Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §39.2.1-39.2.3

Fall of Corinth and Desecration of Artworks by Soldiers

Passage 1305 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Polybius laments the fate of Corinth during its capture, describing how Roman soldiers treated invaluable works of art with contempt, even using famous paintings as gaming boards.

§39.2.1Πολύβιος δὲ τὰ συμβάντα περὶ τὴν ἅλωσιν ἐν οἴκτου μέρει λέγων προστίθησι καὶ τὴν στρατιωτικὴν ὀλιγωρίαν τὴν περὶ τὰ τῶν τεχνῶν ἔργα καὶ τὰ ἀναθήματα· §39.2.2φησὶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν παρὼν ἐρριμμένους πίνακας ἐπʼ ἐδάφους, πεττεύοντας δὲ τοὺς στρατιώτας ἐπὶ τούτων. §39.2.3ὀνομάζει δʼ αὐτῶν Ἀριστείδου γραφὴν τοῦ Διονύσου, ἐφʼ οὗ τινες εἰρῆσθαί φασι τὸ "3Οὐδὲν πρὸς τὸν Διόνυσον"3, καὶ τὸν Ἡρακλέα τὸν καταπονούμενον τῷ τῆς Δηιανείρας χιτῶνι. —
Polybius, in speaking of the events surrounding the capture by way of lamentation, adds also the military indifference toward the works of art and the votive offerings;‧ for he says that he was present and saw paintings thrown on the ground, and the soldiers playing checkers on them.‧ And he names among them the painting of Dionysus by Aristides, in reference to which some say the proverb "Nothing to do with Dionysus" was spoken, and the Heracles tormented by the tunic of Deianira.

Notes

  1. 39.2.1ἐν οἴκτου μέρει — This idiomatic prepositional phrase means 'in the category of lamentation', 'with a tone of pity', or 'as a matter for lamentation'.
  2. 39.2.2ἰδεῖν παρὼν — Since the subject of the infinitive ἰδεῖν after φησὶ is identical with the main subject (Polybius himself), the participle παρών ('being present') is in the nominative rather than the accusative, emphasizing his personal presence as an eyewitness.
  3. 39.2.3ἐφʼ οὗ — The relative pronoun οὗ is in the masculine/neuter genitive, even though the logical antecedent is the feminine 'painting' (γραφὴν). It either refers back to the depicted subject 'Dionysus' (Διονύσου) or treats the painting as a neuter object.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §39.2.1-39.2.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:39.2.1-39.2.3

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.