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Polybius · The Histories §21.6.1-21.6.7

Unrest in Phocaea and the Advance of Seleucus

Passage 966 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Unrest breaks out in Phocaea over Roman billeting, prompting the magistrates to send envoys to Seleucus requesting him to keep his distance. Learning of the internal chaos and grain shortage, Seleucus ignores the envoys and advances, met only by pleading priests.

§21.6.1οἱ δὲ Φωκαιεῖς, τὰ μὲν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπολειφθέντων Ῥωμαίων ἐν ταῖς ναυσὶν ἐπισταθμευόμενοι, τὰ δὲ τὰς ἐπιταγὰς δυσχερῶς φέροντες, ἐστασίαζον. — §21.6.2ὅτι κατὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους οἱ τῶν Φωκαιέων ἄρχοντες, δεδιότες τάς τε τῶν πολλῶν ὁρμὰς διὰ τὴν σιτοδείαν καὶ τὴν τῶν Ἀντιοχιστῶν φιλοτιμίαν, ἐξέπεμψαν πρεσβευτὰς πρὸς Σέλευκον, ὄντα πρὸς τοῖς ὅροις τῆς χώρας αὐτῶν, §21.6.3ἀξιοῦντες μὴ πελάζειν τῆς πόλεως, ὅτι πρόκειται σφίσι τὴν ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν καὶ καραδοκεῖν τὴν τῶν ὅλων κρίσιν, μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πειθαρχεῖν τοῖς εἰρημένοις.
On the one hand, the Phocaeans, being subjected to billeting by the Romans left behind in their ships, and on the other hand, bearing their demands with difficulty, were in a state of sedition. — At the same same time, the magistrates of the Phocaeans, fearing both the impulses of the multitude due to the scarcity of corn and the ambition of the partisans of Antiochus, sent envoys to Seleucus, who was at the borders of their territory, requesting him not to approach the city, because it was their purpose to remain quiet and wait for the decision of the whole issue, and after this to obey the victors.
§21.6.4ἦσαν δὲ τῶν πρεσβευτῶν ἴδιοι μὲν τοῦ Σελεύκου καὶ ταύτης τῆς ὑποθέσεως Ἀρίσταρχος καὶ Κάσσανδρος καὶ Ῥόδων, ἐναντίοι δὲ καὶ πρὸς Ῥωμαίους ἀπονενευκότες Ἡγίας καὶ Γελίας.
Of the envoys, Aristarchus, Cassander, and Rhodon were friendly to Seleucus and supportive of this policy, while Hegias and Gelias were opposed to it and leaned towards the Romans.
§21.6.5ὧν συμμιξάντων ὁ Σέλευκος εὐθέως τοὺς μὲν περὶ τὸν Ἀρίσταρχον ἀνὰ χεῖρας εἶχε, τοὺς δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἡγίαν παρεώρα.
When they met, Seleucus immediately welcomed Aristarchus and his colleagues, but ignored Hegias and his group.
§21.6.6πυθόμενος δὲ τὴν ὁρμὴν τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὴν σπάνιν τοῦ σίτου, παρεὶς τὸν χρηματισμὸν καὶ τὴν ἔντευξιν τῶν παραγεγονότων προῆγε πρὸς τὴν πόλιν. — §21.6.7ἐξελθόντες μὲν Γάλλοι δύο μετὰ τύπων καὶ προστηθιδίων ἐδέοντο μηδὲν ἀνήκεστον βουλεύεσθαι περὶ τῆς πόλεως. —
But hearing of the impulse of the multitude and the scarcity of corn, he set aside his business and the interview with the newcomers, and advanced towards the city. — Two Galli came out with images and pectorals, begging him not to take any desperate measures against the city. —

Notes

  1. 21.6.1ἐπισταθμευόμενοι — Passive participle, with the preceding agent expressed by `ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπολειφθέντων Ῥωμαίων` ('by the Romans left behind'). It describes the historical and military practice of billeting or quartering troops.
  2. 21.6.3τοῖς εἰρημένοις — Dative complement of the verb `πειθαρχεῖν` ('to obey'). Literally 'the things said', referring to the orders that would be given by the victors or, contextually, the victors themselves once the overall issue was decided.
  3. 21.6.4ἴδιοι μὲν τοῦ Σελεύκου — The adjective `ἴδιος` ('devoted to, friendly to') takes the genitive `τοῦ Σελεύκου`, meaning 'friendly to Seleucus'. This stands in contrast to the adjective `ἐναντίοι` ('opponents') which describes `Ἡγίας` and `Γελίας`.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §21.6.1-21.6.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.6.1-21.6.7

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