Scipio's Return to Rome and Triumph with Syphax — Polybius, The Histories Book 16 (16.23.1–16.23.7), Greek & English

§16.23.1

Πόπλιος δὲ Σκιπίων ἧκεν ἐκ Λιβύης οὐ πολὺ κατόπιν τῶν προειρημένων καιρῶν.

Publius Scipio returned from Libya not long after the aforementioned times.

§16.23.2

οὔσης δὲ τῆς προσδοκίας τῶν πολλῶν ἀκολούθου¹ τῷ μεγέθει τῶν πράξεων, μεγάλην εἶναι συνέβαινε καὶ τὴν φαντασίαν περὶ τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν τοῦ πλήθους εὔνοιαν πρὸς αὐτόν.

Since the expectation of the multitude was commensurate with the magnitude of his deeds, it happened that both the reputation of the man and the goodwill of the crowd toward him were immense.

§16.23.3

καὶ τοῦτʼ εἰκότως ἐκ τῶν κατὰ λόγον ἐγίνετο καὶ καθηκόντως·

And this occurred reasonably and in a fitting manner;

§16.23.4

οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἂν ἐλπίσαντες² Ἀννίβαν ἐκβαλεῖν ἐξ Ἰταλίας οὐδʼ ἀποτρίψασθαι τὸν ὑπὲρ αὑτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων κίνδυνον, τότε δοκοῦντες ἤδη βεβαίως οὐ μόνον ἐκτὸς γεγονέναι παντὸς φόβου καὶ πάσης περιστάσεως, ἀλλὰ καὶ κρατεῖν τῶν ἐχθρῶν, ὑπερβολὴν οὐ κατέλιπον χαρᾶς. ὡς δὲ καὶ τὸν θρίαμβον εἰσῆγε, τότε καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτι διὰ τῆς τῶν εἰσαγομένων ἐνεργείας³ μιμνησκόμενοι τῶν προγεγονότων κινδύνων ἐκπαθεῖς ἐγίνοντο κατά τε τὴν πρὸς θεοὺς εὐχαριστίαν καὶ κατὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν αἴτιον τῆς τηλικαύτης μεταβολῆς εὔνοιαν.

for having never hoped to expel Hannibal from Italy or to ward off the danger threatening themselves and their families, but then believing that they had already securely escaped every fear and all distress, and moreover that they were victorious over their enemies, they left no room for excess of joy. And when he led in his triumph, then even more, recalling their past dangers through the vivid presence of the things brought in, they became deeply moved both in their gratitude toward the gods and in their goodwill toward the author of so great a change.

§16.23.6

καὶ γὰρ ὁ Σόφαξ ὁ τῶν Μασαισυλίων βασιλεὺς ἤχθη τότε διὰ τῆς πόλεως ἐν τῷ θριάμβῳ μετὰ τῶν αἰχμαλώτων· ὃς καὶ μετά τινα χρόνον ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ τὸν βίον μετήλλαξε.

For Syphax, the king of the Masaesylians, was also led then through the city in the triumph along with the captives; who, after some time, departed this life in prison.

§16.23.7

τούτων δὲ συντελεσθέντων οἱ μὲν ἐν τῇ Ῥώμῃ κατὰ τὸ συνεχὲς ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας ἀγῶνας ἦγον καὶ πανηγύρεις ἐπιφανῶς, χορηγὸν ἔχοντες εἰς ταῦτα τὴν Σκιπίωνος μεγαλοψυχίαν.⁴

When these things were completed, the people in Rome celebrated games and festivals continuously and splendidly for many days, having the generosity of Scipio as their sponsor for these events.

Syntax notes4 items

16.23.2οὔσης δὲ τῆς προσδοκίας τῶν πολλῶν ἀκολούθου
Genitive absolute construction, where 'τῆς προσδοκίας' is the subject and the adjective 'ἀκολούθου' ('conforming to', 'matching') functions predicatively. It means 'since the expectation of the multitude was commensurate with (the magnitude of his deeds).'
16.23.4οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἂν ἐλπίσαντες
The particle 'ἄν' is associated with the participle 'ἐλπίσαντες', expressing a past contrary-to-fact condition: '(for they) would never have hoped.' This emphasizes the contrast with their present state of mind (τότε δοκοῦντες ἤδη...).
16.23.5διὰ τῆς τῶν εἰσαγομένων ἐνεργείας
Refers to the 'vividness' or 'actual sight' of the things (and captives) being brought into the triumphal procession. Rather than abstract 'activity', it emphasizes the vivid, physical presence and reality of the spectacle moving before their eyes.
16.23.7χορηγὸν ἔχοντες εἰς ταῦτα τὴν Σκιπίωνος μεγαλοψυχίαν
Uses the word 'χορηγός' (originally the financial sponsor of a chorus in Attic drama) metaphorically to indicate that Scipio's generosity (μεγαλοψυχία) was the primary sponsor or funding source for the many games and festivals celebrated in Rome.

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-grc2:16.23.1-16.23.7