- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.55.1-1.55.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
While the Romans completely lose control of the sea due to shipwreck, the commander Junius captures Mount Eryx through a surprise attack, securing the town and the famous temple of Aphrodite to fortify his position.
τούτου δὲ συμβάντος τὰ μὲν τῶν Καρχηδονίων αὖθις ἀνέκυψε καὶ πάλιν ἐπιρρεπεστέρας εἶχε τὰς ἐλπίδας, οἱ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι πρότερον μὲν ἐπὶ ποσὸν ἠτυχηκότες τότε δʼ ὁλοσχερῶς ἐκ μὲν τῆς θαλάττης ἐξέβησαν, τῶν δʼ ὑπαίθρων ἐπεκράτουν· Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ τῆς μὲν θαλάττης ἐκυρίευον, τῆς δὲ γῆς οὐχ ὅλως ἀπήλπιζον.
On this taking place, the fortunes of the Carthaginians revived again, and their hopes once more rose higher. The Romans, who had previously been met with a certain amount of ill fortune, had now completely abandoned the sea, though they remained masters of the open country; while the Carthaginians were lords of the sea, and did not altogether despair of the land.
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πάντες ἐπὶ μὲν τοῖς ὅλοις ἐσχετλίαζον, οἵ τʼ ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ καὶ τὰ περὶ τὸ Λιλύβαιον στρατόπεδα, διὰ τὰ προειρημένα συμπτώματα·
After this, everyone, both in Rome and in the camps around Lilybaeum, was in deep distress over the general state of affairs, owing to the aforementioned disasters.
τῆς γε μὴν προθέσεως οὐκ ἀφίσταντο τῆς κατὰ τὴν πολιορκίαν, ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν ἐχορήγουν κατὰ γῆν ἀπροφασίστως, οἱ δὲ προσεκαρτέρουν ταύτῃ κατὰ τὸ δυνατόν.
Nevertheless, they did not desist from their purpose regarding the siege; rather, those at home continued to supply them by land without hesitation, while those in the field persevered in it to the best of their ability.
ὁ δʼ Ἰούνιος ἀνακομισθεὶς ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον ἐκ τῆς ναυαγίας καὶ περιπαθὴς ὤν, ἐγένετο πρὸς τὸ καινοτομῆσαί τι καὶ πρᾶξαι τῶν δεόντων,1 σπουδάζων ἀναμαχέσασθαι τὴν γεγενημένην περιπέτειαν.
Junius, having returned to the camp from the shipwreck, and being in deep distress, applied himself to taking some innovative and necessary measures, being anxious to repair the disaster that had occurred.
διὸ καὶ βραχείας αὐτῷ παραπεσούσης ἀφορμῆς, καταλαμβάνει πραξικοπήσας τὸν Ἔρυκα καὶ γίνεται τοῦ τε τῆς Ἀφροδίτης ἱεροῦ καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἐγκρατής.
Consequently, upon a slight opportunity presenting itself to him, he captured Eryx by a surprise coup, and made himself master of both the temple of Aphrodite and the city.
ὁ δʼ Ἔρυξ ἔστι μὲν ὄρος παρὰ θάλατταν τῆς Σικελίας ἐν τῇ παρὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν κειμένῃ πλευρᾷ μεταξὺ Δρεπάνων καὶ Πανόρμου, μᾶλλον δʼ ὅμορον καὶ συνάπτον πρὸς τὰ Δρέπανα, μεγέθει δὲ παρὰ πολὺ διαφέρον τῶν κατὰ τὴν Σικελίαν ὀρῶν πλὴν τῆς Αἴτνης.
Eryx is a mountain on the coast of Sicily, on the side facing Italy, situated between Drepana and Panormus, or rather bordering on and adjacent to Drepana; in height it far surpasses all the mountains of Sicily except Aetna.
τούτου δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς μὲν τῆς κορυφῆς, οὔσης ἐπιπέδου, κεῖται τὸ τῆς Ἀφροδίτης τῆς Ἐρυκίνης ἱερόν, ὅπερ ὁμολογουμένως ἐπιφανέστατόν ἐστι τῷ τε πλούτῳ καὶ τῇ λοιπῇ προστασίᾳ τῶν κατὰ τὴν Σικελίαν ἱερῶν·
Upon its very summit, which is a flat plateau, stands the temple of Venus of Eryx, which is confessedly the most famous of all the Sicilian temples for its wealth and general splendor.
ἡ δὲ πόλις ὑπʼ αὐτὴν τὴν κορυφὴν τέτακται, πάνυ μακρὰν ἔχουσα καὶ προσάντη πανταχόθεν τὴν ἀνάβασιν.
The city is situated just below the summit, having a very long and steep ascent from every side.
ἐπί τε δὴ τὴν κορυφὴν ἐπιστήσας φυλακήν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὴν ἀπὸ Δρεπάνων πρόσβασιν ἐτήρει φιλοτίμως ἀμφοτέρους τοὺς τόπους καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτι τὸν τῆς ἀναβολῆς,2 πεπεισμένος οὕτως καὶ τὴν πόλιν ἀσφαλῶς καὶ τὸ σύμπαν ὄρος ὑφʼ αὑτὸν ἕξειν.
Having posted a guard upon the summit, and likewise keeping watch over the approach from Drepana, he guarded both places with vigilance, and still more so the road of ascent, being convinced that in this way he would keep both the city and the whole mountain securely under his power.
- 1.55.5ἐγένετο πρὸς τὸ καινοτομῆσαί τι καὶ πρᾶξαι τῶν δεόντων
The idiom "γίγνεσθαι πρὸς τῷ/τὸ ..." means "to apply oneself to," "to be devoted to," or "to set about doing" something. Here it indicates that immediately after the shipwreck, Junius did not fall into despair but promptly set to work on taking necessary and innovative actions.
- 1.55.10τὸν τῆς ἀναβολῆς
The noun "ἀναβολή" here does not mean "delay" or "mound" but refers to "the ascent" or "the approach road" leading up the mountain. It corresponds to the preceding "Δρεπάνων πρόσβασιν" (the approach from Drepana) and the description of the steep mountain terrain (§1.55.9), indicating the main path of ascent as the most critical point for defense.