="ko%2Flpos">κόλπος</w> <w lemma="e%29kpi%2Fptei">ἐκπίπτει</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="%2Asikelikou%3D">Σικελικοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="metacu%5C">μεταξὺ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29hpei%2Frou">Ἠπείρου</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fas">Ἀκαρνανίας</w> <w lemma="stenw%3D%7C">στενῷ</w> <w lemma="pantelw%3Ds">παντελῶς</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fmati">στόματι</w> — <w lemma="lei%2Fpei">λείπει</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fnte">πέντε</w> <w lemma="stadi%2Fwn">σταδίων</w> —
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<w lemma="probai%2Fnwn">προβαίνων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="meso%2Fgaian">μεσόγαιαν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="pla%2Ftos">πλάτος</w> <w lemma="e%29f%27">ἐφ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28kato%5Cn">ἑκατὸν</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="kei%3Dtai">κεῖται</w>, <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="mh%3Dkos">μῆκος</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="pela%2Fgous">πελάγους</w> <w lemma="propi%2Fptei">προπίπτει</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="triako%2Fsia">τριακόσια</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia:">στάδια·</w> <w lemma="diori%2Fzei">διορίζει</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29%2Fhpeiron">Ἤπειρον</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Frktwn">ἄρκτων</w>, <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29po%5C">ἀπὸ</w> <w lemma="meshmbri%2Fas">μεσημβρίας</w>.
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<w lemma="peraiw%2Fsas">περαιώσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnon">προειρημένον</w> <w lemma="sto%2Fma">στόμα</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dielqw%5Cn">διελθὼν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarnani%2Fan">Ἀκαρνανίαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dke">ἧκε</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twli%2Fas">Αἰτωλίας</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="kaloume%2Fnhn">καλουμένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> <w lemma="%2Afoiti%2Fas">Φοιτίας</w>, <w lemma="sumpareilhfw%5Cs">συμπαρειληφὼς</w> <w lemma="%2A%29akarna%2Fnwn">Ἀκαρνάνων</w> <w lemma="pezou%5Cs">πεζοὺς</w> <w lemma="disxili%2Fous">δισχιλίους</w>, <w lemma="i%28ppei%3Ds">ἱππεῖς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="diakosi%2Fous">διακοσίους</w>.
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<w lemma="peristratopedeu%2Fsas">περιστρατοπεδεύσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnhn">προειρημένην</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosbola%5Cs">προσβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29nergou%5Cs">ἐνεργοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kataplhktika%5Cs">καταπληκτικὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="poihsa%2Fmenos">ποιησάμενος</w>, <w lemma="pare%2Flabe">παρέλαβε</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28mologi%2Fan">ὁμολογίαν</w>, <w lemma="a%29fei%5Cs">ἀφεὶς</w> <w lemma="u%28pospo%2Fndous">ὑποσπόνδους</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29no%2Fntas">ἐνόντας</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn">Αἰτωλῶν</w>.
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<w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29piou%2Fshs">ἐπιούσης</w> <w lemma="nukto%2Fs">νυκτός</w>, <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="menou%2Fshs">μενούσης</w> <w lemma="a%29nalw%2Ftou">ἀναλώτου</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>, <w lemma="h%28%3Dkon">ἧκον</w> <w lemma="bohqou%3Dntes">βοηθοῦντες</w> <w lemma="pentako%2Fsioi">πεντακόσιοι</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Aai%29twlw%3Dn:">Αἰτωλῶν·</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="parousi%2Fan">παρουσίαν</w> <w lemma="proaisqano%2Fmenos">προαισθανόμενος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="basileu%2Fs">βασιλεύς</w>, <w lemma="kaqei%5Cs">καθεὶς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2F">ἐπί</w> <w lemma="tinas">τινας</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="eu%29kai%2Frous">εὐκαίρους</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fous">πλείους</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Fkteine">ἀπέκτεινε</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="loipou%5Cs">λοιποὺς</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Flabe">ἔλαβε</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w> <w lemma="o%29li%2Fgwn">ὀλίγων</w>.
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<w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%3Dta">ταῦτα</w> <w lemma="sitometrh%2Fsas">σιτομετρήσας</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tria%2Fkonq%27">τριάκονθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fras">ἡμέρας</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnamin">δύναμιν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="perikatalhfqe%2Fntos">περικαταληφθέντος</w> <w lemma="si%2Ftou">σίτου</w> — <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Afoiti%2Fais">Φοιτίαις</w> <w lemma="eu%28re%2Fqh">εὑρέθη</w> <w lemma="sunhqroisme%2Fnon">συνηθροισμένον</w> — <w lemma="proh%3Dge">προῆγε</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmenos">ποιούμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="porei%2Fan">πορείαν</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Astratikh%2Fn">Στρατικήν</w>.
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<w lemma="a%29posxw%5Cn">ἀποσχὼν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="sta%2Fdia">στάδια</w> <w lemma="katestratope%2Fdeuse">κατεστρατοπέδευσε</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="%2A%29axelw%3D%7Con">Ἀχελῷον</w> <w lemma="potamo%2Fn">ποταμόν</w>, <w lemma="o%28rmw%2Fmenos">ὁρμώμενος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29nteu%3Dqen">ἐντεῦθεν</w> <w lemma="a%29dew%3Ds">ἀδεῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29po%2Frqei">ἐπόρθει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fran">χώραν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29deno%5Cs">οὐδενὸς</w> <w lemma="e%29pecie%2Fnai">ἐπεξιέναι</w> <w lemma="tolmw%3Dntos">τολμῶντος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28penanti%2Fwn">ὑπεναντίων</w>.
<head>Philip's Aetolian Campaign</head>When he heard what had happened in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, and<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note123">Ambracus taken.</note>had thus paid on the spot for the selfishness and folly of the Epirotes, Philip proceeded to besiege Ambracus. By an energetic use of earthworks, and other siege operations, he quickly terrified the people into submission, and the place surrendered after a delay of forty days in all. He let the garrison, consisting of five hundred Aetolians, depart on fixed conditions, and gratified the cupidity of the Epirotes by handing over Ambracus to them; while he himself set his army in motion, and marched by way of Charadra, being anxious to cross the Ambracian gulf where it is narrowest, that is to say, near the Acarnanian temple called <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Actium&groupId=280&placeId=552">Actium</a>. For this gulf is a branch of the Sicilian sea between Epirus and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a>, with a very narrow opening of less than five stades, but expanding as it extends inland to a breadth of a hundred stades; while the length of the whole arm from the open sea is about three hundred stades. It forms the boundary between Epirus on the north and <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> on the south. Philip, therefore, having got his army across this entrance of the gulf, and advanced through<pb n="335" />Acarnania, came to the city of Phoeteiae, which belonged to the Aetolians;<note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note124">Though it was in the territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Acarnania&groupId=270&placeId=527">Acarnania</a> (Steph. Byz.)</note>having, during his march, been joined by an Acarnanian force of two thousand foot and two hundred horse.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note125">Philip enters Aetolia; takes Phoeteiae.</note>Encamping under the walls of this town, and making energetic and formidable assaults upon it during two days, it was surrendered to him on terms, and the Aetolian garrison were dismissed on parole. Next night, however, five hundred other Aetolians, believing the town still untaken, came to its relief; whose arrival being ascertained beforehand by the king, he stationed some men in ambush at certain convenient spots, and slew most of the new-comers and captured all but a very few of the rest. After these events, he distributed a month's rations of corn among his men from what had been captured, for a large store was found collected at Phoeteiae, and then continued his advance into the territory of Stratus. At about ten stades from that town he pitched his camp on the banks of the river Achelous; and from that began laying waste the country without resistance, none of the enemy venturing out to attack him.