Polybius · The Histories §6.22.1-6.22.4

Arms of the Velites and the Design of Their Javelin

Passage 499 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

Describes the equipment of the youngest soldiers (velites), including their round shield, helmet, and javelin, explaining their physical structure and functional design, particularly the bendable javelin.

§6.22.1καὶ τοῖς μὲν νεωτάτοις παρήγγειλαν μάχαιραν φορεῖν καὶ γρόσφους καὶ πάρμην.

And to the youngest they gave orders to carry a sword, javelins, and a round shield.

§6.22.2ἡ δὲ πάρμη καὶ δύναμιν ἔχει τῇ κατασκευῇ καὶ μέγεθος ἀρκοῦν πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν· περιφερὴς γὰρ οὖσα τῷ σχήματι τρίπεδον ἔχει τὴν διάμετρον.

The round shield has both strength in its construction and a size sufficient for safety; for, being circular in shape, it has a diameter of three feet.

§6.22.3προσεπικοσμεῖται δὲ καὶ λιτῷ περικεφαλαίῳ· ποτὲ δὲ λυκείαν ἤ τι τῶν τοιούτων ἐπιτίθεται, σκέπης ἅμα καὶ σημείου χάριν, ἵνα τοῖς κατὰ μέρος ἡγεμόσι προκινδυνεύοντες ἐρρωμένως καὶ μὴ διάδηλοι γίνωνται.

They are additionally equipped with a plain helmet; and sometimes they put a wolf's skin or something of the sort over it, for the sake of both protection and a distinguishing mark, so that when they risk themselves in the front line, whether they fight bravely or not, they may be clearly recognizable to their individual officers.

§6.22.4τὸ δὲ τῶν γρόσφων βέλος ἔχει τῷ μὲν μήκει τὸ ξύλον ὡς ἐπίπαν δίπηχυ, τῷ δὲ πάχει δακτυλιαῖον, τὸ δὲ κέντρον σπιθαμιαῖον, κατὰ τοσοῦτον ἐπὶ λεπτὸν ἐξεληλασμένον καὶ συνωξυσμένον ὥστε κατʼ ἀνάγκην εὐθέως ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἐμβολῆς κάμπτεσθαι καὶ μὴ δύνασθαι τοὺς πολεμίους ἀντιβάλλειν· εἰ δὲ μή, κοινὸν γίνεται τὸ βέλος.

As for the javelin, its wooden shaft is as a rule two cubits in length and a finger's breadth in thickness, and its spike is a span long, hammered out so thin and sharpened to such a degree that it must of necessity bend immediately upon the first impact, making it impossible for the enemy to throw it back; otherwise, the weapon becomes common to both sides.

Notes

6.22.3προσεπικοσμεῖται — The verb is passive (or middle) with an implied subject referring back to the 'youngest' (τοῖς μὲν νεωτάτοις) from the previous section, meaning 'they are additionally equipped/adorned.'
6.22.3ἐρρωμένως καὶ μὴ — After the conjunction καὶ μὴ, an adverb contrary to ἐρρωμένως (such as ἀγεννῶς, meaning 'cowardly') is omitted, representing an alternative condition: 'whether they risk themselves in the front line bravely or not.'
6.22.4κατὰ τοσοῦτον ... ὥστε — The adverbial phrase of degree κατὰ τοσοῦτον (to such an extent) is used correlatively with the conjunction ὥστε introducing a clause of result, showing that the spike is beaten out so thin and sharpened to such a degree that, consequently, it must bend.
6.22.4εἰ δὲ μή, κοινὸν γίνεται — An elliptical conditional expression εἰ δὲ μή (otherwise / if not), standing for 'if the javelin does not bend on impact.' In that case, the consequence is that 'the weapon becomes common' (i.e., usable by both sides as the enemy can throw it back).

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §6.22.1-6.22.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.22.1-6.22.4

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