Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §31.9.1-31.9.4

Antiochus IV Fails to Plunder Elymais and Dies

Passage 1183 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

King Antiochus of Syria attempted to plunder the temple of Artemis in Elymais to raise funds, but after being thwarted by the local inhabitants, he died of madness during his retreat at Tabae in Persis, which some attributed to divine retribution.

§31.9.1ὅτι κατὰ τὴν Συρίαν Ἀντίοχος ὁ βασιλεὺς βουλόμενος εὐπορῆσαι χρημάτων προέθετο στρατεύειν ἐπὶ τὸ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερὸν εἰς τὴν Ἐλυμαΐδα.
That in Syria King Antiochus, wishing to enrich himself with money, purposed to make an expedition against the temple of Artemis in Elymais.
§31.9.2παραγενόμενος δʼ ἐπὶ τοὺς τόπους καὶ διαψευσθεὶς τῆς ἐλπίδος διὰ τὸ μὴ συγχωρεῖν τῇ παρανομίᾳ τοὺς βαρβάρους τοὺς οἰκοῦντας περὶ τὸν τόπον, §31.9.3ἀναχωρῶν ἐν Τάβαις τῆς Περσίδος ἐξέλιπε τὸν βίον, §31.9.4δαιμονήσας, ὡς ἔνιοί φασι, διὰ τὸ γενέσθαι τινὰς ἐπισημασίας τοῦ δαιμονίου κατὰ τὴν περὶ τὸ προειρημένον ἱερὸν παρανομίαν.
But having arrived at the place and being disappointed in his hope because the barbarians dwelling around the place would not permit his lawless act, he died at Tabae in Persis on his retreat, having fallen into madness, as some say, because of certain manifestations of divine wrath that occurred during his lawlessness against the aforesaid temple.

Notes

  1. §31.9.2διὰ τὸ μὴ συγχωρεῖν τῇ παρανομίᾳ τοὺς βαρβάρους — A causal expression with the articular infinitive `τὸ μὴ συγχωρεῖν` governed by the preposition `διὰ`. The accusative `τοὺς βαρβάρους` serves as the subject of the infinitive, while the dative `τῇ παρανομίᾳ` is the complement of the intransitive verb `συγχωρεῖν` (to acquiesce, permit).
  2. §31.9.4δαιμονήσας — The aorist active participle of `δαιμονάω` (to be under the influence of a deity, to go mad). Although translated as "having fallen into madness," in this context it strongly implies being struck by divine punishment for his sacrilege against the temple.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §31.9.1-31.9.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:31.9.1-31.9.4

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.