Layout of the Camp and Arrangement of the Tents — Polybius, The Histories Book 6 (6.27.1–6.27.7), Greek & English

§6.27.1

ἔστι δὴ τὸ γένος αὐτῶν τῆς στρατοπεδείας τοιόνδε. τοῦ κριθέντος αἰεὶ τόπου πρὸς στρατοπεδείαν, τούτου τὸν ἐπιτηδειότατον εἰς σύνοψιν ἅμα καὶ παραγγελίαν ἡ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ σκηνὴ καταλαμβάνει.¹ τεθείσης δὲ τῆς σημαίας, οὗ μέλλουσι πηγνύναι ταύτην, ἀπομετρεῖται πέριξ τῆς σημαίας τετράγωνος τόπος, ὥστε πάσας τὰς πλευρὰς ἑκατὸν ἀπέχειν πόδας τῆς σημαίας, τὸ δʼ ἐμβαδὸν γίνεσθαι τετράπλεθρον.²

Indeed, the manner of their encampment is of this kind. Of the place chosen on each occasion for encampment, the consul’s tent occupies the most suitable part for both general view and issuing orders. After the standard is set up, at the place where they intend to pitch it, a square space is measured out around the standard, so that all its sides are one hundred feet distant from the standard, and the area is four plethra.

§6.27.3

τούτου δὲ τοῦ σχήματος αἰεὶ παρὰ μίαν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ πλευράν, ἥτις ἂν ἐπιτηδειοτάτη φανῇ πρός τε τὰς ὑδρείας καὶ προνομάς, παραβάλλεται τὰ Ῥωμαϊκὰ στρατόπεδα τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον.

And always along one front and side of this figure, whichever appears most suitable for fetching water and foraging, the Roman legions are drawn up in the following manner.

§6.27.4

ἓξ ὑπαρχόντων χιλιάρχων ἐν ἑκάστῳ στρατοπέδῳ κατὰ τὸν ἄρτι λόγον, δυεῖν δὲ στρατοπέδων ὄντων τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν ἀεὶ μεθʼ ἑκατέρου τῶν ὑπάτων, φανερὸν ὅτι δώδεκα χιλιάρχους ἀνάγκη συστρατεύειν ἑκατέρῳ τῶν ὑπάτων.

Since there are six tribunes in each legion, according to the account just given, and there are always two Roman legions with each of the consuls, it is clear that twelve tribunes must campaign with each of the consuls.

§6.27.5

τιθέασι δὴ τὰς τούτων σκηνὰς ἐπὶ μίαν εὐθεῖαν ἁπάσας, ἥτις ἐστὶ παράλληλος τῇ τοῦ τετραγώνου προκριθείσῃ πλευρᾷ, πεντήκοντα δʼ ἀπέχει πόδας ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, ἵνʼ ᾗ τοῖς ἵπποις, ἅμα δʼ ὑποζυγίοις καὶ τῇ λοιπῇ τῶν χιλιάρχων ἀποσκευῇ τόπος.

They place all their tents along a single straight line, which is parallel to the chosen side of the square and is fifty feet distant from it, so that there may be space for the horses, and at the same time for the beasts of burden and the rest of the baggage of the tribunes.

§6.27.6

αἱ δὲ σκηναὶ τοῦ προειρημένου σχήματος εἰς τοὔμπαλιν ἀπεστραμμέναι πήγνυνται πρὸς τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν,³ ἣ νοείσθω καὶ καλείσθω δὲ καθάπαξ ἡμῖν ἀεὶ τοῦ παντὸς σχήματος κατὰ πρόσωπον.

These tents are pitched facing towards the outer side, turned away in the opposite direction from the aforementioned figure; let this outer side once and for all be understood and called by us always the “front” of the whole structure.

§6.27.7

ἀφεστᾶσι δʼ ἀλλήλων μὲν ἴσον αἱ τῶν χιλιάρχων σκηναί, τοσοῦτον δὲ τόπον ὥστε παρʼ ὅλον τὸ πλάτος ἀεὶ τῶν Ῥωμαϊκῶν στρατοπέδων παρήκειν.

The tents of the tribunes are distant at equal intervals from one another, and occupy so much space that they extend along the entire width of the Roman legions.

Syntax notes3 items

6.27.1τοῦ κριθέντος αἰεὶ τόπου πρὸς στρατοπεδείαν, τούτου τὸν ἐπιτηδειότατον... ἡ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ σκηνὴ καταλαμβάνει
The genitive phrase τοῦ κριθέντος... τόπου is a partitive genitive depending on the subsequent demonstrative pronoun τούτου, which in turn limits the superlative τὸν ἐπιτηδειότατον (the most suitable part).
6.27.2τετράπλεθρον
Refers to "four plethra" as a measure of area. Since one plethron is 100 feet, a square with sides of 200 feet (2 plethra) has an area of 40,000 square feet, which equals four square plethra.
6.27.6αἱ δὲ σκηναὶ τοῦ προειρημένου σχήματος εἰς τοὔμπαλιν ἀπεστραμμέναι πήγνυνται πρὸς τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν
τοῦ προειρημένου σχήματος functions as a genitive of separation governed by the participle ἀπεστραμμέναι (turned away), meaning "turned away from the aforementioned figure (i.e., the square of the praetorium)".

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.27.1-6.27.7