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The Histories

§19.1.1

Cato's Demolition of the Cities' Walls near the Baetis

Polybius records that the walls of the numerous and heavily defended cities inside the Baetis River were demolished in a single day by the order of Cato.

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§19.1.1

Πολύβιος μέν γέ φησι τῶν ἐντὸς Βαίτιος ποταμοῦ πόλεων1 ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ τὰ τείχη κελεύσαντος αὐτοῦ2 περιαιρεθῆναι· πάμπολλαι δʼ ἦσαν αὗται καὶ γέμουσαι μαχίμων ἀνδρῶν.

​Polybius indeed says that the walls of the cities inside the Baetis River were pulled down in a single day by his order; and these were very numerous and full of fighting men.

Syntax notes2 items
  1. 19.1.1τῶν ἐντὸς Βαίτιος ποταμοῦ πόλεων

    This genitive phrase depends on the subsequent accusative subject τὰ τείχη. Placed near the beginning of the clause, it emphasizes the wide region and the numerous cities affected by the demolition.

  2. 19.1.1κελεύσαντος αὐτοῦ

    Genitive absolute. The pronoun αὐτοῦ refers to the Roman consul Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Elder) in the historical context of his campaign in Hispania.

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-grc2:19.1.1