Roman Capture of Heracleum Using the Tiled-Roof Formation — Polybius, The Histories Book 28 (28.11.1–28.11.3), Greek & English

§28.11.1

τὸ Ἡράκλειον ἥλω ἰδίαν τινὰ ἅλωσιν.¹ ἐχούσης τῆς πόλεως ἐφʼ ἑνὸς μέρους ἐπʼ ὀλίγον τόπον ταπεινὸν τεῖχος, οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τρεῖς σημείας προεχειρίσαντο.

Heracleum was captured in a peculiar manner. Since the city had a low wall at one point for a short distance, the Romans prepared three companies.

§28.11.2

καὶ τῇ μὲν πρώτῃ τοὺς θυρεοὺς ὑπὲρ τῆς κεφαλῆς ποιήσαντες συνέφραξαν, ὥστε τῇ τῶν ὅπλων πυκνότητι κεραμωτῷ καταρρύτῳ γίνεσθαι² παραπλήσιον. ἐφεξῆς δʼ ἕτεραι δύο — Κεραμωτόν, τακτικὴ διάταξις·

And making those of the first company hold their shields over their heads, they locked them together, so that, owing to the density of the weapons, it became very like a sloping tiled roof. Next, two other companies— “Keramoton”: a tactical formation.

§28.11.3

ὅπερ ἐποίουν Ῥωμαῖοι ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει.³

which the Romans used to practice as a kind of sport.

Syntax notes3 items

28.11.1ἰδίαν τινὰ ἅλωσιν
Cognate accusative. The noun ἅλωσις (capture) is used in the accusative with the verb ἥλω (was captured, active in form but passive in meaning) to specify the particular manner or mode of the capture.
28.11.2ὥστε ... γίνεσθαι
An infinitive construction in a consecutive ὥστε clause, expressing the natural or actual result of the action described in the main clause. The subject of γίνεσθαι is impersonal (meaning 'it became') or refers to the collective structure of the shields.
28.11.3ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει
The idiom ἐν ... μέρει means 'in the character of,' 'by way of,' or 'in the category of.' Here, ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει functions as 'by way of amusement' or 'as a kind of sport/exercise' rather than in actual combat.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:28.11.1-28.11.3