- Source
- Polybius. Vols. 1-4. Büttner-Wobst, Theodor, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1893.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.59.1-5.59.11
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-09
Antiochus prepares for the siege of Seleucia with his navy and army, while sending Theodotus to Coele-Syria. The narrative then provides a detailed description of the strong topographical features of Seleucia, situated at the foot of Mount Coryphaeum, and the Orontes River flowing nearby.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ1 Ἀντίοχος κριθέντων τούτων Διογνήτῳ μὲν τῷ ναυάρχῳ παρήγγειλε πλεῖν ὡς ἐπὶ τῆς Σελευκείας, αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκ τῆς Ἀπαμείας ὁρμήσας μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς, καὶ περὶ πέντε σταδίους ἀποσχὼν τῆς πόλεως, προσεστρατοπέδευσε κατὰ τὸν ἱππόδρομον.
However, when these matters had been decided, Antiochus ordered Diognetus, the admiral, to sail towards Seleucia, while he himself, setting out from Apamea with the army, encamped near the hippodrome at a distance of about five stades from the city.
Θεόδοτον δὲ τὸν ἡμιόλιον ἐξαπέστειλε μετὰ τῆς ἁρμοζούσης δυνάμεως ἐπὶ τοὺς κατὰ Κοίλην Συρίαν τόπους, καταληψόμενον τὰ στενὰ καὶ προκαθησόμενον2 ἅμα τῶν αὑτοῦ πραγμάτων.
He dispatched Theodotus, surnamed Hemiolios, with an adequate force to the regions of Coele-Syria, in order to occupy the passes and at the same time to protect his own affairs.
τὴν δὲ τῆς Σελευκείας θέσιν καὶ τὴν τῶν πέριξ τόπων ἰδιότητα τοιαύτην ἔχειν τὴν φύσιν συμβαίνει.3
Now, the situation of Seleucia and the character of the surrounding places happen to be of the following nature.
κειμένης γὰρ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ θαλάττῃ μεταξὺ Κιλικίας καὶ Φοινίκης, ὄρος ἐπίκειται παμμέγεθες, ὃ καλοῦσι Κορυφαῖον·
For while it lies on the sea between Cilicia and Phoenicia, a very high mountain, which they call Coryphaeum, towers over it;
ᾧ πρὸς μὲν τὴν ἀφʼ ἑσπέρας πλευρὰν προσκλύζει τὸ καταλῆγον τοῦ πελάγους τοῦ μεταξὺ κειμένου Κύπρου καὶ Φοινίκης, τοῖς δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς ἠοῦς μέρεσιν ὑπέρκειται τῆς Ἀντιοχέων καὶ Σελευκέων χώρας.
on its western side, the edge of the sea lying between Cyprus and Phoenicia washes against it, while on the eastern parts, it overlooks the territory of Antioch and Seleucia.
ἐν δὲ τοῖς πρὸς μεσημβρίαν αὐτοῦ κλίμασι τὴν Σελεύκειαν συμβαίνει κεῖσθαι, διεζευγμένην φάραγγι κοίλῃ καὶ δυσβάτῳ, καθήκουσαν μὲν καὶ περικλωμένην ὡς ἐπὶ θάλατταν, κατὰ δὲ τὰ πλεῖστα μέρη κρημνοῖς καὶ πέτραις ἀπορρῶξι περιεχομένην.
On its southern slopes lies Seleucia itself, separated by a deep and impassable ravine, sloping down and curving towards the sea, but on most sides surrounded by precipitous cliffs and sheer rocks.
ὑπὸ δὲ τὴν ἐπὶ θάλατταν αὐτῆς νεύουσαν πλευρὰν ἐν τοῖς ἐπιπέδοις τά τʼ ἐμπόρια καὶ τὸ προάστειον κεῖται, διαφερόντως τετειχισμένον.
Below its side that slopes towards the sea, on the flat ground, lie the business quarters and the suburb, which are exceptionally well fortified with walls.
παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τὸ σύμπαν τῆς πόλεως κύτος τείχεσι πολυτελέσιν ἠσφάλισται, κεκόσμηται δὲ καὶ ναοῖς καὶ ταῖς τῶν οἰκοδομημάτων κατασκευαῖς ἐκπρεπῶς.
In like manner, the entire circuit of the city is secured by expensive walls, and is splendidly adorned with temples and magnificent buildings.
πρόσβασιν δὲ μίαν ἔχει κατὰ τὴν ἀπὸ θαλάττης πλευρὰν κλιμακωτὴν καὶ χειροποίητον, ἐγκλίμασι καὶ σκαιώμασι πυκνοῖς καὶ συνεχέσι διειλημμένην.
It has but a single approach from the sea side, which is artificial and cut in steps, interrupted by frequent and continuous steep slopes and sharp turns.
ὁ δὲ καλούμενος Ὀρόντης ποταμὸς οὐ μακρὰν αὐτῆς ποιεῖται τὰς ἐκβολάς, ὃς τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ ῥεύματος λαμβάνων ἀπὸ τῶν κατὰ τὸν Λίβανον καὶ τὸν Ἀντιλίβανον τόπων, καὶ διανύσας τὸ καλούμενον Ἀμύκης πεδίον, ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἱκνεῖται τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν, διʼ ἧς φερόμενος καὶ πάσας ὑποδεχόμενος τὰς ἀνθρωπείας λύμας4 διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ ῥεύματος, τέλος οὐ μακρὰν τῆς Σελευκείας ποιεῖται τὴν ἐκβολὴν εἰς τὸ προειρημένον πέλαγος.
The river called Orontes empties itself not far from it; this river, taking its source from the regions of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, and traversing the plain called Amyces, reaches Antioch itself, flowing through which and receiving all the human filth owing to the abundance of its current, it finally makes its mouth not far from Seleucia into the aforementioned sea.
- 5.59.1οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ
This phrase means 'nevertheless' or 'however,' serving as a transitional particle that shifts the narrative from the historical background in the previous chapter to Antiochus's specific military actions.
- 5.59.2καταληψόμενον ... καὶ προκαθησόμενον
These are future participles expressing purpose. The genitive phrase τῶν αὑτοῦ πραγμάτων is governed by the verb προκαθησόμενον (meaning 'to sit in front of to protect' or 'to cover').
- 5.59.3τοιαύτην ἔχειν τὴν φύσιν συμβαίνει
The structure consists of the impersonal verb συμβαίνει (meaning 'it happens that' or 'it turns out to') followed by an accusative subject (τὴν δὲ τῆς Σελευκείας θέσιν...) and an infinitive (ἔχειν), expressing that the situation 'happens to have such a nature.'
- 5.59.11πάσας ὑποδεχόμενος τὰς ἀνθρωπείας λύμας
A participial phrase inserted into the description of the river. Parallel with διʼ ἧς φερόμενος, it describes the Orontes River receiving all human waste but carrying it away to the sea owing to 'the abundance of its current' (διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ ῥεύματος).