Encampments at Ilipa and the Use of Allies — Polybius, The Histories Book 11 (11.20.1–11.20.9), Greek & English

§11.20.1

οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν,¹ ἁθροίσαντες τὴν στρατιὰν ἐκ τῶν πόλεων, ἐν αἷς ἐποιοῦντο τὴν παραχειμασίαν, προῆλθον, καὶ κατεστρατοπέδευσαν οὐ μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως τῆς προσαγορευομένης Ἰλίπας, βαλόμενοι τὸν χάρακα πρὸς ταῖς ὑπωρείαις, καὶ προθέμενοι πεδία πρὸς ἀγῶνα καὶ μάχην εὐφυῆ. πλῆθος δὲ πεζῶν μὲν εἶχον εἰς ἑπτὰ μυριάδας, ἱππεῖς δὲ τετρακισχιλίους, θηρία δὲ δυσὶ πλείω τῶν τριάκοντα.

Now Hasdrubal and his forces, having assembled their army from the cities in which they had been wintering, advanced and encamped not far from the city called Ilipa, pitching their camp at the foot of the hills and placing a plain suitable for combat and battle in front of them. They had a force of infantry amounting to seventy thousand, four thousand cavalry, and thirty-two elephants.

§11.20.3

Πόπλιος δὲ Μάρκον μὲν Ἰούνιον ἐξαπέστειλε πρὸς Κολίχαντα, παραληψόμενον τὰς ἑτοιμασθείσας αὐτῷ παρὰ τούτου δυνάμεις· αὗται δʼ ἦσαν πεζοὶ μὲν τρισχίλιοι, ἱππεῖς δὲ πεντακόσιοι· τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς συμμάχους αὐτὸς παρελάμβανε, προάγων καὶ ποιούμενος τὴν πορείαν ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον.

Publius dispatched Marcus Junius to Colichas to receive the forces that had been prepared for him by the latter; these consisted of three thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry. He himself took the rest of the allies, advancing and directing his march toward the proposed destination.

§11.20.5

ἐγγίσας δὲ τῷ Κασταλῶνι καὶ τοῖς περὶ Βαίκυλα τόποις, καὶ συμμίξας ἐνθάδε τῷ Μάρκῳ καὶ ταῖς παρὰ τοῦ Κολίχαντος δυνάμεσιν, εἰς πολλὴν ἀπορίαν ἐνέπιπτε περὶ τῶν ἐνεστώτων.

Having approached Castalon and the region around Baecula, and having united there with Marcus and the forces from Colichas, he fell into great perplexity regarding the immediate situation.

§11.20.6

χωρὶς γὰρ τῶν συμμάχων οὐκ ἀξιόχρεοι παρῆσαν αἱ Ῥωμαϊκαὶ δυνάμεις αὐτῷ πρὸς τὸ διακινδυνεύειν· τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς συμμάχοις ἔχοντας τὰς ἐλπίδας ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων κινδυνεύειν² ἐπισφαλὲς ἐδόκει καὶ λίαν εἶναι παράβολον.

For without the allies, the Roman forces by themselves were not sufficient for him to risk a decisive battle, while to risk the whole issue by placing their hopes upon the allies seemed to be dangerous and extremely reckless.

§11.20.7

οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ διαπορήσας, ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων συγκλειόμενος, ἐπὶ τὸ συγχρῆσθαι κατηνέχθη τοῖς Ἴβηρσιν οὕτως ὥστε³ φαντασίαν μὲν παρασκευάζειν τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις, τὸν δʼ ἀγῶνα ποιεῖσθαι διὰ τῶν ἰδίων στρατοπέδων. ταῦτα δὲ προθέμενος ἀνέζευξε μετὰ πάσης τῆς δυνάμεως, ἔχων πεζοὺς μὲν εἰς τετρακισμυρίους καὶ πεντακισχιλίους, ἱππεῖς δὲ περὶ τρισχιλίους.

Nevertheless, though perplexed, being hemmed in by the circumstances, he was brought to the decision to make use of the Iberians in such a way as to present an appearance of strength to the enemy, but to conduct the actual struggle with his own legions. Having resolved on this, he broke camp with his entire force, having about forty-five thousand infantry and about three thousand cavalry.

§11.20.9

ἐγγίσας δὲ τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις καὶ γενόμενος σύνοπτος ἐστρατοπέδευσε περί τινας γεωλόφους καταντικρὺ τῶν πολεμίων.

Having come near the Carthaginians and being in full view of them, he encamped around some hills opposite the enemy.

Syntax notes3 items

11.20.1οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὸν Ἀσδρούβαν
Meaning 'Hasdrubal and his associates' or 'Hasdrubal and his forces.' The idiom οἱ περί with an accusative of a proper name is commonly used to denote the leader along with their subordinates or army.
11.20.6τὸ δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖς συμμάχοις ἔχοντας τὰς ἐλπίδας ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων κινδυνεύειν
The article τό substantivizes the infinitive phrase starting with κινδυνεύειν, serving as the subject of ἐδόκει. The participle ἔχοντας is in the accusative plural, representing the implicit subject of the infinitive phrase (either referring generally to 'them' i.e., the Roman commanders, or as an indefinite subject).
11.20.7ἐπὶ τὸ συγχρῆσθαι κατηνέχθη τοῖς Ἴβηρσιν οὕτως ὥστε
The verb κατενέχθη (passive aorist of καταφέρω) means 'was brought down to' or 'was led to,' indicating a decision forced by circumstances, taking ἐπί with the articular infinitive τὸ συγχρῆσθαι. The ὥστε clause outlines the consecutive/intended manner of this decision: to use the Iberians as a mere show of force.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-10-09)

2026-10-09 Collated with the printed edition — source 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.20.1-11.20.9