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Polybius · The Histories §21.9.1-21.9.3

The Military Prowess and Character of Diophanes

Passage 969 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

It describes the excellent military capability and background of Diophanes, as well as his robust physical characteristics and bravery.

§21.9.1ὅτι Διοφάνης ὁ Μεγαλοπολίτης μεγάλην ἕξιν εἶχεν ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς διὰ τὸ πολυχρονίου γεγονότος τοῦ πρὸς Νάβιν πολέμου τοῖς Μεγαλοπολίταις ἀστυγείτονος πάντα συνεχῶς τὸν χρόνον ὑπὸ τὸν Φιλοποίμενα τεταγμένος τριβὴν ἐσχηκέναι τῶν κατὰ πόλεμον ἔργων ἀληθινήν.
Diophanes of Megalopolis possessed great skill in military affairs because, as the war against Nabis, who was a neighbor to the Megalopolitans, lasted for a long time, he had been constantly stationed under Philopoemen and had gained a true practical experience of military operations throughout the whole period.
§21.9.2χωρίς τε τούτων κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ κατὰ τὴν σωματικὴν χρείαν ἦν ὁ προειρημένος ἀνὴρ δυνατὸς καὶ καταπληκτικός.
Apart from these things, in his appearance and physical activity, the aforementioned man was powerful and imposing.
§21.9.3τὸ δὲ κυριώτατον, πρὸς πόλεμον ὑπῆρχεν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ τοῖς ὅπλοις ἐχρῆτο διαφερόντως. —
Most importantly of all, he was a brave man in war and wielded his weapons in an exceptional manner. —

Notes

  1. 21.9.1διὰ τὸ ... τριβὴν ἐσχηκέναι — The preposition διὰ and the articular infinitive τὸ ... ἐσχηκέναι (perfect active infinitive) express causality. Inside this main structure, a long absolute genitive clause (πολυχρονίου γεγονότος...) and a participle clause (τεταγμένος) are inserted, where "Diophanes," the subject of the main clause, acts as the logical subject of τεταγμένος.
  2. 21.9.1τοῖς Μεγαλοπολίταις ἀστυγείτονος — The adjective ἀστυγείτων (neighboring, neighbor) is accompanied by τοῖς Μεγαλοπολίταις as a dative of relation. It qualifies or stands in apposition to "Nabis" in the phrase τοῦ πρὸς Νάβιν πολέμου, meaning "(Nabis) who was a neighbor to the Megalopolitans."

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §21.9.1-21.9.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:21.9.1-21.9.3

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