Mutiny of the Soldiers and Philip's Conciliation — Polybius, The Histories Book 5 (5.25.1–5.25.7), Greek & English

§5.25.1

κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον οἱ περὶ τὸν Λεόντιον καὶ Μεγαλέαν καὶ Πτολεμαῖον,¹ ἔτι πεπεισμένοι καταπλήξεσθαι τὸν Φίλιππον² καὶ λύειν τῷ τοιούτῳ τρόπῳ τὰς προγεγενημένας ἁμαρτίας, ἐνέβαλον λόγους εἴς τε τοὺς πελταστὰς καὶ τοὺς ἐκ τοῦ λεγομένου παρὰ τοῖς Μακεδόσιν ἀγήματος, ὅτι κινδυνεύουσι μὲν ὑπὲρ πάντων, γίνεται δʼ αὐτοῖς οὐδὲν τῶν δικαίων οὐδὲ κομίζονται τελείας τὰς ὠφελείας τὰς γινομένας αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν ἐθισμῶν.

At this time, Leontius, Megaleas, and Ptolemy, still believing that they could intimidate Philip and in this way retrieve their past errors, instilled discontent among the peltasts and those belonging to what is called the “Agema” among the Macedonians, suggesting that while they faced danger on behalf of everyone, they received none of their dues, nor did they obtain in full the benefits accruing to them from custom.

§5.25.3

διʼ ὧν³ παρώξυναν τοὺς νεανίσκους συστραφέντας ἐγχειρῆσαι διαρπάζειν μὲν τὰς τῶν ἐπιφανεστάτων φίλων καταλύσεις, ἐκβάλλειν δὲ τὰς θύρας καὶ κατακόπτειν τὸν κέραμον τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως αὐλῆς.

By these words they incited the young men to band together and attempt to plunder the lodgings of the king’s most prominent friends, and even to break down the doors and smash the roof-tiles of the king’s palace.

§5.25.4

τούτων δὲ συμβαινόντων, καὶ τῆς πόλεως ὅλης ἐν θορύβῳ καὶ ταραχῇ καθεστώσης, ἀκούσας ὁ Φίλιππος, ἧκε μετὰ σπουδῆς ἐκ τοῦ Λεχαίου θέων εἰς τὴν πόλιν.

While these things were happening and the whole city was in a state of tumult and confusion, Philip, on hearing of it, came in all haste, running from Lechaeum into the city.

§5.25.5

καὶ συναγαγὼν εἰς τὸ θέατρον τοὺς Μακεδόνας τὰ μὲν παρεκάλει, τὰ δʼ ἐπέπληττε πᾶσιν ἐπὶ τοῖς πεπραγμένοις.

Having assembled the Macedonians in the theatre, he partly exhorted them and partly rebuked them all for what had been done.

§5.25.6

θορύβου δʼ ὄντος καὶ πολλῆς ἀκρισίας, καὶ τῶν μὲν οἰομένων δεῖν ἄγειν καὶ καταλεύειν τοὺς αἰτίους, τῶν δὲ διαλύεσθαι καὶ μηδενὶ μνησικακεῖν, τότε μὲν ὑποκριθεὶς ὡς πεπεισμένος⁴ καὶ παρακαλέσας πάντας ἐπανῆλθε, σαφῶς μὲν εἰδὼς τοὺς ἀρχηγοὺς τῆς κινήσεως γεγονότας, οὐ προσποιηθεὶς δὲ διὰ τὸν καιρόν.

But as there was a tumult and great disorder, some thinking that they ought to arrest and stone the culprits, while others thought they should make peace and bear no malice to anyone, he then, pretending to be satisfied, exhorted them all and retired; for though he knew clearly who the authors of the movement were, he feigned ignorance because of the circumstances.

Syntax notes4 items

5.25.1οἱ περὶ τὸν Λεόντιον καὶ Μεγαλέαν καὶ Πτολεμαῖον
The idiomatic expression 'οἱ περὶ + accusative' denotes a central figure and their associates or followers. Here it refers to Leontius, Megaleas, Ptolemy, and their faction.
5.25.1ἔτι πεπεισμένοι καταπλήξεσθαι τὸν Φίλιππον
The perfect passive participle πεπεισμένοι is used in a middle/active sense ('still convinced/believing') and governs the future infinitive καταπλήξεσθαι (middle form with active meaning, 'to intimidate'). The subject of the infinitive is omitted because it is identical to that of the participle.
5.25.3διʼ ὧν
The relative pronoun ὧν is neuter plural, taking the instigating words of discontent (λόγους) mentioned in the preceding sentence as its antecedent, and with the preposition διά expressing means or cause ('by means of these words').
5.25.7ὑποκριθεὶς ὡς πεπεισμένος
The conjunction ὡς followed by the perfect passive participle πεπεισμένος ('having been convinced/satisfied') expresses a feigned or subjective attitude, meaning 'pretending as if he had been convinced.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.25.1-5.25.7