- 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-grc2:10.16.1-10.16.9
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-06
Polybius details the process of loot distribution after the capture of New Carthage, explaining the systematic and equitable Roman military customs regarding plundering.
τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον ἐγένοντο κύριοι Ῥωμαῖοι· εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαύριον ἁθροισθείσης εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν τῆς τε τῶν στρατευομένων παρὰ τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις ἀποσκευῆς καὶ τῆς τῶν πολιτικῶν καὶ τῶν ἐργαστικῶν κατασκευῆς, ταῦτα μὲν ἐμέριζον οἱ χιλίαρχοι τοῖς ἰδίοις στρατοπέδοις κατὰ τὸ παρʼ αὑτοῖς ἔθος.
In this manner the Romans became masters of the city; and on the following day, when the baggage of those who had served with the Carthaginians and the household goods of the citizens and artisans had been collected into the market-place, the military tribunes distributed them among their respective legions according to their custom.
ἔστι δὲ παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις τοιαύτη τις ἡ περὶ τὰς τῶν πόλεων καταλήψεις οἰκονομία. ποτὲ μὲν γὰρ ἑκάστης σημαίας πρὸς τὴν πρᾶξιν ἀπομερίζονταί τινες τῶν ἀνδρῶν κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῆς πόλεως, ποτὲ δὲ κατὰ σημαίας μερίζουσιν αὐτούς.
Now among the Romans, the arrangement regarding the capture of cities is of this kind. For sometimes, according to the size of the city, some men are apportioned for this service from each maniple, and at other times they distribute them by maniples.
οὐδέποτε δὲ πλείους ἀποτάττονται πρὸς τοῦτο τῶν ἡμίσεων· οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ μένοντες κατὰ τὰς τάξεις ἐφεδρεύουσι, ποτὲ μὲν ἐκτὸς τῆς πόλεως, ποτὲ δὲ πάλιν ἐντός, ἀεὶ πρὸς τὸ δεικνύειν.1
But they never detail more than half their number for this purpose; the rest remain in their ranks and act as supports, sometimes outside the city and at other times inside, always in readiness to respond to any emergency.
τῆς δὲ δυνάμεως διῃρημένης αὐτοῖς κατὰ μὲν τὸ πλεῖον εἰς δύο στρατόπεδα Ῥωμαϊκὰ καὶ δύο τῶν συμμάχων, τοτὲ δὲ καὶ σπανίως ἁθροιζομένων ὁμοῦ τῶν τεττάρων, πάντες οἱ πρὸς τὴν ἁρπαγὴν ἀπομερισθέντες ἀναφέρουσι τὰς ὠφελείας ἕκαστοι τοῖς ἑαυτῶν στρατοπέδοις, κἄπειτα πραθέντων τούτων οἱ χιλίαρχοι διανέμουσι πᾶσιν ἴσον, οὐ μόνον τοῖς μείνασιν ἐν ταῖς ἐφεδρείαις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς τὰς σκηνὰς φυλάττουσι τοῖς τʼ ἀρρωστοῦσι καὶ τοῖς ἐπί τινα λειτουργίαν ἀπεσταλμένοις.
And though their force is for the most part divided into two Roman legions and two of the allies, and only rarely are all four assembled together, all those who are detailed for plundering bring back the booty, each to their own legions. Then, after these things have been sold, the military tribunes distribute the proceeds equally to all, not only to those who remained in the supporting ranks, but also to those guarding the tents, to the sick, and to those sent away on any special service.
περὶ δὲ τοῦ μηδένα νοσφίζεσθαι2 μηδὲν τῶν ἐκ τῆς διαρπαγῆς, ἀλλὰ τηρεῖν τὴν πίστιν κατὰ τὸν ὅρκον, ὃν ὀμνύουσι πάντες, ὅταν ἁθροισθῶσι πρῶτον εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν, ἐξιέναι μέλλοντες εἰς τὴν πολεμίαν, ὑπὲρ τούτου δὲ τοῦ μέρους εἴρηται πρότερον ἡμῖν διὰ πλειόνων ἐν τοῖς περὶ τῆς πολιτείας.
As for the rule that no one is to appropriate any of the plunder, but to keep their faith according to the oath which all swear when they first assemble in camp before setting out into the enemy’s country, we have spoken of this matter at greater length in our section on the constitution.
λοιπὸν ὅταν οἱ μὲν ἡμίσεις τράπωνται πρὸς τὰς ἁρπαγάς, οἱ δʼ ἡμίσεις διαφυλάττοντες τὰς τάξεις ἐφεδρεύωσι τούτοις, οὐδέποτε κινδυνεύει Ῥωμαίοις τὰ ὅλα διὰ πλεονεξίαν.
Therefore, when half turn to plundering, while the other half maintain their ranks and act as support to them, the Romans are never in danger of complete ruin through greed.
τῆς γὰρ ἐλπίδος τῆς κατὰ τὴν ὠφέλειαν οὐκ ἀπιστουμένης ἀλλήλοις, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἴσης ἑστηκυίας τοῖς μένουσι κατὰ τὰς ἐφεδρείας καὶ τοῖς διαρπάζουσιν, οὐδεὶς ἀπολείπει τὰς τάξεις· ὃ μά
For since the expectation of their share of the booty is never doubted, but is assured equally to those who remain in the supporting ranks and to those who plunder, no one leaves his post; which indeed...
- 10.16.3πρὸς τὸ δεิกνύειν
The preposition πρός governing the articular infinitive in the accusative. The verb δεικνύειν is used intransitively here to mean 'that which shows itself' or 'as the situation presents itself,' thus indicating that they were always ready to act according to the demands of the situation.
- 10.16.6περὶ δὲ τοῦ μηδένα νοσφίζεσθαι
A construction consisting of the preposition περί and an articular infinitive in the genitive placed at the beginning of the sentence to introduce the topic of discussion ('as for the rule that...'). This preparatory clause is resumed by the main clause in §10.16.7 (ὑπὲρ τούτου δὲ τοῦ μέρους εἴρηται, 'we have spoken of this matter').