Incompetence of the Rhodian General Aristocrates — Polybius, The Histories Book 33 (33.4.1–33.4.4), Greek & English

§33.4.1

ὅτι Ἀριστοκράτης ὁ τῶν Ῥοδίων στρατηγὸς ἦν μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν ἀξιωματικὸς καὶ καταπληκτικός.

That Aristocrates, the general of the Rhodians, was in appearance dignified and imposing.

§33.4.2

διόπερ ἐκ πάντων τοῦτον ὑπέλαβον οἱ Ῥόδιοι τελέως ἀξιόχρεων ἡγεμόνα καὶ προστάτην ἔχειν¹ τοῦ πολέμου.

For which reason the Rhodians supposed that, out of all men, they possessed in him a fully capable commander and leader of the war.

§33.4.3

διεψεύσθησαν μέντοι γε τῶν ἐλπίδων· ἐλθὼν γὰρ εἰς τὰς πράξεις ὥσπερ εἰς πῦρ,² καθάπερ τὰ κίβδηλα τῶν νομισμάτων, ἀλλοῖος ἐφάνη.

However, they were disappointed in their hopes; for when he came to real actions as if to a fire, just like counterfeit coins, he appeared quite different.

§33.4.4

τοῦτο δʼ ἐγένετο δῆλον ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τῶν ἔργων.

And this became clear from his actual deeds.

Syntax notes2 items

33.4.2ὑπέλαβον ... ἔχειν
The verb ὑπολαμβάνω takes an accusative (τοῦτον) and an infinitive (ἔχειν) to form the construction "to suppose that ... has/possesses ...". In this context, the main subject "the Rhodians" (οἱ Ῥόδιοι) is understood as the subject of the infinitive, meaning "the Rhodians supposed that they possessed him as a leader."
33.4.3ὥσπερ εἰς πῦρ
Coming to actual deeds (εἰς τὰς πράξεις) is likened to entering "into fire" (εἰς πῦρ). This refers to the metallurgical practice of testing the purity of metals or coins by fire, which is closely linked with the subsequent comparison to "counterfeit coins" (τὰ κίβδηλα τῶν νομισμάτων).

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-grc2:33.4.1-33.4.4