← Polybius

The Histories

§24.4.1

Geography of Mount Haemus and View of Both Seas

The author describes Mount Haemus near the Pontus as a massive mountain dividing Thrace, and refutes Polybius's claim that both seas can be seen from its summit, citing the vast distance and numerous obstacles.

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§24.4.1

πρὸς μὲν οὖν τῷ Πόντῳ τὸ Αἷμόν ἐστιν ὄρος, μέγιστον τῶν ταύτῃ καὶ ὑψηλότατον, μέσην πως διαιροῦν τὴν Θρᾴκην·1 ἀφʼ οὗ φησι Πολύβιος ἀμφοτέρας καθορᾶσθαι2 τὰς θαλάττας, οὐκ ἀληθῆ λέγων· καὶ γὰρ τὸ διάστημα μέγα τὸ πρὸς τὸν Ἀδρίαν καὶ τὰ ἐπισκοτοῦντα3 πολλά.

​Now, near the Pontus there is Mount Haemus, the largest and highest of those in that region, dividing Thrace roughly in the middle. From this mountain Polybius says that both seas can be seen, which is not true; for not only is the distance to the Adriatic great, but also the obstacles obscuring the view are many.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 24.4.1μέσην... τὴν Θρᾴκην

    The adjective μέσην is in the predicative position (outside the article τὴν), meaning "Thrace in its middle" (i.e., "dividing Thrace through its middle") rather than "middle Thrace" (which would be τὴν μέσην Θρᾴκην).

  2. 24.4.1καθορᾶσθαι

    The present passive (or middle) infinitive. It forms an accusative-and-infinitive construction (indirect speech) dependent on φησι, with the accusative ἀμφοτέρας τὰς θαλάττας functioning as its subject. It means "that both seas (the Pontus and the Adriatic) can be seen."

  3. 24.4.1τὰ ἐπισκοτοῦντα

    The substantivized neuter plural participle of ἐπισκοτέω ("to darken" or "to obstruct"), meaning "the things that obscure the view" or "obstacles." It functions as the subject of the predicate adjective πολλά, with the copula ἐστι being omitted.

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-grc2:24.4.1