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Arrian · Periplus of the Euxine Sea §17.1-17.3

Distance to Dioscurias and the Bosporan Route

Passage 17 of 25 · Greek

Summary

The total distance from Trapezus to Dioscurias is given, marking the boundary of Roman dominion. Following the news of the death of King Cotys of the Bosporus, the author decides to outline the route to the Bosporus to assist the Emperor's future deliberations.

§17.1τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ Τραπεζοῦντος διαστήματα μέχρι Διοσκουριάδος προείρηται διὰ τῶν ποταμῶν ἀναμετρηθέντα.
The distances from Trapezus to Dioscurias have already been mentioned, having been measured by means of the rivers.
ἀθροίζονται δὲ ἀπὸ Τραπεζοῦντος ἐς Διοσκουριάδα, τὴν νῦν Σεβαστόπολιν καλουμένην, στάδιοι δισχίλιοι διακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα.
And the total from Trapezus to Dioscurias, which is now called Sebastopolis, is two thousand two hundred and sixty stades.
§17.2τάδε μὲν τὰ ἀπὸ Βυζαντίου πλεόντων ἐν δεξιᾶ ὡς ἐπὶ Διοσκουριάδα, ἐς ὅπερ στρατόπεδον τελευτᾷ Ῥωμαίοις ἡ ἐπικράτεια ἐν δεξιᾷ ἐσπλεόντων §17.3ἐς τὸν Πόντον.
These are the distances for those sailing from Byzantium on the right hand towards Dioscurias, at which military post the dominion of the Romans ends, for those sailing on the right into the Pontus.
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐπυθόμην Κότυν τετελευτηκέναι, τὸν βασιλέα τοῦ Βοσπόρου τοῦ Κιμμερίου καλουμένου ἐπιμελὲς ἐποιησάμην καὶ τὸν μέχρι τοῦ Βοσπόρου πλοῦν δηλῶσαί σοι, ὡς, εἴ τι βουλεύοιο περὶ τοῦ Βοσπόρου, ὑπάρχει σοι καὶ τόνδε τὸν πλοῦν μὴ ἀγνοοῦντι βουλεύεσθαι.
But since I have learned that Cotys, the king of the Bosporus called Cimmerian, has died, I made it my care also to show you the voyage as far as the Bosporus, so that, if you should deliberate anything concerning the Bosporus, you may do so with full knowledge of this voyage as well.

Notes

  1. 17.1ἀναμετρηθέντα — Neuter plural nominative passive participle, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the subject `τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ Τραπεζοῦντος διαστήματα` (neuter plural), modifying the verb `προείρηται` to mean 'having been measured out, they have already been mentioned.'
  2. 17.2πλεόντων — Genitive masculine plural of the present participle of `πλέω`. It is used substantively without a specific antecedent, functioning as a genitive of reference ('for those who sail'). The later participle `ἐσπλεόντων` shares the same construction.
  3. 17.2ἐς ὅπερ στρατόπεδον — A relative attraction/incorporation where the antecedent `στρατόπεδον` (camp/military post) is drawn into the relative clause with `ὅσπερ`. It translates literally as 'into which very camp...'.
  4. 17.3ὑπάρχει σοι καὶ τόνδε τὸν πλοῦν μὴ ἀγνοοῦντι βουλεύεσθαι — An impersonal construction with `ὑπάρχει` ('it is open/possible for someone') taking the dative `σοι` ('for you') and the infinitive `βουλεύεσθαι` ('to deliberate'). The participle `μὴ ἀγνοοῦντι` ('not being ignorant') agrees with the dative `σοι`.

Cite this passage

Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea §17.1-17.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0074.tlg004.humanitext-grc2:17.1-17.3

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