Eumenes' Prudence and the Throne of Alexander — Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica Book 18 (18.60.1–18.60.6), Greek & English

§18.60.1

ἃ¹ καὶ τότε διανοούμενος Εὐμενὴς ἐμφρόνως τὰ καθʼ ἑαυτὸν ἠσφαλίσατο, προορώμενος τὴν τῆς τύχης καινοτομίαν. ὁρῶν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν μὲν ξένον ὄντα καὶ μηδὲν προσήκοντα βασιλικαῖς ἐξουσίαις, τοὺς δʼ ὑποταττομένους Μακεδόνας θάνατον αὐτοῦ προκατεγνωκότας, τοὺς δʼ ἐν ταῖς στρατιωτικαῖς ἡγεμονίαις διατρίβοντας φρονήματος πλήρεις ὑπάρχοντας καὶ μεγάλων πραγμάτων ὀρεγομένους ὑπέλαβεν² ἔσεσθαι περὶ αὐτὸν συντόμως καταφρόνησιν ἅμα καὶ φθόνον καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον τὸν περὶ τοῦ ζῆν κίνδυνον· μηδένα γὰρ ποιήσειν ἑκουσίως τὸ προσταττόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ἡττόνων εἶναι δοκούντων μηδὲ καρτερήσειν δεσποζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ὀφειλόντων ἑτέροις ὑποτάττεσθαι.

Contemplating these very things at that time, Eumenes prudently secured his own position, anticipating the innovation of fortune. For seeing that he himself was a foreigner and had no connection to royal authority, while the Macedonians who were subject to him had previously condemned him to death, and those who held military commands were full of pride and aspired to great things, he suspected that there would soon arise around him contempt as well as envy, and finally danger to his life. For he believed that no one would willingly do what was commanded by those who seemed to be their inferiors, nor would anyone endure being ruled by those who ought to be subject to others.

§18.60.2

δοὺς δὲ αὑτῷ περὶ τούτων λόγον πρῶτον μὲν διδομένων αὐτῷ τῶν πεντακοσίων ταλάντων κατὰ τὰς τῶν βασιλέων ἐπιστολὰς εἰς ἀνάληψιν καὶ κατασκευὴν οὐκ ἔφησε λήψεσθαι· μὴ γὰρ προσδεῖσθαι τηλικαύτης δωρεᾶς, ὡς ἂν μηδεμιᾶς αὐτοῦ σπεύδοντος τυχεῖν ἡγεμονίας.

Having reasoned with himself on these matters, first of all, when the five hundred talents were offered to him in accordance with the letters of the kings for recruitment and equipment, he said he would not accept them; for he had no need of so great a gift, inasmuch as he was not eager to obtain any command.

§18.60.3

καὶ γὰρ νῦν οὐχ ἑκουσίως αὐτὸν ὑπακηκοέναι πρὸς ταύτην τὴν χρείαν, ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ τῶν βασιλέων συνηναγκάσθαι προσδέξασθαι τὴν τοιαύτην λειτουργίαν. καθόλου γὰρ διὰ τὴν συνέχειαν τῆς στρατείας μηκέτι δύνασθαι φέρειν τὰς κακοπαθίας καὶ πλάνας, καὶ ταῦτα³ μηδεμιᾶς ὑποκειμένης ἀρχῆς ξένῳ καὶ τῆς ὁμοεθνοῦς τοῖς Μακεδόσιν ἐξουσίας κεχωρισμένῳ.

For indeed, even now he had not willingly obeyed this call to service, but had been compelled by the kings to accept such a public duty. For in general, because of the continuity of the campaign, he was no longer able to bear the hardships and wanderings, especially since no base of authority was available to a foreigner who was excluded from the power shared by those of the same nation as the Macedonians.

§18.60.4

ἀπεφαίνετο δὲ αὑτὸν ἑωρακέναι κατὰ τὸν ὕπνον ὄψιν παράδοξον, ἣν ἀναγκαῖον ἡγεῖσθαι δηλῶσαι πᾶσι· δοκεῖν γὰρ αὐτὴν πολλὰ συνεργήσειν πρός τε ὁμόνοιαν καὶ τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον.

And he declared that he had seen in his sleep a strange vision, which he thought it necessary to reveal to all; for he believed that it would contribute greatly to harmony and the common good.

§18.60.5

δόξαι γὰρ κατὰ τὸν ὕπνον ὁρᾶν Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν βασιλέα ζῶντα καὶ τῇ βασιλικῇ σκευῇ κεκοσμημένον χρηματίζειν καὶ τὰ προστάγματα διδόναι τοῖς ἡγεμόσι καὶ πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὴν βασιλείαν διοικεῖν ἐνεργῶς.

For he seemed to see in his sleep King Alexander alive, adorned with the royal attire, transacting business, giving orders to the generals, and actively administering all the affairs of the kingdom.

§18.60.6

»διόπερ οἶμαι δεῖν ἐκ τῆς βασιλικῆς γάζης κατασκευάσαι χρυσοῦν θρόνον, ἐν ᾧ τεθέντος τοῦ διαδήματος⁴ καὶ σκήπτρου καὶ στεφάνου καὶ τῆς ἄλλης κατασκευῆς ἐπιθύειν ἅμʼ ἡμέρᾳ πάντας αὐτῷ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας καὶ πλησίον τοῦ θρόνου συνεδρεύειν καὶ τὰ προστάγματα λαμβάνειν ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ βασιλέως, ὡς ζῶντος καὶ προεστηκότος τῆς ἰδίας βασιλείας.«

”Therefore, I think it is necessary to construct a golden throne from the royal treasury, upon which, when the diadem, the scepter, the crown, and the other regalia have been placed, all the generals shall offer sacrifice to it at daybreak, hold their council near the throne, and receive their orders in the name of the king, as though he were alive and presiding over his own kingdom.”

Syntax notes4 items

18.60.1ἃ
Neuter plural relative pronoun, functioning as a relative connection referring back to the contents of the preceding chapter (e.g., the vicissitudes of fortune). It serves as the direct object of the participle διανοούμενος.
18.60.1ὁρῶν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν μὲν... ὑπέλαβεν...
Before the main verb ὑπέλαβεν (he supposed), the causal participle ὁρῶν (seeing) introduces a long series of subordinate participial clauses acting as indirect discourse: ἑαυτὸν with ὄντα and προσήκοντα, τοὺς... Μακεδόνας with προκατεγνωκότας, and τοὺς... διατρίβοντας with ὑπάρχοντας and ὀρεγομένους. This carefully structured sequence lists three circumstances before leading into the accusative and infinitive construction (ἔσεσθαι... καταφρόνησιν) dependent on the main verb.
18.60.3καὶ ταῦτα
An idiomatic accusative expression meaning 'and that too' or 'especially when'. Here it adds and emphasizes a further disadvantageous condition—namely, that Eumenes is a foreigner excluded from the traditional authority shared among the Macedonians—to the preceding statement about his inability to bear the hardships of the campaign.
18.60.6τεθέντος τοῦ διαδήματος
Genitive absolute construction consisting of the aorist passive participle τεθέντος and the nouns τοῦ διαδήματος, σκήπτρου, στεφάνου, and τῆς ἄλλης κατασκευῆς acting as its subjects. It denotes the attendant circumstance: 'when the diadem, scepter, crown, and other regalia have been placed [on the throne]'.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:18.60.1-18.60.6