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Polybius · The Histories §2.1.1-2.1.9

Summary of Book 1 and Hamilcar's Iberian Campaign

Passage 89 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

After summarizing the contents of the previous book, including the First Punic War and the Libyan War, the author introduces the continuation of the history, starting with Hamilcar Barca's expedition to Iberia, his death, and the succession of Hasdrubal to the command.

§2.1.1ἐν μὲν τῇ πρὸ ταύτης βύβλῳ διεσαφήσαμεν πότε Ῥωμαῖοι συστησάμενοι τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰταλίαν τοῖς ἐκτὸς ἐγχειρεῖν ἤρξαντο πράγμασιν, ἐπὶ δὲ τούτοις πῶς εἰς Σικελίαν διέβησαν καὶ διʼ ἃς αἰτίας τὸν περὶ τῆς προειρημένης νήσου συνεστήσαντο πόλεμον πρὸς Καρχηδονίους, §2.1.2μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πότε πρῶτον συνίστασθαι ναυτικὰς ἤρξαντο δυνάμεις, καὶ τὰ συμβάντα κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον ἑκατέροις ἕως τοῦ τέλους, ἐν ᾧ Καρχηδόνιοι μὲν ἐξεχώρησαν πάσης Σικελίας, Ῥωμαῖοι δʼ ἐπεκράτησαν τῆς ὅλης νήσου πλὴν τῶν ὑφʼ Ἱέρωνι ταττομένων μερῶν.
In the preceding book we made clear at what time the Romans, having settled the affairs of Italy, began to lay their hands on foreign affairs, and after this, how they crossed over into Sicily, and for what reasons they entered upon the war against the Carthaginians concerning the aforementioned island, and after this, when they first began to construct naval forces, and the events which befell both sides during the war until its end, in which the Carthaginians evacuated all Sicily, while the Romans obtained mastery over the whole island except for the parts subject to Hiero.
§2.1.3ἑξῆς δὲ τούτοις ἐπεβαλόμεθα λέγειν πῶς στασιάσαντες οἱ μισθοφόροι πρὸς τοὺς Καρχηδονίους τὸν προσαγορευθέντα Λιβυκὸν πόλεμον ἐξέκαυσαν, καὶ τὰ συμβάντα κατὰ τοῦτον ἀσεβήματα μέχρι τίνος προύβη, καὶ τίνα διέξοδον ἔλαβεν τὰ παράλογα τῶν ἔργων ἕως τοῦ τέλους καὶ τῆς Καρχηδονίων ἐπικρατείας.
Next to these things, we undertook to tell how the mercenaries, having revolted against the Carthaginians, kindled the so-called Libyan War, and how far the outrages committed during this war proceeded, and what issue those unexpected deeds had, up to the end and the victory of the Carthaginians.
§2.1.4νυνὶ δὲ τὰ συνεχῆ τούτοις πειρασόμεθα δηλοῦν, κεφαλαιωδῶς ἑκάστων ἐπιψαύοντες κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς πρόθεσιν.
But now we shall attempt to set forth the events continuous with these, touching on each point in a summary fashion according to our original plan.
§2.1.5Καρχηδόνιοι γὰρ ὡς θᾶττον κατεστήσαντο τὰ κατὰ τὴν Λιβύην, εὐθέως Ἀμίλκαν ἐξαπέστελλον, δυνάμεις συστήσαντες, εἰς τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἰβηρίαν τόπους.
For as soon as the Carthaginians had settled the affairs of Libya, they immediately dispatched Hamilcar, having organized forces, to the regions of Iberia.
§2.1.6ὁ δʼ ἀναλαβὼν τὰ στρατόπεδα καὶ τὸν υἱὸν Ἀννίβαν, ὄντα τότε κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν ἐτῶν ἐννέα, καὶ διαβὰς κατὰ τὰς Ἡρακλέους στήλας ἀνεκτᾶτο τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰβηρίαν πράγματα τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις.
And he, taking with him the army and his son Hannibal, who was then nine years of age, and having crossed by the Pillars of Heracles, restored the Carthaginian fortunes in Iberia.
§2.1.7διατρίψας δʼ ἐν τοῖς τόποις τούτοις ἔτη σχεδὸν ἐννέα καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν πολέμῳ, πολλοὺς δὲ πειθοῖ ποιήσας Ἰβήρων ὑπηκόους Καρχηδόνι κατέστρεψε τὸν βίον ἀξίως τῶν προγεγενημένων πράξεων.
Having spent nearly nine years in these regions, and having made many of the Iberians, some by war and others by persuasion, subjects to Carthage, he ended his life in a manner worthy of his past achievements.
§2.1.8πρὸς γὰρ τοὺς ἀνδρωδεστάτους καὶ μεγίστην δύναμιν ἔχοντας παραταττόμενος καὶ χρώμενος τολμηρῶς καὶ παραβόλως ἑαυτῷ κατὰ τὸν τοῦ κινδύνου καιρὸν ἐρρωμένως τὸν βίον μετήλλαξεν.
For, drawing up his battle line against the bravest and most powerful enemies, and exposing himself boldly and recklessly in the moment of danger, he vigorously met his end.
§2.1.9τὴν δὲ στρατηγίαν οἱ Καρχηδόνιοι παρέδοσαν Ἀσδρούβᾳ, τῷ ʼκείνου κηδεστῇ καὶ τριηράρχῳ.
And the Carthaginians handed over the command to Hasdrubal, his son-in-law and naval commander.

Notes

  1. 2.1.2ἐν ᾧ — The antecedent is 'the end' (τὸ τέλος) in the immediate context, forming a relative clause meaning 'in which end' or 'whereby'.
  2. 2.1.7ποιήσας Ἰβήρων ὑπηκόους Καρχηδόνι — The dative of the proper noun `Καρχηδόνι` is governed by the adjective/noun `ὑπήκοος` (subject to), indicating the authority to which they were made subject ('made them subjects to Carthage').
  3. 2.1.8χρώμενος ... ἑαυτῷ — The verb `χράομαι` (to use) combined with the reflexive pronoun in the dative `ἑαυτῷ` means 'using oneself (boldly and recklessly)', which is an idiomatic expression for 'exposing oneself to danger'.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §2.1.1-2.1.9. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.1.1-2.1.9

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