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Polybius · The Histories §24.4.1

Geography of Mount Haemus and View of Both Seas

Passage 1053 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The author describes Mount Haemus near the Pontus as a massive mountain dividing Thrace, and refutes Polybius's claim that both seas can be seen from its summit, citing the vast distance and numerous obstacles.

§24.4.1πρὸς μὲν οὖν τῷ Πόντῳ τὸ Αἷμόν ἐστιν ὄρος, μέγιστον τῶν ταύτῃ καὶ ὑψηλότατον, μέσην πως διαιροῦν τὴν Θρᾴκην·
Now, near the Pontus there is Mount Haemus, the largest and highest of those in that region, dividing Thrace roughly in the middle.
ἀφʼ οὗ φησι Πολύβιος ἀμφοτέρας καθορᾶσθαι τὰς θαλάττας, οὐκ ἀληθῆ λέγων· καὶ γὰρ τὸ διάστημα μέγα τὸ πρὸς τὸν Ἀδρίαν καὶ τὰ ἐπισκοτοῦντα πολλά.
From this mountain Polybius says that both seas can be seen, which is not true; for not only is the distance to the Adriatic great, but also the obstacles obscuring the view are many.

Notes

  1. §24.4.1μέσην... τὴν Θρᾴκην — The adjective μέσην is in the predicative position (outside the article τὴν), meaning "Thrace in its middle" (i.e., "dividing Thrace through its middle") rather than "middle Thrace" (which would be τὴν μέσην Θρᾴκην).
  2. §24.4.1καθορᾶσθαι — The present passive (or middle) infinitive. It forms an accusative-and-infinitive construction (indirect speech) dependent on φησι, with the accusative ἀμφοτέρας τὰς θαλάττας functioning as its subject. It means "that both seas (the Pontus and the Adriatic) can be seen."
  3. §24.4.1τὰ ἐπισκοτοῦντα — The substantivized neuter plural participle of ἐπισκοτέω ("to darken" or "to obstruct"), meaning "the things that obscure the view" or "obstacles." It functions as the subject of the predicate adjective πολλά, with the copula ἐστι being omitted.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §24.4.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:24.4.1

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