Polybius, Histories
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Book 6 - Chapter 24

1
<w lemma="%2A%29ec">Ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstou">ἑκάστου</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnwn">προειρημένων</w> <w lemma="genw%3Dn">γενῶν</w> <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="newta%2Ftwn">νεωτάτων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flecan">ἐξέλεξαν</w> <w lemma="tacia%2Frxous">ταξιάρχους</w> <w lemma="a%29risti%2Fndhn">ἀριστίνδην</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w>. <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="e%28te%2Fran">ἑτέραν</w> <w lemma="e%29klogh%5Cn">ἐκλογὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dntai">ποιοῦνται</w>.
2
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftous">τούτους</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="proshgo%2Freusan">προσηγόρευσαν</w> <w lemma="tacia%2Frxous">ταξιάρχους</w>, <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="ai%28reqei%5Cs">αἱρεθεὶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunedri%2Fou">συνεδρίου</w> <w lemma="koinwnei%3D:">κοινωνεῖ·</w> <w lemma="prosekle%2Fgontai">προσεκλέγονται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsous">ἴσους</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragou%2Fs">οὐραγούς</w>.
3
<w lemma="e%28ch%3Ds">ἑξῆς</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="tacia%2Frxwn">ταξιάρχων</w> <w lemma="diei%3Dlon">διεῖλον</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="h%28liki%2Fas">ἡλικίας</w>, <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="de%2Fka">δέκα</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w>, <w lemma="plh%5Cn">πλὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxwn:">γροσφομάχων·</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prose%2Fneiman">προσένειμαν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstw%7C">ἑκάστῳ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frei">μέρει</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29klexqe%2Fntwn">ἐκλεχθέντων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2F%27">δύ᾽</w> <w lemma="ou%29ragou%2Fs">οὐραγούς</w>.
4
<w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="grosfoma%2Fxwn">γροσφομάχων</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29piba%2Fllontas">ἐπιβάλλοντας</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="i%29%2Fsous">ἴσους</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frh">μέρη</w> <w lemma="die%2Fneiman">διένειμαν</w>.
5
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="e%29ka%2Flesan">ἐκάλεσαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fgma">τάγμα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="spei%3Dran">σπεῖραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fan">σημαίαν</w>, <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="kenturi%2Fwnas">κεντυρίωνας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tacia%2Frxous">ταξιάρχους</w>.
6
<w lemma="ou%28%3Dtoi">οὗτοι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fsthn">ἑκάστην</w> <w lemma="spei%3Dran">σπεῖραν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="kataleipome%2Fnwn">καταλειπομένων</w> <w lemma="e%29ce%2Flecan">ἐξέλεξαν</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%5C">αὐτοὶ</w> <w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29kmaiota%2Ftous">ἀκμαιοτάτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gennaiota%2Ftous">γενναιοτάτους</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w> <w lemma="shmaiafo%2Frous">σημαιαφόρους</w>.
7
<w lemma="du%2Fo">δύο</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="ta%2Fgma">τάγμα</w> <w lemma="poiou%3Dsin">ποιοῦσιν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnas">ἡγεμόνας</w> <w lemma="ei%29ko%2Ftws:">εἰκότως·</w> <w lemma="a%29dh%2Flou">ἀδήλου</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="o%29%2Fntos">ὄντος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="poih%3Dsai">ποιῆσαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="paqei%3Dn">παθεῖν</w> <w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fna">ἡγεμόνα</w>, <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="polemikh%3Ds">πολεμικῆς</w> <w lemma="xrei%2Fas">χρείας</w> <w lemma="ou%29k">οὐκ</w> <w lemma="e%29pidexome%2Fnhs">ἐπιδεχομένης</w> <w lemma="pro%2Ffasin">πρόφασιν</w>, <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fpote">οὐδέποτε</w> <w lemma="bou%2Flontai">βούλονται</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="spei%3Dran">σπεῖραν</w> <w lemma="xwri%5Cs">χωρὶς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemo%2Fnos">ἡγεμόνος</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="prosta%2Ftou">προστάτου</w>.
8
<w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29mfote%2Frwn">ἀμφοτέρων</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="prw%3Dtos">πρῶτος</w> <w lemma="ai%28reqei%5Cs">αἱρεθεὶς</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dtai">ἡγεῖται</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="deciou%3D">δεξιοῦ</w> <w lemma="me%2Frous">μέρους</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="spei%2Fras">σπείρας</w>, <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteros">δεύτερος</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="eu%29wnu%2Fmwn">εὐωνύμων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="shmai%2Fas">σημαίας</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxei">ἔχει</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fan:">ἡγεμονίαν·</w> <w lemma="mh%5C">μὴ</w> <w lemma="paro%2Fntwn">παρόντων</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="kataleipo%2Fmenos">καταλειπόμενος</w> <w lemma="h%28gei%3Dtai">ἡγεῖται</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntwn">πάντων</w>.
9
<w lemma="bou%2Flontai">βούλονται</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="tacia%2Frxous">ταξιάρχους</w> <w lemma="ou%29x">οὐχ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="qrasei%3Ds">θρασεῖς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filokindu%2Fnous">φιλοκινδύνους</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemonikou%5Cs">ἡγεμονικοὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="stasi%2Fmous">στασίμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="baqei%3Ds">βαθεῖς</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="yuxai%3Ds">ψυχαῖς</w>, <w lemma="ou%29d%27">οὐδ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="a%29kerai%2Fou">ἀκεραίου</w> <w lemma="prospi%2Fptein">προσπίπτειν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kata%2Frxesqai">κατάρχεσθαι</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="ma%2Fxhs">μάχης</w>, <w lemma="e%29pikratoume%2Fnous">ἐπικρατουμένους</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="piezome%2Fnous">πιεζομένους</w> <w lemma="u%28pome%2Fnein">ὑπομένειν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="a%29poqnh%2Fskein">ἀποθνήσκειν</w> <w lemma="u%28pe%5Cr">ὑπὲρ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="xw%2Fras">χώρας</w>.
<head>Officers of Infantry and Cavalry</head>The<foreign lang="la">Principes, Hastati,</foreign>and<foreign lang="la">Triarii,</foreign>each elect ten<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note30">Election of Centurions.</note>centurions according to merit, and then a second ten each. All these sixty have the title of centurion alike, of whom the first man chosen is a member of the council of war. And they in their turn select a rear-rank officer each who is called<foreign lang="la">optio.</foreign>Next, in conjunction with the centurions, they divide the several orders (omitting the<foreign lang="la">Velites</foreign>) into ten companies each, and appoint to each company two centurions and two<foreign lang="la">optiones;</foreign>the<foreign lang="la">Velites</foreign>are divided equally among all the companies; these companies are called orders (<foreign lang="la">ordines</foreign>) or maniples (<foreign lang="la">manipuli</foreign>), or vexilla, and their officers are called centurions or<foreign lang="la">ordinum ductores.</foreign><note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note31">Polybius does not mention the subdivision of maniples into centuries, for which the word ordines is sometimes used.<bibl n="Liv. 8.8" default="NO" valid="yes">Livy, 8, 8</bibl>;<bibl n="Liv. 42.34" default="NO" valid="yes">42, 34</bibl>.</note>Each maniple selects two of their strongest and best born men as standard-bearers (<foreign lang="la">vexillarii</foreign>). And that each maniple should have two commanding officers is only reasonable; for it being impossible to know what a commander may be doing or what may happen to him, and necessities of war admitting of no parleying, they are anxious that the maniple may never be without a leader and commander.<pb n="479" />When the two centurions are both on the field, the first elected commands the right of the maniple, the second the left: if both are not there, the one who is commands the whole. And they wish the centurions not to be so much bold and adventurous, as men with a faculty for command, steady, and of a profound rather than a showy spirit; not prone to engage wantonly or be unnecessarily forward in giving battle; but such as in the face of superior numbers and overwhelming pressure will die in defence of their post.

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