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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §18.32.1-18.32.4

Surrender and Flight of the Phalanx and Eumenes' Renown

Passage 33 of 301 · Greek

Summary

Eumenes' victory is secured after he slays Neoptolemus, prompting the defeated infantry to surrender under oath, though they soon betray him by escaping at night. Due to his wounds, Eumenes calls off the pursuit but earns immense glory for defeating two renowned generals.

§18.32.1ἅμα δὲ τούτοις πραττομἐνοις καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν πλῆθος τῶν ἱππέων συμπεσὸν εἰς μάχην πολὺν ἐποίει φόνον.
At the same time that these things were taking place, the remaining multitude of the cavalry also, clashing in battle, caused a great slaughter.
διὸ καὶ τῶν μὲν πιπτόντων, τῶν δὲ τραυματιζομένων τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἰσόρροπος ἦν ὁ κίνδυνος, μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ φανερᾶς γενομένης τῆς τοῦ Νεοπτολέμου τελευτῆς καὶ τῆς ἐπὶ θατέρου κέρατος τροπῆς ἅπαντες πρὸς φυγὴν ὥρμησαν καὶ καθάπερ πρὸς τεῖχος ὀχυρὸν πρὸς τὴν τῶν πεζῶν φάλαγγα κατέφυγον.
Therefore, while some were falling and others were being wounded, at first the danger was equally balanced, but after this, when the death of Neoptolemus and the rout on the other wing became manifest, they all turned to flight and fled for refuge to the phalanx of the infantry as if to a strong wall.
§18.32.2ὁ δʼ Εὐμενὴς ἀρκεσθεὶς τῷ προτερήματι καὶ τῶν στρατηγικῶν σωμάτων ἀμφοτέρων κυριεύσας ἀνεκαλέσατο τῇ σάλπιγγι τοὺς στρατιώτας.
Eumenes, satisfied with his advantage and having gotten possession of the bodies of both generals, recalled his soldiers with the trumpet.
στήσας δὲ τρόπαιον καὶ τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψας διεπέμψατο πρὸς τὴν τῶν ἡττημένων φάλαγγα, παρακαλῶν ἑαυτῷ προσθέσθαι καὶ διδοὺς ἐξουσίαν ἑκάστοις ὅποι βούλονται τὴν ἀποχώρησιν ποιήσασθαι.
After erecting a trophy and burying the dead, he sent messengers to the phalanx of the defeated, urging them to join him and giving permission to each to make their retreat wherever they wished.
§18.32.3δεξαμένων δὲ τὰς διαλύσεις τῶν Μακεδόνων καὶ δόντων τὰς διὰ τῶν ὅρκων πίστεις ἔλαβον ἐξουσίαν ἔν τισι κώμαις πλησίον κειμέναις ἐπισιτίσασθαι καὶ παρεκρούσαντο τὸν Εὐμενῆ· ἀναλαβόντες γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τὰς τροφὰς παρασκευασάμενοι νυκτὸς ἀπηλλάγησαν καὶ λαθραίως ἀπεχώρουν πρὸς τὸν Ἀντίπατρον.
When the Macedonians accepted the terms of settlement and gave their pledges by oath, they received permission to provision themselves in certain nearby villages, and they deceived Eumenes; for having recovered themselves and prepared their provisions, they departed by night and retreated secretly to Antipater.
§18.32.4ὁ δʼ Εὐμενὴς ἐπεβάλετο μὲν κολάσαι τὴν ἀθεσίαν τῶν παραβεβηκότων τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ διώκειν ἐκ ποδῶν τὴν φάλαγγα, οὐδὲν δὲ δυνάμενος πρᾶξαι διά τε τὰς ἀρετὰς τῶν ἀποχωρούντων καὶ διὰ τὴν ἐκ τῶν τραυμάτων ἐλάττωσιν ἀπέγνω τὸν διωγμόν.
Eumenes undertook to punish the treachery of those who had violated their oaths and to pursue the phalanx immediately on their heels, but being unable to accomplish anything because of both the prowess of those retreating and the physical disability resulting from his wounds, he gave up the pursuit.
οὗτος μὲν οὖν ἐπιφανεῖ μάχῃ νικήσας καὶ δύο μεγάλους ἡγεμόνας ἀνελὼν μεγάλης ἔτυχε δόξης.
Thus, having conquered in a brilliant battle and slain two great leaders, he achieved great glory.

Notes

  1. 18.32.2τῶν στρατηγικῶν σωμάτων ἀμφοτέρων — The noun σῶμα can mean "body" (corpse) or "force/corps" (of troops). Given the context where Eumenes has just slain the opposing generals Neoptolemus and Craterus, "the bodies of both generals" is the most historically and contextually appropriate interpretation. While "the military units of both generals" is grammatically possible, the subsequent separate negotiations with the defeated phalanx support the reference to the physical corpses of the commanders.
  2. 18.32.4ἐκ τῶν τραυμάτων ἐλάττωσιν — The phrase ἐκ τῶν τραυμάτων ἐλάττωσιν (weakening from wounds) can be interpreted either as "the reduction of his own army's strength due to casualties" or as "Eumenes' own physical disability resulting from his wounds." Since the participle δυνάμενος (being able) has Eumenes as its subject, and the preceding chapter highlighted his suffering three wounds to his arm and thighs, the latter interpretation (Eumenes' personal physical impediment) provides a more cohesive and natural reading.
  3. 18.32.4ἐκ ποδῶν — The prepositional phrase ἐκ ποδῶν, literally "from the feet," functions idiomatically in the context of pursuit to mean "immediately," "hotly on their heels," or "without delay."

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §18.32.1-18.32.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:18.32.1-18.32.4

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