- 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-grc2:21.25.1-21.25.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
This section records the diplomatic efforts of King Amynander of the Athamanes and the successful territorial expansion of the Aetolians. Upon hearing of Antiochus's complete defeat and the approach of Roman forces, the panicked Aetolians sought mediation from other states and dispatched embassies of their own to Rome.
ὅτι1 Ἀμύνανδρος ὁ τῶν Ἀθαμάνων βασιλεύς, δοκῶν ἤδη τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀνειληφέναι βεβαίως, εἰς Ῥώμην ἐξέπεμπε πρεσβευτὰς καὶ πρὸς τοὺς Σκιπίωνας εἰς τὴν Ἀσίαν — ἔτι γὰρ ἦσαν περὶ τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἔφεσον τόπους —
That Amynander, the king of the Athamanes, thinking that he had now securely recovered his sovereignty, sent envoys to Rome and to the Scipios in Asia—for they were still in the neighborhood of Ephesus—
τὰ μὲν ἀπολογούμενος τῷ δοκεῖν2 διʼ Αἰτωλῶν πεποιῆσθαι τὴν κάθοδον, τὰ δὲ κατηγορῶν τοῦ Φιλίππου, τὸ δὲ πολὺ παρακαλῶν προσδέξασθαι πάλιν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν συμμαχίαν.
partly defending himself against the appearance of having made his return through the agency of the Aetolians, partly accusing Philip, but for the most part entreating them to receive him back into their alliance.
οἱ δʼ Αἰτωλοὶ νομίσαντες ἔχειν εὐφυῆ καιρὸν πρὸς τὸ τὴν Ἀμφιλοχίαν καὶ τὴν Ἀπεραντίαν ἀνακτήσασθαι, προέθεντο στρατεύειν εἰς τοὺς προειρημένους τόπους.
The Aetolians, thinking they had a favorable opportunity to recover Amphilochia and Aperantia, resolved to campaign against the aforementioned places.
ἁθροίσαντος δὲ Νικάνδρου τοῦ στρατηγοῦ πάνδημον στρατιάν, ἐνέβαλον εἰς τὴν Ἀμφιλοχίαν.
When Nicander the general had assembled the whole force of the league, they invaded Amphilochia.
τῶν δὲ πλείστων αὐτοῖς ἐθελοντὴν προσχωρησάντων μετῆλθον εἰς τὴν Ἀπεραντίαν. καὶ τούτων δὲ προσθεμένων ἑκουσίως ἐστράτευσαν εἰς τὴν Δολοπίαν.
As the majority of the inhabitants voluntarily came over to them, they moved on to Aperantia; and when these also willingly joined them, they marched into Dolopia.
οὗτοι δὲ βραχὺν μέν τινα χρόνον ὑπέδειξαν ὡς ἀντιποιησόμενοι, τηρήσαντες τὴν πρὸς Φίλιππον πίστιν· λαβόντες δὲ πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν τὰ περὶ τοὺς Ἀθαμᾶνας καὶ τὴν τοῦ Φιλίππου, ταχέως μετενόησαν καὶ προσέθεντο πρὸς τοὺς Αἰτωλούς.
These for a short time made a show of resistance, keeping their allegiance to Philip; but when they saw before their eyes the situation of the Athamanes and the... of Philip, they quickly changed their minds and joined the Aetolians.
γενομένης δὲ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων εὐροίας τοιαύτης, ἀπήγαγε τὴν στρατιὰν ὁ Νίκανδρος εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν, δοκῶν ἠσφαλίσθαι τὰ κατὰ τὴν Αἰτωλίαν τοῖς προειρημένοις ἔθνεσι καὶ τόποις τοῦ μηδένα δύνασθαι3 κακοποιεῖν τὴν χώραν αὐτῶν.
The course of events having run so smoothly, Nicander led his army back home, thinking that he had secured the borders of Aetolia by means of the aforementioned nations and places, so that no one would be able to ravage their country.
ἄρτι δὲ τούτων συμβεβηκότων καὶ τῶν Αἰτωλῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς γεγονόσι φρονηματιζομένων, προσέπεσε φήμη περὶ τῆς κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν μάχης, ἐν ᾗ γνόντες ἡττημένον ὁλοσχερῶς τὸν Ἀντίοχον αὖθις ἀνετράπησαν ταῖς ψυχαῖς.
Just after these events had occurred and while the Aetolians were feeling proud of their success, a rumor arrived about the battle in Asia; and when they learned that Antiochus had been utterly defeated in it, they were once again utterly cast down in spirit.
ὡς δὲ παραγενηθεὶς ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης ὁ Δαμοτέλης τόν τε πόλεμον ἀνήγγειλε διότι μένει κατάμονος, καὶ τὴν τοῦ Μάρκου καὶ τῶν δυνάμεων διάβασιν ἐπʼ αὐτούς, τότε δὴ παντελῶς εἰς ἀμηχανίαν ἐνέπιπτον καὶ διηπόρουν πῶς δεῖ χρήσασθαι τοῖς ἐπιφερομένοις πράγμασιν.
And when Damoteles returned from Rome and reported both that the war remained ongoing, and that Marcus and his forces were crossing over against them, then indeed they fell into absolute helplessness and were at a loss how to deal with the impending situation.
ἔδοξεν οὖν αὐτοῖς πρός τε Ῥοδίους πέμπειν καὶ πρὸς Ἀθηναίους, ἀξιοῦντας καὶ παρακαλοῦντας πρεσβεῦσαι περὶ αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην καὶ παραιτησαμένους τὴν ὀργὴν τῶν Ῥωμαίων ποιήσασθαί τινα λύσιν τῶν περιεστώτων κακῶν τὴν Αἰτωλίαν.4
They resolved, therefore, to send to the Rhodians and the Athenians, requesting and entreating them to send embassies on their behalf to Rome, and, by deprecating the anger of the Romans, to bring about some solution to the evils that encompassed Aetolia.
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ παρʼ αὑτῶν ἐξέπεμψαν πάλιν πρεσβευτὰς εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην, Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν Ἴσιον ἐπικαλούμενον καὶ Φαινέαν, σὺν δὲ τούτοις Χάλεπον. ἔτι δʼ Ἄλυπον τὸν Ἀμβρακιώτην καὶ Λύκωπον. —
Likewise, they also dispatched envoys of their own again to Rome: Alexander, surnamed the Isian, and Phaeneas, and with them Chalepus, and furthermore, Alypus the Ambraciot and Lycopus.
- 21.25.1ὅτι
The introductory ὅτι commonly found at the beginning of passages derived from Byzantine excerpts (Excerpta). Although syntactically a declarative conjunction originally introducing a reported statement, in this excerpted text it functions practically as a marker introducing the narrative.
- 21.25.2τῷ δοκεῖν
A dative of cause consisting of the articular infinitive τῷ δοκεῖν ('by appearing' or 'due to the appearance of'), which in turn governs the accusative and infinitive clause διʼ Αἰτωλῶν πεποιῆσθαι τὴν κάθοδον ('to have made his return through the agency of the Aetolians').
- 21.25.7τοῦ μηδένα δύνασθαι
An articular infinitive in the genitive case (τοῦ + infinitive) with the negative accusative subject μηδένα, expressing purpose ('in order that no one should be able to'). In classical syntax, the genitive articular infinitive frequently functions as a final clause expressing purpose or prevention.
- 21.25.10περιεστώτων κακῶν τὴν Αἰτωλίαν
The perfect active participle περιεστώτων (from περιίστημι, 'to stand around, encompass'), though technically intransitive, here directly governs the accusative τὴν Αἰτωλίαν as its object (or as an accusative of respect/local extent), meaning 'the evils encompassing Aetolia.'
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