← Polybius

The Histories

§39.2.1-39.2.3

Fall of Corinth and Desecration of Artworks by Soldiers

Polybius laments the fate of Corinth during its capture, describing how Roman soldiers treated invaluable works of art with contempt, even using famous paintings as gaming boards.

View ▾
View
Translation
Typeface
AI ↗
← PrevNext →
§39.2.1

Πολύβιος δὲ τὰ συμβάντα περὶ τὴν ἅλωσιν ἐν οἴκτου μέρει1 λέγων προστίθησι καὶ τὴν στρατιωτικὴν ὀλιγωρίαν τὴν περὶ τὰ τῶν τεχνῶν ἔργα καὶ τὰ ἀναθήματα· φησὶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν παρὼν2 ἐρριμμένους πίνακας ἐπʼ ἐδάφους, πεττεύοντας δὲ τοὺς στρατιώτας ἐπὶ τούτων. ὀνομάζει δʼ αὐτῶν Ἀριστείδου γραφὴν τοῦ Διονύσου, ἐφʼ οὗ3 τινες εἰρῆσθαί φασι τὸ "Οὐδὲν πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον", καὶ τὸν Ἡρακλέα τὸν καταπονούμενον τῷ τῆς Δηιανείρας χιτῶνι. —

​Polybius, in speaking of the events surrounding the capture by way of lamentation, adds also the military indifference toward the works of art and the votive offerings;‧ ​for he says that he was present and saw paintings thrown on the ground, and the soldiers playing checkers on them.‧ ​And he names among them the painting of Dionysus by Aristides, in reference to which some say the proverb “Nothing to do with Dionysus” was spoken, and the Heracles tormented by the tunic of Deianira.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 39.2.1ἐν οἴκτου μέρει

    This idiomatic prepositional phrase means 'in the category of lamentation', 'with a tone of pity', or 'as a matter for lamentation'.

  2. 39.2.2ἰδεῖν παρὼν

    Since the subject of the infinitive ἰδεῖν after φησὶ is identical with the main subject (Polybius himself), the participle παρών ('being present') is in the nominative rather than the accusative, emphasizing his personal presence as an eyewitness.

  3. 39.2.3ἐφʼ οὗ

    The relative pronoun οὗ is in the masculine/neuter genitive, even though the logical antecedent is the feminine 'painting' (γραφὴν). It either refers back to the depicted subject 'Dionysus' (Διονύσου) or treats the painting as a neuter object.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)
  • 2026-09-22 AI review — source 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:39.2.1-39.2.3