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The Histories

§15.37.1-15.37.2

The Career and Changing Reputation of Antiochus

The passage describes the change in the assessment of King Antiochus, noting that while he seemed ambitious and capable in his early years, he fell far short of his former self and public expectations as he grew older.

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§15.37.1

ὅτι1 Ἀντίοχος ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐδόκει κατὰ μὲν τὰς ἀρχὰς γεγονέναι μεγαλεπίβολος καὶ τολμηρὸς καὶ τοῦ προτεθέντος ἐξεργαστικός,2 προβαίνων δὲ κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν ἐφάνη πολὺ καταδεέστερος αὑτοῦ καὶ τῆς τῶν ἐκτὸς προσδοκίας.3

​King Antiochus, in the beginning, seemed to have been high-aspiring, bold, and capable of accomplishing what he proposed, ​but as he advanced in age, he appeared to be far inferior to himself and to the expectation of outsiders.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 15.37.1ὅτι

    A conjunction commonly placed at the beginning of passages in historical excerpts (Excerpta) to indicate the start of a quoted statement; here it is rendered naturally as an independent assertion.

  2. 15.37.1τοῦ προτεθέντος ἐξεργαστικός

    The adjective ἐξεργαστικός (capable of achieving) governs a genitive. τοῦ προτεθέντος is the neuter singular genitive of the aorist passive participle of προτίθημι (to propose, set before), serving as an objective genitive meaning 'what was proposed.'

  3. 15.37.2καταδεέστερος αὑτοῦ καὶ τῆς τῶν ἐκτὸς προσδοκίας

    Two genitives of comparison governed by the comparative adjective καταδεέστερος (inferior). The first, αὑτοῦ (reflexive pronoun), indicates self-comparison ('inferior to his former self'); the second, τῆς τῶν ἐκτὸς προσδοκίας, refers to 'the expectation of outsiders.'

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-grc2:15.37.1-15.37.2