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Polybius · The Histories §28.11.1-28.11.3

Roman Capture of Heracleum Using the Tiled-Roof Formation

Passage 1103 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

This passage describes how the Romans captured Heracleum using a unique tactical formation resembling a sloping tiled roof, which they typically practiced as a sport.

§28.11.1τὸ Ἡράκλειον ἥλω ἰδίαν τινὰ ἅλωσιν.
Heracleum was captured in a peculiar manner.
ἐχούσης τῆς πόλεως ἐφʼ ἑνὸς μέρους ἐπʼ ὀλίγον τόπον ταπεινὸν τεῖχος, οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι τρεῖς σημείας προεχειρίσαντο.
Since the city had a low wall at one point for a short distance, the Romans prepared three companies.
§28.11.2καὶ τῇ μὲν πρώτῃ τοὺς θυρεοὺς ὑπὲρ τῆς κεφαλῆς ποιήσαντες συνέφραξαν, ὥστε τῇ τῶν ὅπλων πυκνότητι κεραμωτῷ καταρρύτῳ γίνεσθαι παραπλήσιον.
And making those of the first company hold their shields over their heads, they locked them together, so that, owing to the density of the weapons, it became very like a sloping tiled roof.
ἐφεξῆς δʼ ἕτεραι δύο — Κεραμωτόν, τακτικὴ διάταξις·
Next, two other companies— "Keramoton": a tactical formation.
§28.11.3ὅπερ ἐποίουν Ῥωμαῖοι ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει.
which the Romans used to practice as a kind of sport.

Notes

  1. §28.11.1ἰδίαν τινὰ ἅλωσιν — Cognate accusative. The noun ἅλωσις (capture) is used in the accusative with the verb ἥλω (was captured, active in form but passive in meaning) to specify the particular manner or mode of the capture.
  2. §28.11.2ὥστε ... γίνεσθαι — An infinitive construction in a consecutive ὥστε clause, expressing the natural or actual result of the action described in the main clause. The subject of γίνεσθαι is impersonal (meaning 'it became') or refers to the collective structure of the shields.
  3. §28.11.3ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει — The idiom ἐν ... μέρει means 'in the character of,' 'by way of,' or 'in the category of.' Here, ἐν παιδιᾶς μέρει functions as 'by way of amusement' or 'as a kind of sport/exercise' rather than in actual combat.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §28.11.1-28.11.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:28.11.1-28.11.3

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