Polybius · The Histories §21.7.1-21.7.7

Rhodian Fire-Carriers and the Appointment of Pamphilidas

Passage 967 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The structure of the tactical fire-carrier used by the Rhodian navy is described, followed by a discussion on how the more stable Pamphilidas was deemed more fit for command than Pausistratus, illustrating how the multitude changes their judgments based on results rather than reason.

§21.7.1πυρφόρος, ᾧ ἐχρήσατο Παυσίστρατος ὁ τῶν Ῥοδίων ναύαρχος.

A "fire-carrier," which Pausistratus, the admiral of the Rhodians, used.

§21.7.2ἦν δὲ κημός· ἐξ ἑκατέρου δὲ τοῦ μέρους τῆς πρώρρας ἀγκύλαι δύο παρέκειντο παρὰ τὴν ἐντὸς ἐπιφάνειαν τῶν τοίχων, εἰς ἃς ἐνηρμόζοντο κοντοὶ προτείνοντες τοῖς κέρασιν εἰς θάλατταν.

It was a fire-basket; and on each side of the prow, two brackets were fixed along the inner surface of the sides, into which were fitted poles projecting with their ends into the sea.

§21.7.3ἐπὶ δὲ τὸ τούτων ἄκρον ὁ κημὸς ἁλύσει σιδηρᾷ προσήρτητο πλήρης πυρός, §21.7.4ὥστε κατὰ τὰς ἐμβολὰς καὶ παραβολὰς εἰς μὲν τὴν πολεμίαν ναῦν ἐκτινάττεσθαι πῦρ, ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς οἰκείας πολὺν ἀφεστάναι τόπον διὰ τὴν ἔγκλισιν. — §21.7.5ὅτι Παμφιλίδας ὁ τῶν Ῥοδίων ναύαρχος ἐδόκει πρὸς πάντας τοὺς καιροὺς εὐαρμοστότερος εἶναι τοῦ Παυσιστράτου διὰ τὸ βαθύτερος τῇ φύσει καὶ στασιμώτερος μᾶλλον ἢ τολμηρότερος ὑπάρχειν.

And on the end of these poles, the fire-basket, full of fire, was suspended by an iron chain, so that during collisions and boardings, fire was discharged into the enemy's ship, while it was kept at a great distance from their own ship because of the outward slope. — Pamphilidas, the admiral of the Rhodians, was thought to be better adapted for all emergencies than Pausistratus, because he was by nature deeper in character and stable rather than daring.

§21.7.6ἀγαθοὶ γὰρ οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἐκ τῶν κατὰ λόγον, ἀλλʼ ἐκ τῶν συμβαινόντων ποιεῖσθαι τὰς διαλήψεις.

For most people are apt to form their judgments not from rational grounds, but from actual results.

§21.7.7ἄρτι γὰρ διʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτο προκεχειρισμένοι τὸν Παυσίστρατον, διὰ τὸ πρᾶξιν ἔχειν τινὰ καὶ τόλμαν, παραχρῆμα μετέπιπτον εἰς τἀναντία ταῖς γνώμαις διὰ τὴν περιπέτειαν. —

For having just before chosen Pausistratus for this very reason, because he possessed practical ability and daring, they immediately changed to the opposite opinion because of the sudden reverse of fortune. —

Notes

21.7.2κέρασιν — The dative plural of the noun κέρας ("horn", "extremity", "wing"), used metaphorically here to denote the "tips" or "ends" of the projecting poles. It is in the dative plural to agree with the plural poles (κοντοί).
21.7.4ὥστε — A conjunction introducing a result clause. The subjects of the subsequent infinitives, `ἐκτινάττεσθαι` (present passive) and `ἀφεστάναι` (perfect active with intransitive meaning "to be distant"), are both `πῦρ` ("fire").
21.7.6ἀγαθοὶ... ποιεῖσθαι — The adjective `ἀγαθοί` (nominative plural) is followed by the infinitive `ποιεῖσθαι` (limiting infinitive or infinitive of relation), expressing the meaning "adept at making" or "prone to make." The subject is `οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων`.
21.7.7προκεχειρισμένοι — The perfect middle/passive participle (nominative masculine plural) of προχειρίζομαι ("to choose", "to elect"). It agrees with the implied subject (the people) of the main verb `μετέπιπτον` and carries a concessive force ("although they had chosen").

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §21.7.1-21.7.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.7.1-21.7.7

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