Single Combat Between Eumenes and Neoptolemus — Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica Book 18 (18.31.1–18.31.5), Greek & English

§18.31.1

κατὰ κράτος ἡττημένον,¹ κατὰ δὲ τὸ εὐώνυμον Νεοπτολέμου κατʼ αὐτὸν τὸν Εὐμενῆ τεταγμένου συνέστη φιλοτιμία μεγάλη τῶν ἡγεμόνων ἐπʼ ἀλλήλους ὁρμησάντων.

With the right wing having been defeated by force, on the left wing, where Neoptolemus was stationed opposite Eumenes himself, a great rivalry arose as the generals rushed upon one another.

§18.31.2

γνωρισθέντες γὰρ ἀπό τε τῶν ἵππων καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἐπισήμων συνεπλάκησαν ἀλλήλοις καὶ τῇ καθʼ αὑτοὺς μονομαχίᾳ τὴν νίκην ἐποίησαν ἀκολουθῆσαι. τὸ μὲν οὖν πρῶτον τοῖς ξίφεσιν ἀλλήλων καθικόμενοι παράδοξον καὶ παντελῶς ἐξηλλαγμένην μονομαχίαν συνεστήσαντο· ἐκφερόμενοι γὰρ τῷ θυμῷ καὶ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους δυσμενείᾳ ταῖς ἀριστεραῖς χερσὶν ἀφέντες τὰς ἡνίας ἀλλήλων ἐδράξαντο. οὗ συμβάντος οἱ μὲν ἵπποι κατὰ τὴν ὁρμὴν ὑπεξέδραμον, αὐτοὶ δʼ ἔπεσον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.

For, being recognized by their horses and their other insignia, they clashed with one another and made the victory follow upon their own single combat. At first, then, striking at each other with their swords, they engaged in a strange and completely extraordinary duel; for, carried away by rage and their animosity toward one another, they let go of the reins with their left hands and grasped each other. When this happened, the horses ran out from under them in their rush, and they themselves fell to the ground.

§18.31.3

τῆς δʼ ἐπαναστάσεως διὰ τὴν ὀξύτητα καὶ βίαν τοῦ πτώματος χαλεπῶς γινομένης ἀμφοτέροις, ἅτε καὶ τῶν ὅπλων ἐμποδιζόντων τὰ σώματα, ὁ μὲν Εὐμενὴς ἔφθασε, πρότερος διαναστάς, τοῦ Νεοπτολέμου τὴν ἰγνὺν πατάξαι.²

Since getting up was difficult for both of them because of the suddenness and violence of the fall, especially as their armor also encumbered their bodies, Eumenes anticipated him, rising first, and struck Neoptolemus in the ham of the leg.

§18.31.4

μεγάλης δὲ γενομένης διαιρέσεως καὶ σφαλείσης τῆς βάσεως ὁ μὲν πληγεὶς παραλελυμένος ἔκειτο, κωλυόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ τραύματος διαναστῆναι· ὅμως δὲ τῆς εὐψυχίας ὑπεραγούσης τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἐλάττωσιν³ ἐν γόνασι βεβηκὼς ἔτρωσε τὸν ἀντίπαλον εἴς τε τὸν βραχίονα καὶ τοὺς μηροὺς τρισὶ πληγαῖς.

As a great gash was made and his footing slipped, the one who had been struck lay paralyzed, prevented by his wound from rising. Nevertheless, since his courage surpassed the physical disability, getting upon his knees, he wounded his opponent in the arm and thighs with three blows.

§18.31.5

οὐδεμιᾶς δʼ οὔσης πληγῆς καιρίου καὶ τῶν τραυμάτων ἔτι θερμῶν ὄντων⁴ ὁ Εὐμενὴς δευτέραν πληγὴν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον ἐπενέγκας ἀπέκτεινε τὸν Νεοπτόλεμον.

But since none of these blows was fatal and the wounds were still warm, Eumenes, dealing a second blow to his neck, killed Neoptolemus.

Syntax notes4 items

18.31.1ἡττημένον
A neuter singular participle modifying the neuter singular noun 'the right wing' (τὸ μὲν δεξιὸν κέρας) from the main clause of the preceding chapter. Grammatically, it describes the state of being defeated as a result of the retreat mentioned in the preceding sentence.
18.31.3ἔφθασε... πατάξαι
The verb φθάνω usually takes a supplementary participle to mean 'anticipate in doing,' but here it takes the participle πρότερος διαναστάς ('rising first') while also governing the infinitive πατάξαι ('to strike') as its object, forming a complex construction meaning 'he anticipated him in rising and striking.'
18.31.4τῆς εὐψυχίας ὑπεραγούσης τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἐλάττωσιν
A genitive absolute construction. The verb ὑπεράγω is used here transitively meaning 'to surpass, excel,' and directly governs the accusative phrase τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἐλάττωσιν as its object.
18.31.5τῶν τραυμάτων ἔτι θερμῶν ὄντων
A genitive absolute construction. 'While the wounds were still warm' refers to the state before the physical pain is fully registered due to the excitement of battle, or when the wounds are still fresh.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:18.31.1-18.31.5