- 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-grc2:2.29.1-2.29.9
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
The unique double-fronted tactical formation of the Celts at the Battle of Telamon is analyzed, along with its advantages and disadvantages. It also describes the psychological impact on the Roman soldiers caused by the terrifying clamor and the golden ornaments of the Celtic warriors in the front line.
λεγομένων τὸ γεγονός. πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ ἐκ τριῶν στρατοπέδων τῆς μάχης συνισταμένης, δῆλον ὡς1 ξένην καὶ παρηλλαγμένην εἰκὸς καὶ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ τὴν χρείαν φαίνεσθαι τοῦ συντεταγμένου.
(to picture the scene from the) details related to them. For in the first place, as the battle was composed of three armies, it is obvious that both the appearance and the tactical application of the forces drawn up would naturally seem strange and unusual.
δεύτερον δὲ πῶς οὐκ ἂν ἀπορήσαι τις2 καὶ νῦν καὶ τότε παρʼ αὐτὸν ὢν τὸν καιρὸν πότερον οἱ Κελτοὶ τὴν ἐπισφαλεστάτην εἶχον χώραν, ἐξ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν μεροῖν ἅμα τῶν πολεμίων ἐπαγόντων αὐτοῖς, ἢ τοὐναντίον τὴν ἐπιτευκτικωτάτην, ἅμα μὲν ἀγωνιζόμενοι πρὸς ἀμφοτέρους, ἅμα δὲ τὴν ἀφʼ ἑκατέρων ἀσφάλειαν ἐκ τῶν ὄπισθεν αὑτοῖς παρασκευάζοντες, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον,3 ἀποκεκλειμένης πάσης τῆς εἰς τοὔπισθεν ἀναχωρήσεως καὶ τῆς ἐν τῷ λείπεσθαι σωτηρίας;
In the second place, who would not even now, as well as at that actual time, be in doubt whether the Celts occupied the most dangerous position, with the enemy attacking them from both sides at once, or, on the contrary, the most advantageous one, fighting as they were against both at the same time, while securing safety from each of them from behind, and, what was most important, having all retreat to the rear cut off and all hope of safety in case of defeat removed?
ἡ γὰρ τῆς ἀμφιστόμου τάξεως ἰδιότης τοιαύτην ἔχει τὴν χρείαν.
For such is the practical effect of the unique nature of a double-fronted formation.
τούς γε μὴν Ῥωμαίους τὰ μὲν εὐθαρσεῖς ἐποίει τὸ μέσους καὶ πάντοθεν περιειληφέναι τοὺς πολεμίους, τὰ δὲ4 πάλιν ὁ κόσμος αὐτοὺς καὶ θόρυβος ἐξέπληττε τῆς τῶν Κελτῶν δυνάμεως.
As for the Romans, on the one hand, they were encouraged by having enclosed the enemy in the middle and surrounded them on all sides, but on the other hand, they were terrified by the orderly array and the clamor of the Celtic force.
ἀναρίθμητον μὲν γὰρ ἦν τὸ τῶν βυκανητῶν καὶ σαλπιγκτῶν πλῆθος. οἷς ἅμα τοῦ παντὸς στρατοπέδου συμπαιανίζοντος τηλικαύτην καὶ τοιαύτην συνέβαινε γίνεσθαι κραυγὴν ὥστε μὴ μόνον τὰς σάλπιγγας καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς παρακειμένους τόπους συνηχοῦντας ἐξ αὑτῶν δοκεῖν5 προΐεσθαι φωνήν.
For the multitude of horn-blowers and trumpeters was countless; and as the whole army joined in the war-song at the same time, there arose such a loud and extraordinary clamor that not only the trumpets and the forces, but even the surrounding hills, echoing the sound, seemed to raise a cry of themselves.
ἐκπληκτικὴ δʼ ἦν καὶ τῶν γυμνῶν προεστώτων ἀνδρῶν ἥ τʼ ἐπιφάνεια καὶ κίνησις, ὡς ἂν διαφερόντων ταῖς ἀκμαῖς καὶ τοῖς εἴδεσι.
Terrifying too was the appearance and movement of the naked men stationed in the front, outstanding as they were in physical strength and beauty.
πάντες δʼ οἱ τὰς πρώτας κατέχοντες σπείρας χρυσοῖς μανιάκαις καὶ περιχείροις ἦσαν κατακεκοσμημένοι.
And all those who occupied the first cohorts were adorned with golden necklaces and armlets.
πρὸς ἃ βλέποντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τὰ μὲν ἐξεπλήττοντο, τὰ δʼ ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ λυσιτελοῦς ἐλπίδος ἀγόμενοι διπλασίως παρωξύνοντο πρὸς τὸν
Looking upon these, the Romans, while on the one hand terrified, on the other hand, led on by the hope of plunder, were doubly spurred on to the...
- 2.29.1δῆλον ὡς
Here used adverbially to mean 'clearly' or 'obviously', modifying the entire clause. Alternatively, it originates from the impersonal construction δῆλον [ἐστὶν] ὡς ('it is clear that...'), leading the subsequent accusative with infinitive clause (φαίνεσθαι) as the virtual subject.
- 2.29.2ἀπορήσαι τις
A potential optative with the indefinite pronoun τις, expressing a rhetorical question: 'who would not be in doubt?' (i.e., 'everyone would wonder'). It governs the indirect question clause introduced by πότερον... ἤ...
- 2.29.3τὸ δὲ μέγιστον
An independent accusative phrase at the beginning of the clause (used adverbially or in apposition), functioning as an emphatic expression meaning 'and what is most important,' highlighting the content of the following genitive absolute clause (ἀποκεκλειμένης πάσης...).
- 2.29.5τὰ μὲν... τὰ δὲ
Adverbial accusatives of contrast, originating from the older pronominal use, meaning 'on the one hand... on the other hand...', contrasting the two opposing psychological states (courage and fear) of the Romans in the main clause.
- 2.29.6ὥστε μὴ μόνον... δοκεῖν
An infinitive construction introduced by the consecutive conjunction ὥστε. The negative particle is μή, and the subject of the infinitive δοκεῖν is 'tὰς σάλπιγγας καὶ τὰς δυνάμεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς παρακειμένους τόπους'. The participle συνηχοῦντας agrees with τοὺς... τόπους.
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1