Despatch of Garsyeris and Securing of the Passes — Polybius, The Histories Book 5 (5.72.1–5.72.10), Greek & English

§5.72.1

κατὰ δὲ τὴν αὐτὴν θερείαν Πεδνηλισσεῖς, πολιορκούμενοι καὶ κινδυνεύοντες ὑπὸ Σελγέων, διεπέμψαντο περὶ βοηθείας πρὸς Ἀχαιόν.

During the same summer, the Pednelissians, being besieged and hard pressed by the Selgians, sent envoys to Achaeus for help.

§5.72.2

τοῦ δʼ ἀσμένως ὑπακούσαντος,¹ οὗτοι μὲν εὐθαρσῶς ὑπέμενον τὴν πολιορκίαν, προσανέχοντες ταῖς ἐλπίσι τῆς βοηθείας, ὁ δʼ Ἀχαιός, προχειρισάμενος Γαρσύηριν μετὰ πεζῶν ἑξακισχιλίων, ἱππέων δὲ πεντακοσίων, ἐξαπέστειλε σπουδῇ παραβοηθήσοντα τοῖς Πεδνηλισσεῦσιν.

As he gladly complied, they courageously held out against the siege, clinging to their hopes of assistance. And Achaeus, having appointed Garsyeris with six thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry, dispatched him in haste to assist the Pednelissians.

§5.72.4

οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς, συνέντες τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς βοηθείας, προκατελάβοντο τὰ στενὰ τὰ περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Κλίμακα τῷ πλείονι μέρει τῆς ἑαυτῶν δυνάμεως, καὶ τὴν μὲν εἰσβολὴν τὴν ἐπὶ Σάπορδα κατεῖχον, τὰς δὲ διόδους καὶ προσβάσεις πάσας ἔφθειρον.

The Selgians, learning of the arrival of the relief force, pre-occupied the narrow passes around the so-called Climax with the greater part of their forces, and held the entrance toward Saporda, and destroyed all the passes and approaches.

§5.72.5

ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις, ἐμβαλὼν εἰς τὴν Μιλυάδα καὶ καταστρατοπεδεύσας περὶ τὴν καλουμένην Κρητῶν πόλιν, ἐπεὶ συνῄσθετο προκατεχομένων τῶν τόπων ἀδύνατον οὖσαν τὴν εἰς τοὔμπροσθεν πορείαν, ἐπινοεῖ τινα δόλον τοιοῦτον.

Garsyeris, having entered Milyas and encamped near the so-called City of the Cretans, when he perceived that progress forward was impossible because the positions had been pre-occupied, devised some such stratagem as follows.

§5.72.6

ἀναζεύξας ἦγε πάλιν εἰς τοὐπίσω τὴν πορείαν, ὡς ἀπεγνωκὼς τὴν βοήθειαν διὰ τὸ προκατέχεσθαι τοὺς τόπους. οἱ δὲ Σελγεῖς προχείρως πιστεύσαντες, ὡς ἀπεγνωκότος βοηθεῖν Γαρσυήριδος,² οἱ μὲν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀπεχώρησαν, οἱ δʼ εἰς τὴν πόλιν διὰ τὸ κατεπείγειν τὴν τοῦ σίτου κομιδήν.

Breaking camp, he led his march back again, as though he had given up the rescue because the places had been pre-occupied. The Selgians readily believing this, in the belief that Garsyeris had given up the rescue, some of them retired to their camp, and others to the city, because the gathering of their grain was urgent.

§5.72.8

ὁ δὲ Γαρσύηρις, ἐξ ἐπιστροφῆς ἐνεργὸν ποιησάμενος τὴν πορείαν, ἧκε πρὸς τὰς ὑπερβολάς. καταλαβὼν δʼ ἐρήμους, ταύτας μὲν ἠσφαλίσατο φυλακαῖς, Φάϋλλον ἐπὶ πάντων ἐπιστήσας, αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τῆς στρατιᾶς εἰς Πέργην κατάρας ἐντεῦθεν ἐποιεῖτο τὰς διαπρεσβείας πρός τε τοὺς ἄλλους τοὺς τὴν Πισιδικὴν κατοικοῦντας καὶ πρὸς τὴν Παμφυλίαν, ὑποδεικνύων μὲν τὸ τῶν Σελγέων βάρος, παρακαλῶν δὲ πάντας πρὸς τὴν Ἀχαιοῦ συμμαχίαν καὶ πρὸς τὴν βοήθειαν τοῖς³

Garsyeris, turning back and making a rapid march, arrived at the passes. Finding them deserted, he secured them with garrisons, placing Phayllus in command over all, and himself with his army marched down to Perge, and from there sent embassies to the others who inhabited Pisidia and to Pamphylia, pointing out the power of the Selgians, and exhorting them all to alliance with Achaeus and to help for them.

Syntax notes3 items

5.72.2τοῦ δʼ ἀσμένως ὑπακούσαντος
Genitive absolute construction. The pronoun τοῦ refers to the previously mentioned Achaeus.
5.72.7ὡς ἀπεγνωκότος βοηθεῖν Γαρσυήριδος
Genitive absolute construction accompanied by the particle ὡς, expressing the subjective belief or impression of the Selgians ('thinking that Garsyeris had given up rendering aid').
5.72.10τοῖς
The dative article τοῖς at the end of this chunk contextually implies the recipient of the help, namely 'the Pednelissians' (τοῖς Πεδνηλισσεῦσιν).

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.72.1-5.72.10