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Polybius · The Histories §33.4.1-33.4.4

Incompetence of the Rhodian General Aristocrates

Passage 1226 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The passage explains how the Rhodian general Aristocrates, despite his dignified and promising appearance in times of peace, proved to be completely incompetent when faced with actual combat.

§33.4.1ὅτι Ἀριστοκράτης ὁ τῶν Ῥοδίων στρατηγὸς ἦν μὲν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν ἀξιωματικὸς καὶ καταπληκτικός.
That Aristocrates, the general of the Rhodians, was in appearance dignified and imposing.
§33.4.2διόπερ ἐκ πάντων τοῦτον ὑπέλαβον οἱ Ῥόδιοι τελέως ἀξιόχρεων ἡγεμόνα καὶ προστάτην ἔχειν τοῦ πολέμου.
For which reason the Rhodians supposed that, out of all men, they possessed in him a fully capable commander and leader of the war.
§33.4.3διεψεύσθησαν μέντοι γε τῶν ἐλπίδων· ἐλθὼν γὰρ εἰς τὰς πράξεις ὥσπερ εἰς πῦρ, καθάπερ τὰ κίβδηλα τῶν νομισμάτων, ἀλλοῖος ἐφάνη.
However, they were disappointed in their hopes; for when he came to real actions as if to a fire, just like counterfeit coins, he appeared quite different.
§33.4.4τοῦτο δʼ ἐγένετο δῆλον ἐπʼ αὐτῶν τῶν ἔργων.
And this became clear from his actual deeds.

Notes

  1. 33.4.2ὑπέλαβον ... ἔχειν — The verb ὑπολαμβάνω takes an accusative (τοῦτον) and an infinitive (ἔχειν) to form the construction "to suppose that ... has/possesses ...". In this context, the main subject "the Rhodians" (οἱ Ῥόδιοι) is understood as the subject of the infinitive, meaning "the Rhodians supposed that they possessed him as a leader."
  2. 33.4.3ὥσπερ εἰς πῦρ — Coming to actual deeds (εἰς τὰς πράξεις) is likened to entering "into fire" (εἰς πῦρ). This refers to the metallurgical practice of testing the purity of metals or coins by fire, which is closely linked with the subsequent comparison to "counterfeit coins" (τὰ κίβδηλα τῶν νομισμάτων).

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §33.4.1-33.4.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:33.4.1-33.4.4

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