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Polybius · The Histories §3.88.1-3.88.9

Hannibal's March South and Confrontation with Fabius

Passage 247 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Hannibal marched southwards, plundering various regions along the Adriatic coast, and entered Japygia. Meanwhile, the new Roman dictator Fabius set out with his army and encamped opposite Hannibal's forces near Aecae.

§3.88.1Ἀννίβας δὲ κατὰ βραχὺ μεταθεὶς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἐνδιέτριβε τῇ παρὰ τὸν Ἀδρίαν χώρᾳ καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἵππους ἐκλούων τοῖς παλαιοῖς οἴνοις διὰ τὸ πλῆθος ἐξεθεράπευσε τὴν καχεξίαν αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν ψώραν,
Hannibal, on his part, shifting his camp by short stages, remained in the country along the Adriatic; and by washing his horses with old wine, owing to its great abundance, he cured them of their ill-health and mange.
§3.88.2παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τοὺς μὲν τραυματίας ἐξυγίασε, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς εὐέκτας παρεσκεύασε καὶ προθύμους εἰς τὰς ἐπιφερομένας χρείας.
In like manner, among his men, he restored the wounded to health and made the rest vigorous and eager for the services that lay before them.
§3.88.3διελθὼν δὲ καὶ καταφθείρας τήν τε Πραιτεττιανὴν καὶ τὴν Ἀδριανὴν ἔτι δὲ τὴν Μαρρουκίνην καὶ Φρεντανὴν χώραν ὥρμησε ποιούμενος τὴν πορείαν εἰς τὴν Ἰαπυγίαν.
Having passed through and devastated the territories of Praetuttia and Hadriana, and further those of Marrucina and Frentana, he set out, making his march towards Japygia.
§3.88.4ἧς διῃρημένης εἰς τρεῖς ὀνομασίας, καὶ τῶν μὲν προσαγορευομένων Δαυνίων, τῶν δὲ Πευκετίων, τῶν δὲ Μεσσαπίων, εἰς πρώτην ἐνέβαλε τὴν Δαυνίαν.
This country is divided into three districts, called respectively those of the Daunii, the Peucetii, and the Messapii, and he invaded the first of these, Daunia.
§3.88.5ἀρξάμενος δὲ ταύτης ἀπὸ Λουκαρίας, οὔσης ἀποικίας Ῥωμαίων, ἐπόρθει τὴν χώραν.
Beginning from Luceria, which was a Roman colony, he plundered the country.
§3.88.6μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα καταστρατοπεδεύσας περὶ τὸ καλούμενον Οἰβώνιον ἐπέτρεχε τὴν Ἀργυριππανὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἀδεῶς ἐλεηλάτει τὴν Δαυνίαν.
After this, having encamped near the place called Vibonium, he overran the territory of Argyrippa and plundered the whole of Daunia without fear.
§3.88.7ἐν ᾧ καιρῷ καὶ Φάβιος μετὰ τὴν κατάστασιν θύσας τοῖς θεοῖς ἐξώρμησε μετὰ τοῦ συνάρχοντος καὶ τῶν ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ καταγραφέντων τεττάρων στρατοπέδων.
At this time, Fabius also, after his appointment, having sacrificed to the gods, set out with his colleague and the four legions that had been enrolled for the occasion.
§3.88.8συμμίξας δὲ ταῖς ἀπʼ Ἀριμίνου βοηθούσαις δυνάμεσι περὶ τὴν Ναρνίαν, Γνάιον μὲν τὸν ὑπάρχοντα στρατηγὸν ἀπολύσας τῆς κατὰ γῆν στρατείας ἐξαπέστειλε μετὰ παραπομπῆς εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην, ἐντειλάμενος, ἐάν τι κατὰ θάλατταν κινῶνται Καρχηδόνιοι, βοηθεῖν ἀεὶ τοῖς ὑποπίπτουσι καιροῖς,
Having joined the forces coming to assist from Ariminum near Narnia, he relieved Gnaeus, the existing consul, of his command on land and sent him with an escort to Rome, with orders that if the Carthaginians made any movement by sea, he should always assist as occasion demanded.
§3.88.9αὐτὸς δὲ μετὰ τοῦ συνάρχοντος παραλαβὼν τὰς δυνάμεις ἀντεστρατοπέδευσε τοῖς Καρχηδονίοις περὶ τὰς Αἴκας καλουμένας, ἀπέχων τῶν πολεμίων περὶ πεντήκοντα στα
He himself, having taken over the forces with his colleague, encamped opposite the Carthaginians near the place called Aecae, at a distance of about fifty sta

Notes

  1. §3.88.1διὰ τὸ πλῆθος — Interpreted as "owning to its great abundance [of old wine]." This is consistent with the preceding section (§3.87.3) where they became masters of a rich country and many spoils. Although it could theoretically refer to the large number of horses or the severity of the mange, the context of abundance makes the wine's plentifulness the most natural referent.
  2. §3.88.4ἧς διῃρημένης — A genitive absolute construction modifying or explaining the antecedent Ἰαπυγίαν (Japygia). The subsequent clause καὶ τῶν μὲν προσαγορευομένων... is also part of this genitive absolute structure, detailing the three divisions of the region.
  3. §3.88.8ἐντειλάμενος... βοηθεῖν — The participle ἐντειλάμενος (having ordered) governs the infinitive βοηθεῖν which expresses the content of the command. The implied subject of the infinitive is Gnaeus, who was relieved of his land command and sent to Rome.
  4. §3.88.9στα — An abbreviation in the manuscript for σταδίους (stades). The sentence abruptly cuts off here, indicating either a fragmentary preservation of Polybius's text or a loss in the manuscript tradition.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §3.88.1-3.88.9. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.88.1-3.88.9

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