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The Histories

§21.2.1-21.2.6

Naval Victory Celebrations and Terms for the Aetolians

News of a naval victory reaches Rome, prompting a nine-day celebration. The senate then presents the Aetolian envoys with two options: unconditional surrender or payment of 1,000 talents and a formal alliance.

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§21.2.1

ὅτι1 τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις τῆς κατὰ τὴν ναυμαχίαν νίκης ἄρτι προσηγγελμένης, πρῶτον μὲν τῷ δήμῳ παρήγγειλαν ἐλινύας ἄγειν2 ἡμέρας ἐννέα —

ὅτι That when the news of the victory in the sea-fight had just been brought to the Romans, they first ordered the people to keep a period of rest for nine days —

§21.2.2

τοῦτο δʼ ἔστιν σχολάζειν πανδημεὶ καὶ θύειν τοῖς θεοῖς χαριστήρια τῶν εὐτυχημάτων —

τοῦτο this means that the entire populace is at leisure and offers sacrifices of thanksgiving to the gods for their successes —

§21.2.3

μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τοὺς παρὰ τῶν Αἰτωλῶν πρέσβεις καὶ τοὺς παρὰ τοῦ Μανίου προσῆγον τῇ συγκλήτῳ. γενομένων δὲ πλειόνων παρʼ ἀμφοῖν λόγων, ἔδοξε τῷ συνεδρίῳ δύο προτείνειν γνώμας τοῖς Αἰτωλοῖς, ἢ διδόναι τὴν ἐπιτροπὴν3 περὶ πάντων τῶν καθʼ αὑτοὺς ἢ χίλια τάλαντα παραχρῆμα δοῦναι καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐχθρὸν καὶ φίλον νομίζειν Ῥωμαίοις.

μετὰ and after this, they brought the envoys from the Aetolians and those from Manius before the senate. After many speeches had been made on both sides, ἔδοξε it seemed good to the council to propose two choices to the Aetolians: either to submit themselves unconditionally in all matters concerning themselves, or to pay a thousand talents immediately and to consider the same people as enemies and friends as the Romans did.

§21.2.5

τῶν δʼ Αἰτωλῶν ἀξιούντων διασαφῆσαι ῥητῶς ἐπὶ τίσι δεῖ διδόναι τὴν ἐπιτροπήν, οὐ προσδέχεται τὴν διαστολὴν4 ἡ σύγκλητος. διὸ καὶ τούτοις γέγονε κατάμονος ὁ πόλεμος.

τῶν But when the Aetolians demanded that it be explicitly clarified on what terms they were to submit themselves, the senate did not accept this distinction. Therefore, for them too, the war remained ongoing.

§21.2.6

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Syntax notes4 items
  1. 21.2.1ὅτι

    A syntactical feature characteristic of historical epitomes or excerpts, where the entire narrative is introduced indirectly, meaning 'that...'.

  2. 21.2.1ἐλινύας ἄγειν

    Derived from the verb ἐλινύω (to rest). It is used here to render the Latin concept of supplicatio or feriae (public thanksgiving or festival rest) into Greek.

  3. 21.2.4τὴν ἐπιτροπήν

    Here, ἐπιτροπή (entrustment) refers to the Roman diplomatic and military concept of deditio in fidem (unconditional surrender into the good faith of Rome), in which the surrendering party leaves all decisions to Rome.

  4. 21.2.5τὴν διαστολήν

    Meaning 'distinction' or 'specification'. It refers to the Aetolians' attempt to specify or define the exact terms under what conditions they were to surrender, which the senate rejected.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.2.1-21.2.6