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Polybius · The Histories §36.15.1-36.15.7

The Contemptible Character of Prusias of Bithynia

Passage 1278 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

The contemptible character of King Prusias of Bithynia is described, including his repulsive appearance, physical and mental weakness, lack of education, and licentious lifestyle, which led his subjects to seek vengeance against him at the first opportunity.

§36.15.1ὅτι Προυσίας ὁ βασιλεύς, εἰδεχθὴς ὢν κατὰ τὴν ἔμφασιν, καίπερ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ βελτίων ὑπάρχων, ἥμισυς ἀνὴρ ἦν κατὰ τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν καὶ πρὸς τὰς πολεμικὰς χρείας ἀγεννὴς καὶ γυναικώδης.
King Prusias, who was repulsive in his appearance, although he was better in his capacity for reasoning, was but half a man in his outward look, and ignoble and effeminate with respect to military duties.
§36.15.2οὐ γὰρ μόνον δειλὸς ἦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὰς κακοπαθείας ἀλλότριος καὶ συλλήβδην ἐκτεθηλυμμένος καὶ τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ τῷ σώματι παρʼ ὅλον τὸν βίον· §36.15.3ὅπερ ἥκιστα βούλονται περὶ τοὺς βασιλεῖς ὑπάρχειν ἅπαντες μέν, μάλιστα δὲ τὸ τῶν Βιθυνῶν γένος.
For he was not only cowardly, but also averse to hardships, and in short, completely effeminate in both soul and body throughout his whole life; a quality which all men, and most of all the Bithynian race, least desire to exist in their kings.
§36.15.4πολλὴ δέ τις ἀσέλγεια καὶ περὶ τὰς σωματικὰς ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῷ συνεξηκολούθει.
And a great deal of licentiousness regarding bodily desires also accompanied him.
§36.15.5παιδείας δὲ καὶ φιλοσοφίας καὶ τῶν ἐν τούτοις θεωρημάτων ἄπειρος εἰς τέλος ἦν §36.15.6καὶ συλλήβδην τοῦ καλοῦ τί ποτʼ ἔστιν οὐδʼ ἔννοιαν εἶχε, Σαρδαναπάλλου δὲ βάρβαρον βίον ἔζη καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν καὶ νύκτωρ.
He was to the end completely ignorant of education, philosophy, and the theories contained in them; and in short, he had not even a conception of what the beautiful is, but lived the barbarian life of Sardanapalus both by day and by night.
§36.15.7τοιγαροῦν ἅμα τῷ δράξασθαι βραχείας ἐλπίδος τὸ τῶν βασιλευομένων πλῆθος ἀμετάκλητον ὁρμὴν ἔσχεν εἰς τὸ μὴ μόνον ἀλλότρια φρονεῖν τοῦ βασιλέως, ἀλλὰ καὶ τιμωρίαν βούλεσθαι παρʼ αὐτοῦ λαμβάνειν.
Therefore, as soon as they grasped a slight hope, the multitude of his subjects had an irrevocable impulse not only to be alienated in feeling from the king, but also to wish to exact vengeance from him.

Notes

  1. §36.15.1ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ — Meaning 'by reasoning' or 'in terms of rational judgment'. In contrast with the surrounding terms 'ἔμφασις' and 'ἐπιφάνεια' (outward appearance), it refers to Prusias's internal intellectual capacity or rational mind. The concessive clause introduced by 'καίπερ' highlights that although he was superior in his intellect, he was extremely weak physically and behaviorally.
  2. §36.15.3ὅπερ — A neuter singular accusative relative pronoun, referring back to the entire content of the preceding sentence (Prusias's effeminacy in soul and body) as its antecedent. It functions as the accusative subject (or subject complement) of the infinitive 'ὑπάρχειν', meaning 'which quality (existing in their kings)'.
  3. §36.15.7ἀλλότρια φρονεῖν τοῦ βασιλέως — The phrase 'ἀλλότρια φρονέω' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to have different feelings, to be alienated or hostile'. The genitive 'τοῦ βασιλέως' functions as a genitive of separation or comparison, or is governed by the alienating force of the phrase, meaning 'to be ill-disposed toward the king' or 'to alienate oneself from the king'.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §36.15.1-36.15.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:36.15.1-36.15.7

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