Uprising of Deinocrates and Eumachus' Campaign in Libya — Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica Book 20 (20.57.1–20.57.6), Greek & English

§20.57.1

τούτου δὲ περὶ ταῦτʼ ὄντος Δεινοκράτης ὁ τῶν φυγάδων ἡγούμενος ἀναλαβὼν τὴν Ἀκραγαντίνων προαίρεσιν καὶ προστάτην αὑτὸν ἀναδείξας τῆς κοινῆς ἐλευθερίας ἐποίησε πολλοὺς ἁπανταχόθεν συνδραμεῖν πρὸς αὐτόν·

While he was occupied with these matters, Deinocrates, the leader of the exiles, taking up the enterprise of the Acragantines and declaring himself the champion of the common freedom, caused many from all sides to flock to him.

§20.57.2

οἱ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τὴν ἔμφυτον πᾶσιν ἐπιθυμίαν τῆς αὐτονομίας, οἱ δὲ διὰ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέους φόβον προθύμως ὑπήκουον τοῖς παραγγελλομένοις. ἠθροισμένων δʼ αὐτῶν¹ πεζῶν μὲν οὐ πολὺ ἐλάττων δισμυρίων, ἱππέων δὲ χιλίων καὶ πεντακοσίων καὶ πάντων τούτων ἐν φυγαῖς καὶ μελέταις τοῦ πονεῖν συνεχῶς γεγονότων κατεστρατοπέδευσεν ἐν ὑπαίθρῳ, προκαλούμενος τῇ μάχῃ τὸν δυνάστην. τοῦ δʼ Ἀγαθοκλέους λειπομένου πολὺ ταῖς δυνάμεσι καὶ φυγομαχοῦντος ἐκ ποδὸς ἠκολούθει συνεχῶς, ἀκονητὶ περιπεποιημένος² τὴν νίκην. ἀπὸ δὲ τούτων τῶν καιρῶν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα συνέβαινε πρὸς τὸ χεῖρον μεταβάλλειν οὐ μόνον τὰ κατὰ Σικελίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ κατὰ Λιβύην πράγματα.

For some, because of the desire for autonomy inborn in all men, and others, because of their fear of Agathocles, eagerly obeyed his commands. When they had assembled, being not much fewer than twenty thousand infantry and one thousand five hundred cavalry, and all of these having been in exile and in constant training for hardship, he encamped in the open country, challenging the dynast to battle. Since Agathocles was far inferior in forces and avoided battle, he followed him closely and continually, having secured victory without a struggle. From these times, it began to happen to Agathocles and his followers that not only their affairs in Sicily but also those in Libya changed for the worse.

§20.57.4

Ἀρχάγαθος γὰρ ὁ καταλειφθεὶς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ στρατηγὸς μετὰ τὴν ἀναγωγὴν τοῦ πατρὸς τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐπλεονέκτει, πέμψας εἰς τοὺς ἄνω τόπους μέρος τι τῆς δυνάμεως, ἧς ἦν ἡγεμὼν Εὔμαχος. οὗτος γὰρ Τώκας πόλιν εὐμεγέθη χειρωσάμενος πολλοὺς προσηγάγετο τῶν πλησίον κατοικούντων Νομάδων.

For Archagathus, the general left behind by him after his father’s sailing, was at first successful, having sent a part of his force into the upper regions, of which Eumachus was the commander. For the latter, having subdued Tokai, a city of considerable size, won over many of the neighboring Nomads.

§20.57.5

εἶθʼ ἑτέραν ἐκπολιορκήσας, τὴν ὀνομαζομένην Φελλίνην, ἠνάγκασε πιθαρχεῖν τοὺς τὴν ἑξῆς χώραν νεμομένους, τοὺς καλουμένους Ἀσφοδελώδεις, ὄντας τῷ χρώματι παραπλησίους τοῖς Αἰθίοψι.

Then, having taken another city by storm, the one called Phelline, he forced those who inhabited the adjacent territory, the so-called Asphodelodeis, who were very similar in color to the Aethiopians, to submit.

§20.57.6

τρίτην δʼ εἷλε Μεσχέλαν, μεγίστην οὖσαν, ᾠκισμένην δὲ τὸ παλαιὸν ὑπὸ τῶν ἐκ Τροίας ἀνακομιζομένων Ἑλλήνων, περὶ ὧν ἐν τῇ τρίτῃ βίβλῳ προειρήκαμεν, ἑξῆς δὲ τὴν ὀνομαζομένην ἄκραν Ἵππου τὴν ὁμώνυμον τῇ χειρωθείσῃ κατὰ κράτος ὑπʼ Ἀγαθοκλέους καὶ τελευταίαν τὴν προσαγορευομένην Ἀκρίδα πόλιν αὐτόνομον, ἣν ἐξανδραποδισάμενος ἐξέδωκε τοῖς στρατιώταις διαρπάσαι.³

And thirdly, he took Meschela, which was very large and had been settled in ancient times by the Greeks returning from Troy, concerning whom we have spoken in the third book; and next, the place called Hippou Acra, which had the same name as the one subdued by force by Agathocles; and lastly, the autonomous city called Acris, which he enslaved and gave over to his soldiers to plunder.

Syntax notes3 items

20.57.2ἠθροισμένων δʼ αὐτῶν
The participle ἠθροισμένων with the genitive pronoun αὐτῶν, extending to the subsequent participle phrase ending in γεγονότων, forms a genitive absolute construction. It introduces a subject (the assembled forces) different from that of the main verb (the implied Deinocrates) to set the circumstances.
20.57.3περιπεποιημένος
A perfect middle-passive participle accompanying the preceding imperfect verb ἠκολούθει. It indicates that Deinocrates pursued the enemy while "having already secured" or accomplished his victory.
20.57.6διαρπάσαι
An aorist active infinitive of purpose depending on the verb ἐξέδωκε ("gave over"). It expresses the purpose or result of the action, i.e., "for them to plunder".

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)

2026-09-22 AI review — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:20.57.1-20.57.6