Polybius · The Histories §29.18.1

Criticism of Perseus Fleeing Battle Under Pretext

Passage 1133 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Criticizes Perseus, the king of the Macedonians, by quoting Polybius, for fleeing in cowardice at the start of the battle under the pretext of sacrificing to Heracles.

§29.18.1ὁ δὲ τῶν Μακεδόνων βασιλεύς, ὥς φησι Πολύβιος, τῆς μάχης ἀρχὴν λαμβανούσης ἀποδειλιάσας εἰς πόλιν ἀφιππάσατο, σκηψάμενος Ἡρακλεῖ θύειν, δειλὰ παρὰ δειλῶν ἱερὰ μὴ δεχομένῳ μηδʼ εὐχὰς ἀθεμίτους ἐπιτελοῦντι. —

The king of the Macedonians, as Polybius says, turned coward when the battle was beginning and rode away to the city, making a pretext of sacrificing to Heracles, who does not accept cowardly offerings from cowards, nor fulfill unlawful prayers. —

Notes

29.18.1τῆς μάχης ἀρχὴν λαμβανούσης — A genitive absolute construction with a present participle, expressing synchronism: "while the battle was beginning" or "as the battle was getting under way."
29.18.1Ἡρακλεῖ θύειν, δειλὰ παρὰ δειλῶν ἱερὰ μὴ δεχομένῳ μηδʼ εὐχὰς ἀθεμίτους ἐπιτελοῦντι — The dative present participles `δεχομένῳ` and `ἐπιτελοῦντι` modify the preceding dative noun `Ἡρακλεῖ`. The verb `ἐπιτελέω` is used here in the sense of "fulfilling" or "granting" prayers, as an action of the deity.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §29.18.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:29.18.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.