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Polybius · The Histories §31.5.1-31.5.5

Relief of Calynda and Roman Confirmation of Rhodian Rule

Passage 1179 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The Calyndians, besieged by the Caunians, sought help from the Rhodians by surrendering their city; the Rhodians raised the siege and had their possession of Calynda confirmed by the Roman Senate.

§31.5.1ὅτι τῶν Καλυνδέων ἀποστάντων Καυνίων, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα πολιορκεῖν ἐπιβαλομένων αὐτοὺς τῶν Καυνίων, τὰς μὲν ἀρχὰς ἐπεκαλέσαντο Κνιδίους οἱ Καλυνδεῖς· §31.5.2ὧν καὶ παραπεσόντων κατὰ βοήθειαν, ἐπὶ ποσὸν ἀντεῖχον τοῖς ὑπεναντίοις, §31.5.3ἀγωνιῶντες δὲ τὸ μέλλον πρεσβεύειν μὲν, ἐγχειρίζοντες σφᾶς αὐτοὺς καὶ τὴν πόλιν.
That when the Calyndians revolted from the Caunians, and the Caunians subsequently attempted to besiege them, the Calyndians at first called upon the Cnidians for help; who having arrived to their aid, they held out against their opponents for some time; but anxious about the future, they sent an embassy, surrendering themselves and their city.
§31.5.4οἱ δὲ Ῥόδιοι πέμψαντες βοήθειαν καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν τήν τε πολιορκίαν ἔλυσαν καὶ παρέλαβον τὴν πόλιν.
The Rhodians, having sent help both by land and by sea, raised the siege and took possession of the city.
§31.5.5συνέβη δὲ καὶ τὴν σύγκλητον αὐτοῖς βεβαιῶσαι τὴν τῶν Καλυνδέων κτῆσιν.
It also happened that the Senate confirmed to them the possession of Calynda.

Notes

  1. §31.5.1ἀποστάντων Καυνίων — Meaning 'having revolted from the Caunians'. The genitive Καυνίων functions as a genitive of separation depending on the verb of separation ἀφίσταμαι.
  2. §31.5.2ὧν — A relative connection referring back to the Cnidians (Κνιδίους) in the previous section. It serves as the subject of the genitive absolute construction ὧν... παραπεσόντων.
  3. §31.5.3πρεσβεύειν μὲν — An infinitive appearing in the transmitted manuscripts. Historically, a finite verb would be expected here, but the text lacks grammatical coordination. It is translated here as functioning practically as the main verb expressing the action of sending an embassy.
  4. §31.5.5αὐτοῖς — A dative pronoun which, in this context, refers to the Rhodians (οἱ δὲ Ῥόδιοι, the subject of the preceding sentence) rather than the Calyndians, indicating that the Senate confirmed the possession of Calynda 'to them' (the Rhodians).

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §31.5.1-31.5.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:31.5.1-31.5.5

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