- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
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- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:36.8.1-36.8.8
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-12
This section describes the Carthaginian general Amilcar Phameas and his tactical evasion of Scipio. It also relates Scipio's cautious military wisdom, Cato the Elder's high praise of Scipio in Rome citing Homer's Odyssey, and the Romans' general satisfaction.
Ἀμίλκας, ὁ καὶ Φαμέας, Καρχηδονίων στρατηγός, ὃς ὑπῆρχε κατὰ μὲν τὴν ἡλικίαν ἀκμάζων καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἕξιν ἐρρωμένος, τὸ δὲ μέγιστον ἐφόδιον1 πρὸς πολεμικὴν χρείαν, ἱππεὺς ἄγαν ἀγαθὸς καὶ τολμηρός. —
Amilcar, also known as Phameas, a Carthaginian general, who was in the prime of his life and robust in physical condition, and, what is the greatest resource for military need, an extremely good and daring horseman. —
οἱ δὲ διαζηλοτυπούμενοι πρὸς τὸν Σκιπίωνα ἐπεβάλοντο διασύρειν τὰς πράξεις αὐτοῦ. — τὰς προφυλακὰς βλέπων ὁ Φαμέας, ὢν οὐκ ἄψυχος, ἐξέκλινε τὰς πρὸς τὸν Σκιπίωνα συμπλοκάς. καί ποτε συνεγγίσας ταῖς ἐφεδρείαις, προβαλόμενος ὀφρὺν ἀπότομον ἐπέστη καὶ πλείω χρόνον. —
But those who were jealous of Scipio undertook to disparage his achievements. — Phameas, seeing the outposts, though not lacking courage, avoided clashing with Scipio. And once, having approached the reserve forces, he halted for a considerable time, keeping a steep ridge in front of him. —
αἱ δὲ σημεῖαι τῶν Ῥωμαίων συνεπεφεύγεσαν εἰς βουνόν· καὶ πάντων δόντων γνώμας ὁ Σκιπίων ἔφη, ὅταν ἐξ ἀκεραίου2 βουλεύωνται, καὶ πλείω ποιεῖσθαι πρόνοιαν τοῦ μηδὲν παθεῖν ἢ τοῦ δρᾶσαι κακῶς τοὺς ἐχθρούς. —
Meanwhile, the Roman maniples had fled together to a hill; and when all were offering their opinions, Scipio said, that when men deliberate before any harm is done, they should take more precaution against suffering any injury than about doing harm to the enemy. —
οὐ χρὴ θαυμάζειν εἰ φιλοτιμότερον ἐξηγούμεθα τὰ κατὰ τὸν Σκιπίωνα καὶ πᾶν τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ μετὰ διαστολῆς ἐξαγγέλλομεν. — Πολύβιος·
One must not wonder if we narrate the achievements of Scipio with more than usual zeal, and report everything said by him with detail. — Polybius.
ἐν γὰρ τῇ Ῥώμῃ Μάρκον Πόρκιον ἀκούσαντα τὰς ἀριστείας Σκιπίωνος εἰπεῖν [πάλιν ἄλλον πρὸς ἐκεῖνον· τί ἀκήκοας] οἶος πέπνυται· τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀΐσσουσιν.3 —
For in Rome, Marcus Porcius, having heard of the brilliant deeds of Scipio, is said to have remarked [when someone else asked him, “What have you heard?”]: “He alone has spirit and wisdom, while the rest flit about like shadows.” —
οἱ δὲ Ῥωμαῖοι ὑπερευδοκούμενοι κατὰ πάντα τρόπον τῇ τοῦ Σκιπίωνος ὁμολογίᾳ καὶ τῷ χειρισμῷ τῶν πραγμάτων
The Romans, being in every way highly pleased with Scipio’s agreement and his management of affairs
- 36.8.1τὸ δὲ μέγιστον ἐφόδιον
An appositive noun phrase (or a type of accusative absolute) introducing and qualifying the subsequent ἱππεὺς ἄγαν ἀγαθὸς καὶ τολμηρός, emphasizing that being an excellent and daring horseman was his greatest asset for military command.
- 36.8.5ἐξ ἀκεραίου
A prepositional phrase meaning "from an untouched/unharmed state." It functions adverbially here to describe deliberating before any damage has occurred, or in an unbiased, calm state of mind.
- 36.8.7οἶος πέπνυται· τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀΐσσουσιν.
A famous quotation from Homer's Odyssey (10.495), which originally described how only the prophet Tiresias retained his reason and wisdom among the dead in the underworld. Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius) applied this to praise Scipio's outstanding intelligence compared to other Roman commanders.