Gnaeus's Advance into Galatia and the Priests of Pessinus — Polybius, The Histories Book 21 (21.37.1–21.37.9), Greek & English

§21.37.1

ὅτι Γνάιος ὁ στρατηγὸς τῶν Ῥωμαίων πρέσβεις ἐξαπέστειλε πρὸς τὸν Ἐποσόγνατον τὸν Γαλάτην, ὅπως πρεσβεύσῃ πρὸς τοὺς τῶν Γαλατῶν βασιλεῖς.

That Gnaeus, the general of the Romans, sent ambassadors to Eposognatus the Galatian, so that he might go as an ambassador to the kings of the Galatians.

§21.37.2

καὶ [ὁ] Ἐποσόγνατος ἔπεμψε πρὸς Γνάιον πρέσβεις καὶ παρεκάλει [τὸν Γνάιον] τὸν τῶν Ῥωμαίων στρατηγὸν μὴ προεξαναστῆναι μηδʼ ἐπιβαλεῖν χεῖρας τοῖς Τολιστοβογίοις Γαλάταις, καὶ διότι¹ πρεσβεύσει πρὸς τοὺς βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν Ἐποσόγνατος καὶ ποιήσεται λόγους ὑπὲρ τῆς φιλίας, καὶ πεπεῖσθαι² πρὸς πᾶν αὐτοὺς παραστήσεσθαι τὸ καλῶς ἔχον. —

And Eposognatus sent ambassadors to Gnaeus and urged the Roman general not to move forward prematurely nor to lay hands on the Tolistobogian Galatians, and because Eposognatus himself would go as an ambassador to their kings and hold talks in favor of friendship, and was persuaded that they would yield to everything that was proper. —

§21.37.4

Γνάιος ὁ ὕπατος Ῥωμαίων διερχόμενος ἐγεφύρωσε τὸν Σαγγάριον ποταμόν, τελέως κοῖλον ὄντα καὶ δύσβατον.

Gnaeus, the Roman consul, while passing through, built a bridge over the Sangarius River, which was extremely deep and difficult to cross.

§21.37.5

καὶ παρʼ αὐτὸν τὸν ποταμὸν στρατοπεδευσαμένου³ παραγίνονται Γάλλοι⁴ παρʼ Ἄττιδος καὶ Βαττάκου τῶν ἐκ Πεσσινοῦντος ἱερέων τῆς Μητρὸς τῶν θεῶν, ἔχοντες προστηθίδια καὶ τύπους, φάσκοντες προσαγγέλλειν τὴν θεὸν νίκην καὶ κράτος.

And when he had pitched camp by the river itself, there arrived Galli from Attis and Battacus, the priests of the Mother of the Gods from Pessinus, wearing breastplates and images, and claiming that the goddess was announcing victory and power.

§21.37.7

οὓς ὁ Γνάιος φιλανθρώπως ὑπεδέξατο. —

Gnaeus received them kindly. —

§21.37.8

ὄντος δὲ τοῦ Γναΐου πρὸς τὸ πολισμάτιον τὸ καλούμενον Γορδίειον, ἧκον παρʼ Ἐποσογνάτου πρέσβεις ἀποδηλοῦντες ὅτι πορευθεὶς διαλεχθείη τοῖς τῶν Γαλατῶν βασιλεῦσιν, οἱ δʼ ἁπλῶς εἰς οὐδὲν συγκαταβαίνοιεν⁵ φιλάνθρωπον, ἀλλʼ ἡθροικότες ὁμοῦ τέκνα καὶ γυναῖκας καὶ τὴν ἄλλην κτῆσιν ἅπασαν εἰς τὸ καλούμενον ὄρος Ὄλυμπον ἕτοιμοι πρὸς μάχην εἰσίν. —

While Gnaeus was near the small town called Gordieium, ambassadors came from Eposognatus, explaining that he had gone and spoken with the kings of the Galatians, but they would yield to no friendly terms whatsoever, but having gathered together their children, wives, and all their other possessions on the mountain called Olympus, they were ready for battle. —

Syntax notes5 items

21.37.3διότι
Introduces a causal clause ("because...") explaining the request in the previous section. The following infinitive πεπεῖσθαι indicates a continuation of indirect discourse.
21.37.3πεπεῖσθαι
Perfect passive infinitive, functioning as part of the indirect discourse. It expresses Eposognatus's confidence ("that he was convinced"). The accusative αὐτούς refers to the kings, serving as the subject of the future infinitive παραστήσεσθαι.
21.37.5στρατοπεδευσαμένου
A genitive absolute construction where the subject in the genitive case (αὐτοῦ, referring to Gnaeus) is omitted.
21.37.5Γάλλοι
Here it does not refer to the ethnic "Galatians" or "Gauls", but specifically to the "Galli", the eunuch priests of the goddess Cybele (Mother of the Gods).
21.37.9συγκαταβαίνοιεν
Optative of indirect discourse (oblique optative) in a clause dependent on the historical main verb ἧκον.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.37.1-21.37.9