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Polybius · The Histories §32.8.1-32.8.7

Character and Achievements of King Eumenes II

Passage 1215 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Summarizes the exceptional character and achievements of King Eumenes II of Pergamon, praising his intelligence in expanding a small state, his generosity to cities and individuals, and his remarkable ability to maintain unity and obedience among his three capable brothers.

§32.8.1ὅτι Εὐμένης ὁ βασιλεὺς τῇ μὲν σωματικῇ δυνάμει παραλελυμένος ἦν, τῇ δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς λαμπρότητι προσανεῖχεν, §32.8.2ἀνὴρ ἐν μὲν τοῖς πλείστοις οὐδενὸς δεύτερος τῶν καθʼ αὑτὸν βασιλέων γενόμενος, περὶ δὲ τὰ σπουδαιότατα καὶ κάλλιστα μείζων καὶ λαμπρότερος· §32.8.3ὅς γε πρῶτον μὲν παραλαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς τὴν βασιλείαν συνεσταλμένην τελέως εἰς ὀλίγα καὶ λιτὰ πολισμάτια ταῖς μεγίσταις τῶν καθʼ αὑτὸν δυναστειῶν ἐφάμιλλον ἐποίησε τὴν ἰδίαν ἀρχήν, §32.8.4οὐ τύχῃ τὸ πλεῖον συνεργῷ χρώμενος, οὐδʼ ἐκ περιπετείας, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς ἀγχινοίας καὶ φιλοπονίας, ἔτι δὲ πράξεως τῆς αὑτοῦ.
That King Eumenes, though paralyzed in bodily strength, clung to the brilliance of his mind, a man who in most respects proved second to none of the kings of his time, and in the most important and noblest matters was greater and more illustrious; who, in the first place, having received from his father a kingdom completely reduced to a few petty and simple towns, made his own dominion a rival to the greatest dynasties of his time, not using fortune for the most part as his helper, nor by mere chance, but through his own sagacity and diligence, and furthermore his own personal action.
§32.8.5δεύτερον φιλοδοξότατος ἐγενήθη καὶ πλείστας μὲν τῶν καθʼ αὑτὸν βασιλέων πόλεις Ἑλληνίδας εὐεργέτησε, πλείστους δὲ κατʼ ἰδίαν ἀνθρώπους ἐσωματοποίησε.
Secondly, he was most desirous of glory, and benefited more Greek cities than any of the kings of his time, and established the fortunes of the greatest number of private individuals.
§32.8.6τρίτον ἀδελφοὺς ἔχων τρεῖς καὶ κατὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν καὶ πρᾶξιν, πάντας τούτους συνέσχε πειθαρχοῦντας αὑτῷ καὶ δορυφοροῦντας καὶ σῴζοντας τὸ τῆς βασιλείας ἀξίωμα.
Thirdly, though he had three brothers who in age and activity were outstanding, he kept them all obedient to himself, acting as his supporters and preserving the dignity of the kingship.
§32.8.7τοῦτο δὲ σπανίως εὕροι τις ἂν γεγονός.
And this is something that one could rarely find to have happened.

Notes

  1. §32.8.3ὅς γε — The relative pronoun ὅς combined with the intensive particle γε, introducing a causal or explanatory relative clause ('inasmuch as he', 'who indeed') to provide the ground or reason for the preceding description of Eumenes' greatness.
  2. §32.8.5ἐσωματοποίησε — The aorist active of σωματοποιέω (literally 'to make into a body', 'materialize'). When applied to individuals (ἀνθρώπους), it is used figuratively to mean 'to give substance to,' 'to establish their fortunes,' or 'to provide with a secure livelihood.'
  3. §32.8.6συνέσχε πειθαρχοῦντας — The verb συνέχω (to hold together, keep in check) combined with the present participle πειθαρχοῦντας, indicating that the subject kept the objects (the three brothers) in a continuous state of obedience and discipline. The following participles (δορυφοροῦντας, σῴζοντας) are also under the grammatical control of συνέσχε.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §32.8.1-32.8.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:32.8.1-32.8.7

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