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Polybius · The Histories §2.10.1-2.10.9

The Battle of Paxi and the Surrender of Corcyra

Passage 98 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The combined Achaean and Acarnanian fleet clashes with the Illyrians near Paxi, but the Achaeans are defeated due to the Illyrians' unique ship-coupling tactic. Consequently, Corcyra surrenders, and the Illyrians proceed to besiege Epidamnus again.

§2.10.1κύρας, ἐλπίζοντες λύσειν τὴν πολιορκίαν.
cyra, hoping to raise the siege.
οἱ δʼ Ἰλλυριοὶ συμπαραλαβόντες Ἀκαρνάνων ναῦς κατὰ τὴν συμμαχίαν, οὔσας ἑπτὰ καταφράκτους, ἀνταναχθέντες συνέβαλλον τοῖς τῶν Ἀχαιῶν σκάφεσιν περὶ τοὺς καλουμένους Παξούς.
But the Illyrians, having taken with them the ships of the Acarnanians according to their alliance, which were seven decked vessels, put out to sea and engaged the ships of the Achaeans near the so-called Paxi.
§2.10.2οἱ μὲν οὖν Ἀκαρνᾶνες καὶ τῶν Ἀχαϊκῶν νεῶν αἱ κατὰ τούτους ταχθεῖσαι πάρισον ἐποίουν τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ διέμενον ἀκέραιοι κατὰ τὰς συμπλοκὰς πλὴν τῶν εἰς αὐτοὺς τοὺς ἄνδρας γινομένων τραυμάτων.
Now the Acarnanians and those Achaean ships stationed against them made the contest equal and remained undamaged in their encounters, except for the wounds inflicted upon the men themselves.
§2.10.3οἱ δʼ Ἰλλυριοὶ ζεύξαντες τοὺς παρʼ αὑτῶν λέμβους ἀνὰ τέτταρας συνεπλέκοντο τοῖς πολεμίοις.
But the Illyrians, having lashed their own light boats in groups of four, engaged the enemy.
καὶ τῶν μὲν ἰδίων ὠλιγώρουν καὶ παραβάλλοντες πλαγίους συνήργουν ταῖς ἐμβολαῖς τῶν ὑπεναντίων.
They disregarded their own vessels, and presenting them broadside-on, they actively aided the rams of their opponents.
§2.10.4ὅτε δὲ τρώσαντα καὶ δεθέντα κατὰ τὰς ἐμβολὰς δυσχρήστως διέκειτο πρὸς τὸ παρὸν τὰ τῶν ἀντιπάλων σκάφη, προσκρεμαμένων αὐτοῖς περὶ τοὺς ἐμβόλους τῶν ἐζευγμένων λέμβων, τότʼ ἐπιπηδῶντες ἐπὶ τὰ καταστρώματα τῶν Ἀχαϊκῶν νεῶν κατεκράτουν διὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἐπιβατῶν.
And when the opponents' ships, having been damaged and bound fast during the collisions, were in a helpless state for the moment, because the lashed boats were hanging on to them around their rams, then they, leaping onto the decks of the Achaean ships, became masters of them owing to the number of their combatants.
§2.10.5καὶ τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ τεττάρων μὲν πλοίων ἐκυρίευσαν τετρηρικῶν, μίαν δὲ πεντήρη σὺν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἐβύθισαν, ἐφʼ ἧς ἔπλει Μάργος ὁ Καρυνεύς, ἀνὴρ πάντα τὰ δίκαια τῷ κοινῷ τῶν Ἀχαιῶν πολιτεύματι πεποιηκὼς μέχρι τῆς καταστροφῆς.
In this manner they captured four quadriremes, and sank one quinquereme together with its men, on which sailed Margus of Caryneia, a man who until his end had performed all his duties toward the common state of the Achaeans.
§2.10.6οἱ δὲ πρὸς τοὺς Ἀκαρνᾶνας διαγωνιζόμενοι, συνιδόντες τὸ κατὰ τοὺς Ἰλλυριοὺς προτέρημα καὶ πιστεύοντες τῷ ταχυναυτεῖν, ἐπουρώσαντες ἀσφαλῶς τὴν ἀποχώρησιν εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν ἐποιήσαντο.
But those who were fighting against the Acarnanians, perceiving the advantage of the Illyrians and trusting in the speed of their sailing, set their sails to the wind and safely made their retreat to their own country.
§2.10.7τὸ δὲ τῶν Ἰλλυριῶν πλῆθος φρονηματισθὲν ἐπὶ τῷ προτερήματι λοιπὸν ἤδη ῥᾳδίως ἐχρήσατο τῇ πολιορκίᾳ καὶ τεθαρρηκότως.
The multitude of the Illyrians, being elated by their success, henceforth conducted the siege of the city with ease and confidence.
§2.10.8οἱ δὲ Κερκυραῖοι δυσελπιστήσαντες τοῖς ὅλοις ἐκ τῶν συμβεβηκότων, βραχὺν ἔτι χρόνον ὑπομείναντες τὴν πολιορκίαν συνέθεντο τοῖς Ἰλλυριοῖς καὶ παρεδέξαντο φρουρὰν καὶ μετὰ τῆς φρουρᾶς Δημήτριον τὸν Φάριον.
And the Corcyreans, despairing of their whole situation from what had happened, after enduring the siege for a short time longer, came to terms with the Illyrians, and received a garrison, and along with the garrison Demetrius of Pharos.
§2.10.9τούτων δὲ πραχθέντων εὐθέως οἱ τῶν Ἰλλυριῶν προεστῶτες ἀνήγοντο· καὶ κατάραντες εἰς τὴν Ἐπίδαμνον ταύτην πάλιν ἐπεβάλοντο πολιορκεῖν τὴν πόλιν.
When these things had been accomplished, the commanders of the Illyrians immediately put to sea; and having touched at Epidamnus, they set about besieging this city again.

Notes

  1. §2.10.1κύρας — Combined with `Κερ` at the end of the previous chunk, it forms the proper noun `Κερκύρας` (Corcyra). This shows that milestones or chunk breaks can occur in the middle of a single word.
  2. §2.10.3παραβάλλοντες πλαγίους — The adjective `πλαγίους` is used predicatively, agreeing with `λέμβους` (masculine plural accusative), meaning 'broadside-on.' The participle `παραβάλλοντες` is used intransitively in the sense of 'drawing near' or 'presenting.'
  3. §2.10.3συνήργουν ταῖς ἐμβολαῖς τῶν ὑπεναντίων — Meaning 'they actively aided the rams of their opponents.' By intentionally letting their own boats be rammed, they aimed to immobilize the enemy ships.
  4. §2.10.4τρώσαντα καὶ δεθέντα — Both participles (the former is aorist active of `τιτρώσκω`, the latter is aorist passive of `δέω`) are neuter plural, agreeing with the subject `τὰ σκάφη` (neuter plural). Note that `τρώσαντα`, despite being active in form, functions in an intransitive or passive sense ('having suffered damage') in this context.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §2.10.1-2.10.9. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.10.1-2.10.9

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