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Polybius · The Histories §30.12.1-30.12.3

Turmoil in Epirus and the Brutality of Charops

Passage 1154 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

It is described that the people of Epirus were in a similar state of turmoil, and the exceptionally brutal and lawless character of their leader, Charops, is highlighted.

§30.12.1ὅτι οἱ κατὰ τὴν Ἤπειρον παραπλήσια τούτοις ἔπραττον.
That the people in Epirus did things very similar to these.
§30.12.2ἐφʼ ὅσον γὰρ οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων μετριώτεροι τῶν κατὰ τὴν Αἰτωλίαν ἦσαν, ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ὁ προεστὼς αὐτῶν ἀσεβέστερος καὶ παρανομώτερος ὑπῆρχε τῶν ἄλλων.
For in proportion as the majority of the people were more moderate than those in Aetolia, to that extent their leader was more impious and lawless than the others.
§30.12.3δοκῶ γὰρ μὴ γεγονέναι μηδʼ ἔσεσθαι θηριωδέστερον ἄνθρωπον μηδʼ εἰκαιότερον Χάροπος. —
For I think that there has never been, nor ever will be, a man more brutal or more reckless than Charops.

Notes

  1. 30.12.2ἐφʼ ὅσον ... ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον — A correlative construction expressing proportion ("in proportion as ... to that extent"), emphasizing the contrast between the moderation of the common people of Epirus and the extreme wickedness of their leader.
  2. 30.12.2τῶν ἄλλων — Genitive of comparison. In this context, "the others" refers to the leaders of other states (such as those of Aetolia), completing the contrast where the common people were better than those elsewhere, but the leader was far worse.
  3. 30.12.3δοκῶ ... μὴ γεγονέναι μηδʼ ἔσεσθαι — The verb δοκῶ ("I think") governs the infinitives γεγονέναι ("to have been") and ἔσεσθαι ("to be going to be") in an accusative and infinitive construction. The use of the negative μή rather than οὐ with the infinitives is standard in post-classical Greek when expressing subjective judgment or strong belief.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §30.12.1-30.12.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:30.12.1-30.12.3

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