Theodotus' Failed Attempt to Assassinate Ptolemy — Polybius, The Histories Book 5 (5.81.1–5.81.7), Greek & English

§5.81.1

κατὰ δὲ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον Θεόδοτος Αἰτωλικῇ μέν, οὐκ ἀνάνδρῳ δʼ¹ ἐπεβάλετο τόλμῃ καὶ πράξει.

At this time, Theodotus undertook a bold enterprise and deed, characteristically Aetolian, yet not unmanly.

§5.81.2

συνειδὼς γὰρ ἐκ τῆς προγεγενημένης συμβιώσεως τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως αἵρεσιν καὶ δίαιταν ποία τις ἦν, εἰσπορεύεται τρίτος γενόμενος² ὑπὸ τὴν ἑωθινὴν εἰς τὸν τῶν πολεμίων χάρακα.

For being well aware, from his past association, of what sort the king’s preferences and habits were, he entered the enemy’s camp towards morning, accompanied by two others.

§5.81.3

κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν ὄψιν ἄγνωστος ἦν διὰ τὸ σκότος, κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἐσθῆτα καὶ τὴν ἄλλην περικοπὴν ἀνεπισήμαντος διὰ τὸ ποικίλην εἶναι κἀκείνων τὴν δύναμιν.³

Now, as regards his appearance, he was unrecognizable because of the darkness, while as regards his dress and general equipment, he attracted no attention because their army also was composed of varied elements.

§5.81.4

ἐστοχασμένος δʼ ἐν ταῖς πρότερον ἡμέραις τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως σκηνῆς διὰ τὸ παντελῶς σύνεγγυς γίνεσθαι τοὺς ἀκροβολισμούς, ὥρμησε θρασέως ἐπʼ αὐτήν, καὶ τοὺς μὲν πρώτους πάντας διελθὼν ἔλαθε, παραπεσὼν δʼ εἰς τὴν σκηνήν, ἐν ᾗ χρηματίζειν εἰώθει καὶ δειπνεῖν ὁ βασιλεύς, πάντα τόπον ἐρευνήσας τοῦ μὲν βασιλέως ἀπέτυχε⁴ διὰ τὸ τὸν μὲν Πτολεμαῖον ἐκτὸς τῆς ἐπιφανοῦς καὶ χρηματιστικῆς σκηνῆς ποιεῖσθαι τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν, δύο δέ τινας τῶν αὐτοῦ κοιμωμένων τραυματίσας, καὶ τὸν ἰατρὸν τοῦ βασιλέως Ἀνδρέαν ἀποκτείνας, ἀνεχώρησε μετʼ ἀσφαλείας εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρεμβολήν, βραχέα θορυβηθεὶς⁵ ἤδη περὶ τὴν τοῦ χάρακος ἔκπτωσιν, τῇ μὲν τόλμῃ συντετελεκὼς τὴν πρόθεσιν, τῇ δὲ προνοίᾳ διεσφαλμένος διὰ τὸ μὴ καλῶς ἐξητακέναι ποῦ τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν ὁ Πτολεμαῖος εἰώθει ποιεῖσθαι.

Having during the preceding days marked the position of the king’s tent, since the skirmishes took place quite close to it, he made a bold rush for it, and passing all the first guards, escaped their notice. Having burst into the tent in which the king was accustomed to transact business and dine, and having searched every spot, he failed to find the king, because Ptolemy took his rest outside the conspicuous official tent. However, after wounding two of those sleeping there and killing Andreas, the king’s physician, he retreated in safety to his own camp, being only slightly troubled at the moment of his escape from the enemy’s rampart. Thus, while he had accomplished his purpose by his daring, he failed in foresight through not having carefully ascertained where Ptolemy was accustomed to take his rest.

Syntax notes5 items

5.81.1Αἰτωλικῇ μέν, οὐκ ἀνάνδρῳ δʼ
Both Αἰτωλικῇ (Aetolian) and οὐκ ἀνάνδρῳ (not unmanly) are dative adjectives modifying the dative noun phrase τόλμῃ καὶ πράξει. The former refers to the contemporary stereotype of Aetolians as bold and predatory, while the latter emphasizes his bravery through litotes.
5.81.2τρίτος γενόμενος
A Greek idiomatic expression using a self-referential ordinal number and a participle (here γενόμενος), meaning 'with two others' or 'as one of three'. It indicates that Theodotus had two companions with him.
5.81.3διὰ τὸ ποικίλην εἶναι κἀκείνων τὴν δύναμιν
An articular infinitive construction introduced by διὰ τὸ εἶναι. The subject accusative of the infinitive is τὴν δύναμιν, and ποικίλην is its predicate adjective. κἀκείνων (crasis for καὶ ἐκείνων) is a genitive dependent on τὴν δύναμιν.
5.81.5τοῦ μὲν βασιλέως ἀπέτυχε
The verb ἀποτυγχάνω (to miss, fail to find) governs the genitive case, hence the genitive τοῦ βασιλέως (the king).
5.81.6βραχέα θορυβηθεὶς
βραχέα is the neuter plural accusative used adverbially, meaning 'slightly' or 'only a little'. It modifies the passive participle θορυβηθείς (having been thrown into confusion/troubled), indicating that he encountered only minimal disturbance when escaping the rampart.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.81.1-5.81.7