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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §16.12.1-16.12.5

Fierce Battle at the Wall and Rescue of Dion

Passage 520 of 723 · Greek

Summary

Dionysius's mercenaries launch a sudden assault on the Syracusan cross-wall, sparking a fierce battle in a narrow space. Dion is wounded and nearly captured after charging into the enemy, but the Syracusans rescue him, drive back the mercenaries, and set up a trophy.

§16.12.1τῶν δὲ Συρακοσίων κατεσκευακότων ἀπὸ θαλάττης εἰς θάλατταν διατείχισμα αὑτῶν προσέπεσον οἱ μισθοφόροι τῷ τείχει μετὰ πολλῆς βοῆς καὶ καταπλήξεως καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν τῶν φυλάκων ἀνεῖλον, τοῦ δὲ τείχους ἐντὸς γενόμενοι πρὸς τοὺς ἐκβοηθοῦντας διηγωνίζοντο.
Since the Syracusans had constructed their cross-wall from sea to sea, the mercenaries fell upon the wall with great shouting and terror, and killed many of the guards, and getting inside the wall, they fought hard against those who rushed to the rescue.
§16.12.2ὁ δὲ Δίων ἀνελπίστως παρεσπονδημένος μετὰ τῶν ἀρίστων στρατιωτῶν ἀπήντα τοῖς πολεμίοις καὶ συνάψας μάχην πολὺν ἐποίει φόνον.
Dion, unexpectedly betrayed by the breach of the treaty, met the enemy with his best soldiers, and joining battle, caused great slaughter.
ἐν σταδίῳ γὰρ ὥσπερ, τῷ ὀλίγῳ δὴ διαστήματι τῆς διατειχίσεως, μάχης οὔσης συνέδραμε πλῆθος στρατιωτῶν εἰς στενὸν τόπον.
For since the battle was taking place in a narrow space, as if in a stadium—namely, in the very small interval of the cross-wall—a multitude of soldiers rushed together into a confined area.
§16.12.3διὸ καὶ παρʼ ἀμφοτέροις οἱ ταῖς ἀνδραγαθίαις πρωτεύοντες συγκατέβησαν εἰς τὸν κίνδυνον·
Therefore, on both sides, those who excelled in bravery descended together into the danger.
καὶ τῶν μὲν τοῦ Διονυσίου μισθοφόρων διὰ τὸ μέγεθος τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν, τῶν δὲ Συρακοσίων διὰ τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς ἐλευθερίας εἰς ὑπερβάλλουσαν φιλοτιμίαν ἐκτραπέντων τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἰσόρροπος ἦν ἡ μάχη, τῆς παρʼ ἀμφοτέροις ἀρετῆς οὔσης ἰσομάχου, καὶ πολλοὶ μὲν ἔπιπτον, οὐκ ὀλίγοιδὲ κατετιτρώσκοντο πάσας τὰς πληγὰς ἐναντίας λαμβάνοντες·
And since Dionysius's mercenaries, because of the greatness of the promises, and the Syracusans, because of their hope of freedom, had turned to an exceeding rivalry, at first the battle was evenly balanced, as the valor on both sides was equally matched; and many fell, while not a few were wounded, receiving all their wounds in front.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ πρωτοστάται τὸν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἄλλων θάνατον ὑπέμενον εὐψύχως, οἱ δʼ ἐπιτεταγμένοι τοὺς πίπτοντας ὑπερασπίζοντες καὶ τοῖς δεινοῖς ἐγκαρτεροῦντες τοὺς ἐσχάτους κινδύνους ὑπὲρ τῆς νίκης ἀνεδέχοντο.
For those in the front rank bravely endured death on behalf of the others, while those drawn up behind them, shielding those who fell and persevering through the terrors, faced the extreme dangers for the sake of victory.
§16.12.4μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα Δίων μὲν ἀριστεῦσαι βουλόμενος ἐν τῇ μάχῃ καὶ σπεύδων διʼ ἑαυτοῦ περιποιήσασθαι τὴν νίκην εἰς μέσους ἐβιάσατο τοὺς πολεμίους·
After this, Dion, wishing to display outstanding valor in the battle and eager to secure the victory by his own efforts, forced his way into the midst of the enemy.
ἡρωικῶς δʼ ἀγωνιζόμενος πολλοὺς μὲν ἐφόνευσε, τὴν δʼ ὅλην σύνταξιν τῶν μισθοφόρων διακόψας ἐναπελήφθη μόνος τῷ πλήθει·
Fighting heroically, he slew many, and having broken through the entire formation of the mercenaries, he was cut off alone by the multitude.
πολλῶν δʼ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ῥιφέντων βελῶν εἴς τε τὴν ἀσπίδα καὶ τὸ κράνος ταῦτα μὲν ἐξέφυγε διὰ τὴν τῶν ὅπλων κατασκευήν, εἰς δὲ τὸν δεξιὸν βραχίονα τρωθεὶς συγκατηνέχθη τῷ βάρει τῆς πληγῆς καὶ τοῖς πολεμίοις παρʼ ὀλίγον ὑποχείριος ἐγένετο.
Although many missiles were hurled at him against his shield and helmet, he escaped these because of the construction of his armor, but being wounded in his right arm, he was brought down by the weight of the blow and came within a little of falling into the hands of the enemy.
§16.12.5οἱ δὲ Συρακόσιοι δείσαντες ὑπὲρ τῆς κατὰ τὸν στρατηγὸν σωτηρίας ἐπέρραξαν τοῖς μισθοφόροις βαρείᾳ τῇ συντάξει καὶ τὸν μὲν Δίωνα καταπονούμενον ἐξήρπασαν ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων, τοὺς δὲ πολεμίους βιασάμενοι φυγεῖν ἠνάγκασαν.
But the Syracusans, fearing for the safety of their general, charged the mercenaries with a heavy formation, rescued the hard-pressed Dion from danger, and forcing back the enemy, compelled them to flee.
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἄλλον τόπον τοῦ τείχους προτερούντων τῶν Συρακοσίων οἱ τοῦ τυράννου μισθοφόροι συνεδιώχθησαν ἐντὸς πυλῶν τῶν ἐν τῇ Νήσῳ.
Likewise, at the other part of the wall, since the Syracusans had the upper hand, the tyrant's mercenaries were driven together inside the gates on the Island.
ἐπιφανεῖ δὲ μάχῃ νικήσαντες οἱ Συρακόσιοι καὶ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν βεβαίως κτησάμενοι τρόπαιον ἔστησαν κατὰ τοῦ τυράννου.
Having won a victory in a glorious battle and firmly secured their freedom, the Syracusans set up a trophy against the tyrant.

Notes

  1. 16.12.1τῶν δὲ Συρακοσίων κατεσκευακότων — A genitive absolute construction with the subject differing from the main clause. It indicates the background circumstance or state at the moment the mercenaries attacked, meaning that the Syracusans had already completed the construction of the cross-wall.
  2. 16.12.2ἐν σταδίῳ γὰρ ὥσπερ, τῷ ὀλίγῳ δὴ διαστήματι — Literally 'as if in a stadium.' The comparative phrase `ἐν σταδίῳ ὥσπερ` is in apposition to `τῷ ὀλίγῳ δὴ διαστήματι` (the very small interval of the wall). Combined with the genitive absolute `μάχης οὔσης`, it explains that the fight took place in a restricted space resembling an arena, which forced a large number of troops to pack into a confined area.
  3. 16.12.3πάσας τὰς πληγὰς ἐναντίας λαμβάνοντες — The adjective `ἐναντίας` (facing, opposite) is used predicatively with `πληγὰς` (wounds). It means that they received all their wounds on the front of their bodies, a classical idiom signifying that they did not flee but faced the enemy bravely in battle.
  4. 16.12.4παρʼ ὀλίγον — An idiomatic phrase consisting of the preposition `παρά` with the accusative, meaning 'almost' or 'by a narrow margin.' It modifies the main verb `ὑποχείριος ἐγένετο` (became subject/captured) to emphasize how close Dion came to being captured by the enemy.

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §16.12.1-16.12.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc4:16.12.1-16.12.5

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