Humanitext Reader

Polybius · The Histories §8.8a.1

Aborted Attempt to Seize Messene on Philip's Orders

Passage 566 of 1311 · Greek

Summary

It relates that a person who recklessly attempted to seize the city of the Messenians in accordance with Philip's plan perished during the attempt, and promises to explain the details when the narrative reaches that period.

§8.8a.1καταλαβέσθαι ἐγχειρήσας μετὰ τῆς Φιλίππου γνώμης τὴν τῶν Μεσσηνίων πόλιν εἰκῇ καὶ παραβόλως, ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ τῆς πράξεως καιρῷ διεφθάρη·
Having attempted, in accordance with the purpose of Philip, to seize the city of the Messenians blindly and recklessly, he perished at the very moment of the action.
περὶ ὧν ἡμεῖς τὰ κατὰ μέρος, ὅταν ἐπὶ τοὺς καιροὺς ἔλθωμεν, διασαφήσομεν πολψβ. ιιι, 19, 11.
Concerning these matters, we shall explain them in detail when we come to the proper times.

Notes

  1. 8.8a.1διεφθάρη — The third-person singular aorist passive indicative of διαφθείρω (to destroy, ruin). Here it is used in a passive/intransitive sense meaning 'he perished' or 'was killed', referring contextually to Demetrius of Pharos, who died during the assault on Messene.
  2. 8.8a.1περὶ ὧν — The relative pronoun ὧν is neuter plural, referring back to the entire preceding event ('concerning these things'). It functions in tandem with the object of the main clause, τὰ κατὰ μέρος ('the details'), indicating the historical facts to be narrated later in detail.

Cite this passage

Polybius, The Histories §8.8a.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0543.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.8a.1

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