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Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §4.107.1-4.107.3

Defense of Eion and Brasidas's Gains Nearby

Passage 472 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Thucydides secures Eion against Brasidas's failed assault, while Brasidas, after his repulse, wins over neighboring towns like Myrcinus and organizes the region with Perdiccas.

§4.107.1μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ὁ μὲν τὰ ἐν τῇ Ἠιόνι καθίστατο, ὅπως καὶ τὸ αὐτίκα, ἢν ἐπίῃ ὁ Βρασίδας, καὶ τὸ ἔπειτα ἀσφαλῶς ἕξει, δεξάμενος τοὺς ἐθελήσαντας ἐπιχωρῆσαι ἄνωθεν κατὰ τὰς σπονδάς·
Meanwhile, Thucydides settled the affairs in Eion, receiving those who wished to withdraw from up country according to the treaty, so that it might be secure both for the immediate future, if Brasidas should attack, and thereafter.
§4.107.2ὁ δὲ πρὸς μὲν τὴν Ἠιόνα κατά τε τὸν ποταμὸν πολλοῖς πλοίοις ἄφνω καταπλεύσας, εἴ πως τὴν προύχουσαν ἄκραν ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους λαβὼν κρατοίη τοῦ ἔσπλου, καὶ κατὰ γῆν ἀποπειράσας ἅμα, ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἀπεκρούσθη, τὰ δὲ περὶ τὴν Ἀμφίπολιν ἐξηρτύετο.
The latter, having suddenly sailed down the river to Eion with many boats, to see if he might somehow capture the jutting point of land projecting from the wall and command the entrance, and having at the same time made an attempt by land, was repulsed on both sides, and began to put things in order around Amphipolis.
§4.107.3καὶ Μύρκινός τε αὐτῷ προσεχώρησεν Ἠδωνικὴ πόλις, Πιττακοῦ τοῦ Ἠδώνων βασιλέως ἀποθανόντος ὑπὸ τῶν Γοάξιος παίδων καὶ Βραυροῦς τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ Γαληψὸς οὐ πολλῷ ὕστερον καὶ Οἰσύμη· εἰσὶ δὲ αὗται Θασίων ἀποικίαι.
Moreover, Myrcinus, an Edonian city, came over to him—Pittacus, the king of the Edonians, having been killed by the sons of Goaxis and Brauro his wife; and not long afterwards Galepsus and Oesyme did the same, these being colonies of the Thasians.
παρὼν δὲ καὶ Περδίκκας εὐθὺς μετὰ τὴν ἅλωσιν ξυγκαθίστη ταῦτα.
Perdiccas also, who arrived immediately after the capture, joined in settling these matters.

Notes

  1. §4.107.1ὅπως καὶ τὸ αὐτίκα ... καὶ τὸ ἔπειτα ἀσφαλῶς ἕξει — The combination of ὅπως with the future indicative (ἕξει) expresses purpose or precaution. The subject of the intransitive ἕξει (ἔχω with an adverb) is the preceding neuter plural τὰ ἐν τῇ Ἠιόνι (the affairs/defenses in Eion).
  2. §4.107.2εἴ πως ... κρατοίη — The conjunction εἴ πως with the optative (κρατοίη) introduces a protasis expressing an attempt or hope ('to see if by any chance he might...'). The preceding participle λαβὼν indicates the means by which this goal was to be achieved.
  3. §4.107.3Πιττακοῦ τοῦ Ἠδώνων βασιλέως ἀποθανόντος ὑπὸ τῶν Γοάξιος παίδων καὶ Βραυροῦς τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ — A genitive absolute construction, explaining the historical background, cause, or occasion for Myrcinus coming over (προσεχώρησεν) to Brasidas. It indicates that the internal chaos following King Pittacus's death prompted the surrender.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §4.107.1-4.107.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.107.1-4.107.3

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