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Diodorus Siculus · Bibliotheca Historica §19.7.1-19.7.4

Massacre and Plunder of Syracuse by Agathocles' Soldiers

Passage 84 of 301 · Greek

Summary

The attack ordered by Agathocles escalates into general plunder and slaughter of the citizens, describing a horrific state of lawlessness where even refugees in temples are not spared.

§19.7.1διαληφθέντων δὲ τῶν στενωπῶν κατὰ μέρος ὑπὸ τῶν στρατιωτῶν οἱ μὲν κατὰ τὰς ὁδούς, οἱ δʼ ἐν ταῖς οἰκίαις ἐφονεύοντο.
And when the narrow streets had been occupied in parts by the soldiers, some were slaughtered in the streets, and others in their houses.
πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τῶν μηδʼ ὁτιοῦν διαβεβλημένων ἀνῃροῦντο, δεόμενοι μαθεῖν τὴν αἰτίαν τῆς ἀπωλείας.
And many even of those who were not accused of anything at all were killed, begging to learn the cause of their destruction.
καθωπλισμένον γὰρ πλῆθος ἐξουσίαν προσλαβὸν οὐ διέκρινε φίλον ἢ πολέμιον, ἀλλὰ παρʼ οὗ πλέον ὠφεληθήσεσθαι διειλήφει, τοῦτον ἐχθρὸν ἡγεῖτο.
For an armed multitude, having obtained authority, did not distinguish friend or enemy, but whoever they had assumed they would profit from more, this person they considered an enemy.
§19.7.2διὸ καὶ παρῆν ὁρᾶν πᾶσαν τὴν πόλιν πεπληρωμένην ὕβρεως καὶ φόνων καὶ παντοίων ἀνομημάτων.
Therefore, it was possible to see the entire city filled with outrage, murder, and all kinds of lawless acts.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τὰς προϋπαρχούσας ἔχθρας οὐδεμιᾶς ἐπηρείας ἀπείχοντο κατὰ τῶν μισουμένων, ἔχοντες ἐξουσίαν διατιθέναι πᾶν τὸ κεχαρισμένον τῷ θυμῷ· οἱ δὲ ταῖς τῶν εὐπόρων σφαγαῖς οἰόμενοι τὰς ἰδίας ἀπορίας ἐπανορθώσασθαι πᾶν ἐμηχανῶντο πρὸς τὸν κατʼ αὐτῶν ὄλεθρον.
For some, because of pre-existing enmities, refrained from no insult against those they hated, having the power to inflict everything that was pleasing to their anger; while others, thinking to remedy their own poverty by the slaughter of the wealthy, devised every means for their destruction.
§19.7.3οἱ μὲν γὰρ τὰς αὐλίους θύρας ἐξέκοπτον, οἱ δὲ διὰ κλιμάκων ἐπὶ τὰς ὀροφὰς προσανέβαινον, ἄλλοι δὲ διηγωνίζοντο πρὸς τοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν στεγῶν ἀμυνομένους.
For some were breaking down the street doors, others were climbing up to the roofs by means of ladders, and others were fighting to the end against those defending themselves from the roofs.
οὐ μὴν οὐδὲ τοῖς εἰς τὰ τεμένη καταφυγοῦσιν ἡ τῶν θεῶν ἱκετεία παρείχετο τὴν ἀσφάλειαν, ἀλλʼ ἡ πρὸς θεοὺς εὐσέβεια ἐνικᾶτο πρὸς ἀνθρώπων.
Yet not even to those who had fled to the sanctuaries did supplication of the gods afford safety, but piety toward the gods was overcome by men.
§19.7.4καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐτόλμων ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ πατρίδι παρανομεῖν Ἕλληνες καθʼ Ἑλλήνων, οἰκεῖοι κατὰ συγγενῶν, οὐ φύσιν, οὐ σπονδάς, οὐ θεοὺς ἐντρεπόμενοι, ἐφʼ οἷς οὐχ ὅτι φίλος, ἀλλὰ καὶ παντελῶς ἐχθρός, μέτριός γε τὴν ψυχήν, οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις
And these lawless deeds they dared to commit in peace and in their native land, Greeks against Greeks, kinsmen against relatives, paying no regard to nature, treaties, or the gods, at which deeds not only a friend, but even a complete enemy, provided he were moderate in soul, there is no one who [would not have felt pity].

Notes

  1. 19.7.1παρʼ οὗ πλέον ὠφεληθήσεσθαι διειλήφει, τοῦτον ἐχθρὸν ἡγεῖτο — The genitive relative pronoun `οὗ` is governed by the preposition `παρά` ('from'), indicating the source of profit for the future passive infinitive `ὠφεληθήσεσθαι` ('would be profited'). The subject of the infinitive is omitted because it is identical to the subject of `διειλήφει` (pluperfect of διαλαμβάνω, 'had assumed/judged'). The antecedent of the relative clause is the subsequent demonstrative `τοῦτον`.
  2. 19.7.4οὐχ ὅτι — The idiomatic expression `οὐχ ὅτι... ἀλλὰ καὶ...` means 'not only... but also...'. Literally meaning 'not that [I say]...', it introduces a strong contrast and emphasis.
  3. 19.7.4οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις — Although the phrase `οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις` regularly means 'there is no one who [does not...]', here the sentence is either left incomplete (aposiopesis) or is highly elliptical, with the main verb (such as 'would have pitied') omitted at the end of the clause.

Cite this passage

Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica §19.7.1-19.7.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0060.tlg001.humanitext-grc6:19.7.1-19.7.4

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