<head lang="la">VII. Res Asiae</head><w lemma="%2Aperi%5C">Περὶ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="%2Asa%2Frdeis">Σάρδεις</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fpaustoi">ἄπαυστοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunexei%3Ds">συνεχεῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29krobolismoi%5C">ἀκροβολισμοὶ</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstanto">συνίσταντο</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ki%2Fndunoi">κίνδυνοι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fktwr">νύκτωρ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="meq%27">μεθ᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28me%2Fran">ἡμέραν</w>, <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnos">γένος</w> <w lemma="e%29ne%2Fdras">ἐνέδρας</w>, <w lemma="a%29ntene%2Fdras">ἀντενέδρας</w>, <w lemma="e%29piqe%2Fsews">ἐπιθέσεως</w> <w lemma="e%29ceurisko%2Fntwn">ἐξευρισκόντων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="stratiwtw%3Dn">στρατιωτῶν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29llh%2Flwn:">ἀλλήλων·</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="w%28%3Dn">ὧν</w> <w lemma="gra%2Ffein">γράφειν</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29">οὐ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnon">μόνον</w> <w lemma="a%29nwfele%5Cs">ἀνωφελὲς</w> <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="makro%5Cn">μακρὸν</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%2Fh">εἴη</w> <w lemma="tele%2Fws">τελέως</w>.
<w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pe%2Fras">πέρας</w>, <w lemma="h%29%2Fdh">ἤδη</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="poliorki%2Fas">πολιορκίας</w> <w lemma="deu%2Fteron">δεύτερον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Ftos">ἔτος</w> <w lemma="e%29nestw%2Fshs">ἐνεστώσης</w>, <w lemma="%2Alago%2Fras">Λαγόρας</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="%2Akrh%2Fs">Κρής</w>, <w lemma="tribh%5Cn">τριβὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxwn">ἔχων</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemikoi%3Ds">πολεμικοῖς</w> <w lemma="i%28kanh%2Fn">ἱκανήν</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sunewrakw%5Cs">συνεωρακὼς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="o%29xurwta%2Ftas">ὀχυρωτάτας</w> <w lemma="po%2Fleis">πόλεις</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="polu%5C">πολὺ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%3D%7Csta">ῥᾷστα</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="polemi%2Fois">πολεμίοις</w> <w lemma="u%28poxeiri%2Fous">ὑποχειρίους</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="o%29ligwri%2Fan">ὀλιγωρίαν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29noikou%2Fntwn">ἐνοικούντων</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="pisteu%2Fsantes">πιστεύσαντες</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthsi">ὀχυρότησι</w> <w lemma="tai%3Ds">ταῖς</w> <w lemma="fusikai%3Ds">φυσικαῖς</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="xeiropoih%2Ftois">χειροποιήτοις</w> <w lemma="a%29fulaktw%3Dsi">ἀφυλακτῶσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumw%3Dsi">ῥᾳθυμῶσι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="para%2Fpan">παράπαν</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29pegnwkw%5Cs">ἐπεγνωκὼς</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="sumbai%2Fnei">συμβαίνει</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%28lw%2Fseis">ἁλώσεις</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="o%29xurwta%2Ftous">ὀχυρωτάτους</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpous">τόπους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dokou%3Dntas">δοκοῦντας</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29nanti%2Fwn">ἐναντίων</w> <w lemma="a%29phlpi%2Fsqai">ἀπηλπίσθαι</w>,
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fte">τότε</w> <w lemma="qewrw%3Dn">θεωρῶν</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="prou+pa%2Frxousan">προϋπάρχουσαν</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="%2Asa%2Frdewn">Σάρδεων</w> <w lemma="o%29xuro%2Fthtos">ὀχυρότητος</w> <w lemma="a%28%2Fpantas">ἅπαντας</w> <w lemma="a%29pegnwko%2Ftas">ἀπεγνωκότας</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w> <w lemma="pra%2Fcews">πράξεως</w> <w lemma="kurieu%2Fsein">κυριεύσειν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%3Ds">αὐτῆς</w>, <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fxontas">ἔχοντας</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29ndei%2Fas">ἐνδείας</w> <w lemma="krath%2Fsein">κρατήσειν</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w>,
<w lemma="tosou%2Ftw%7C">τοσούτῳ</w> <w lemma="ma%3Dllon">μᾶλλον</w> <w lemma="prosei%3Dxe">προσεῖχε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fnta">πάντα</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="h%29reu%2Fna">ἠρεύνα</w>, <w lemma="speu%2Fdwn">σπεύδων</w> <w lemma="a%29formh%3Ds">ἀφορμῆς</w> <w lemma="tinos">τινος</w> <w lemma="e%29pilabe%2Fsqai">ἐπιλαβέσθαι</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fths">τοιαύτης</w>.
<w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="kalou%2Fmenon">καλούμενον</w> <w lemma="%2Apri%2Fona">Πρίονα</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="a%29fulaktou%2Fmenon">ἀφυλακτούμενον</w> — <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fsti">ἔστι</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpos">τόπος</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="suna%2Fptwn">συνάπτων</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fkran">ἄκραν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w> — <w lemma="e%29gi%2Fneto">ἐγίνετο</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29lpi%2Fda">ἐλπίδα</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>.
<w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="fulatto%2Fntwn">φυλαττόντων</w> <w lemma="r%28a%7Cqumi%2Fan">ῥᾳθυμίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftou">τοιούτου</w> <w lemma="tino%5Cs">τινὸς</w> <w lemma="shmei%2Fou">σημείου</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbh">συνέβη</w> <w lemma="qewrh%3Dsai">θεωρῆσαι</w>.
<w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpou">τόπου</w> <w lemma="krhmnw%2Fdous">κρημνώδους</w> <w lemma="u%28pa%2Frxontos">ὑπάρχοντος</w> <w lemma="diafero%2Fntws">διαφερόντως</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fa%2Fraggos">φάραγγος</w> <w lemma="u%28pokeime%2Fnhs">ὑποκειμένης</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="h%28%5Cn">ἣν</w> <w lemma="r%28iptei%3Dsqai">ῥιπτεῖσθαι</w> <w lemma="sune%2Fbaine">συνέβαινε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="nekrou%5Cs">νεκροὺς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="i%28%2Fppwn">ἵππων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="u%28pozugi%2Fwn">ὑποζυγίων</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29poqnhsko%2Fntwn">ἀποθνησκόντων</w> <w lemma="koili%2Fas">κοιλίας</w>, <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="ai%29ei%5C">αἰεὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="gupw%3Dn">γυπῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllwn">ἄλλων</w> <w lemma="o%29rne%2Fwn">ὀρνέων</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="h%28qroi%2Fzeto">ἡθροίζετο</w>.
<w lemma="sunqewrh%2Fsas">συνθεωρήσας</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="proeirhme%2Fnos">προειρημένος</w> <w lemma="a%29nh%2Fr">ἀνήρ</w>, <w lemma="o%28%2Fte">ὅτε</w> <w lemma="plhrwqei%2Fh">πληρωθείη</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="zw%3D%7Ca">ζῷα</w>, <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="a%29napau%2Fseis">ἀναπαύσεις</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="krhmnw%3Dn">κρημνῶν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="tei%2Fxous">τείχους</w> <w lemma="poiou%2Fmena">ποιούμενα</w> <w lemma="sunexw%3Ds">συνεχῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fgnw">ἔγνω</w> <w lemma="dio%2Fti">διότι</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="a%29fulaktei%3Dtai">ἀφυλακτεῖται</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="tei%3Dxos">τεῖχος</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnetai">γίνεται</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="plei%3Dston">πλεῖστον</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnon">χρόνον</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frhmon">ἔρημον</w>.
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29pimelw%3Ds">ἐπιμελῶς</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="nu%2Fkta">νύκτα</w> <w lemma="prosporeuo%2Fmenos">προσπορευόμενος</w> <w lemma="e%29ch%2Ftaze">ἐξήταζε</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="prosba%2Fseis">προσβάσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="qe%2Fseis">θέσεις</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="klima%2Fkwn">κλιμάκων</w>.
<w lemma="eu%28ri%2Fskwn">εὑρίσκων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="kata%2F">κατά</w> <w lemma="tina">τινα</w> <w lemma="to%2Fpon">τόπον</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaq%27">καθ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fna">ἕνα</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="krhmnw%3Dn">κρημνῶν</w> <w lemma="dunath%5Cn">δυνατὴν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dsan">οὖσαν</w>, <w lemma="prosfe%2Frei">προσφέρει</w> <w lemma="tw%3D%7C">τῷ</w>
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<head>The War of Antiochus with Achaeus</head>(See<ref target="b5c107" targOrder="U">5, 107</ref>)Round <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardis&groupId=948&placeId=1686">Sardis</a> ceaseless and protracted skirmishes were<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note34">Siege of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardis&groupId=948&placeId=1686">Sardis</a> from the end of B. C. 216 to autumn of B. C. 215.</note>taking place and fighting by night and day, both armies inventing every possible kind of plot and counterplot against each other: to describe which in detail would be as useless as it would be in the last degree wearisome. At last, when the siege had already entered upon its second year, Lagoras the Cretan came forward. He had had a considerable experience in war, and had learnt that as a rule cities fall into the hands of their enemies most easily from some neglect on the part of their inhabitants, when, trusting to the natural or artificial strength of their defences, they neglect to keep proper guard and become thoroughly careless. He had observed too, that in such fortified cities captures were effected at the points of greatest strength, which were believed to have been despaired of by the enemy. So in the present instance, when he saw that the prevailing notion of the strength of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sardis&groupId=948&placeId=1686">Sardis</a> caused the whole army to despair of taking it by storm, and to believe that the one hope of getting it was by starving it out, he gave all the closer attention to the subject; and eagerly scanned every possible method of making an attempt to capture the town. Having observed therefore that a portion of the wall was unguarded, near a place called the <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Saw&groupId=951&placeId=1689">Saw</a>, which unites the citadel and city, he conceived the hope and idea of performing this exploit. He had discovered the carelessness of the men guarding this wall from the following circumstance. The place was extremely precipitous: and there was a deep gully below, into which dead bodies from the city, and the offal of horses and beasts of burden that died, were accustomed<pb n="522" />to be thrown; and in this place therefore there was always a great number of vultures and other birds collected. Having observed, then, that when these creatures were gorged, they always sat undisturbed upon the cliffs and the wall, he concluded that the wall must necessarily be left unguarded and deserted for the larger part of the day. Accordingly, under cover of night, he went to the spot and carefully examined the possibilities of approaching it and setting ladders; and finding that this was possible at one particular rock, he communicated the facts to the king.
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