Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.7.1 Class: Non-skeptical

τοιαῦτα ὁ Εὐφαὴς εἰπὼν διέλυσε τὸν σύλλογον, τὸ δὲ ἀπὸ τούτου πάντας ἔσχεν ἤδη τοὺς Μεσσηνίους ἐν ὅπλοις, τούς τε οὐκ εἰδότας ἐπαναγκάζων διδάσκεσθαι τὰ πολεμικὰ καὶ τοῖς ἐπισταμένοις ἐπιμελεστέραν ἢ πρότερον τὴν ἄσκησιν εἶναι. Λακεδαιμόνιοι δὲ καταδρομὰς ἐποιοῦντο ἐς τὴν Μεσσηνίαν, καὶ τὴν μὲν χώραν οὐκ ἐλυμαίνοντο ἅτε δὴ νομίζοντες οἰκείαν οὐδὲ δένδρα ἔκοπτον οὐδὲ οἰκήματα κατέβαλλον· οἱ δὲ λείαν εἰ περιτύχοιεν ἤλαυνον καὶ σῖτον καὶ τὸν ἄλλον καρπὸν ἀφῃροῦντο.

Proper Nouns:

Εὐφαής Λακεδαιμόνιοι Μεσσήνιοι Μεσσηνία

After speaking thus, Euphaes dismissed the assembly, and thereafter held all the Messenians continually under arms, compelling those who did not already know warfare to learn it, and causing those who knew it already to train more diligently than before. The Lacedaemonians carried out incursions into Messenia, yet they refrained from devastating the land, considering it their own. Neither did they cut down trees nor demolish dwellings; however, if they chanced upon livestock, they seized it, and also carried away grain and other produce.

Passage 4.7.2 Class: Non-skeptical

πρὸς δὲ τὰς πόλεις ποιούμενοι προσβολὰς εἷλον μὲν οὐδεμίαν ἅτε καὶ τείχεσιν ὠχυρωμένας καὶ διʼ ἀκριβείας φρουρουμένας, λαμβάνοντες δὲ τραύματα ἀπεχώρουν ἄπρακτοι καὶ τελευτῶντες οὐκέτι ἀπεπειρῶντο τῶν πόλεων. ἐλῄστευον δὲ καὶ οἱ Μεσσήνιοι τά τε ἐπιθαλάσσια τῆς Λακωνικῆς καὶ ὅσαι γεωργίαι περὶ τὸ Ταΰγετον ἦσαν.

Proper Nouns:

Λακωνική Μεσσήνιοι Ταΰγετος

Making attacks upon the cities, they took none, since the cities were strongly fortified with walls and carefully guarded. Receiving injuries, they withdrew unsuccessful, and in the end they ceased attempting the cities altogether. The Messenians, however, began plundering both the coastal areas of Laconia and all the agricultural lands around Taygetus.

Passage 4.7.3 Class: Non-skeptical

τετάρτῳ δὲ ἔτει μετὰ τῆς Ἀμφείας τὴν ἅλωσιν Εὐφαὴς τῷ θυμῷ χρήσασθαι τῷ Μεσσηνίων προθυμούμενος ἀκμαζόντων ἐς τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους ταῖς ὀργαῖς καὶ ἅμα τὴν ἄσκησιν ἤδη σφίσιν αὐτάρκη νομίζων εἶναι, προεῖπεν ἔξοδον· συνακολουθεῖν δὲ καὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας προσέτασσε φέροντας ξύλα καὶ ἄλλα ὅσα πρόσφορα ἐς ποίησιν χαρακώματος. ἐπυνθάνοντο δὲ καὶ οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι παρὰ τῶν ἐν Ἀμφείᾳ φρουρῶν τοὺς Μεσσηνίους ἐξιόντας· ἐξεστρατεύοντο οὖν καὶ οὗτοι.

Proper Nouns:

Εὐφᾶς Λακεδαιμόνιοι Λακεδαιμόνιοι Μεσσήνιοι Μεσσήνιοι Ἀμφεία Ἀμφεία

In the fourth year after the capture of Ampheia, Euphaes, desiring to take advantage of the eager spirit of the Messenians and considering both their growing rage against the Lacedaemonians and their military training now sufficient, proclaimed an expedition. He also commanded their household servants to follow, carrying timber and other material useful for constructing fortifications. But the Lacedaemonians learned from the garrison in Ampheia of the Messenians' departure, and therefore they too mobilized their forces.

Passage 4.7.4 Class: Non-skeptical

καὶ ἦν γὰρ ἐν τῇ Μεσσηνίᾳ χωρίον ἄλλως μὲν ἐς ἀγῶνα ἐπιτήδειον, χαράδρα δὲ προεβέβλητο αὐτοῦ βαθεῖα· ἐνταῦθα τοὺς Μεσσηνίους παρέτασσεν ὁ Εὐφαής, ἀποδείξας στρατηγὸν Κλέοννιν· τῆς δὲ ἵππου καὶ τῶν ψιλῶν, οἳ συναμφότεροι ἐλάσσους πεντακοσίων ἦσαν, τούτων Πυθάρατος καὶ Ἄντανδρος ἡγοῦντο.

Proper Nouns:

Εὐφαής Κλέων Μεσσήνη Μεσσήνιοι Πυθάρατος Ἄντανδρος

For there was in Messenia a place particularly suitable for battle, though a deep ravine extended across it. Here Euphaes drew up the Messenians, having appointed Cleonnis commander. Of the cavalry and light-armed troops, who together numbered fewer than five hundred, Pytharatus and Antandrus were in command.

Passage 4.7.5 Class: Non-skeptical

ὡς δὲ συνῄει τὰ στρατόπεδα, τοῖς μὲν ὁπλίταις καὶ ἀφειδῶς ὅμως καὶ ἀκρατέστερον ὑπὸ τοῦ μίσους φερομένοις ἐπὶ ἀλλήλους οὐ παρέσχεν ἐλθεῖν ἐς χεῖρας ἡ χαράδρα διείργουσα· τὸ δʼ ἱππικὸν καὶ οἱ ψιλοὶ συμμίσγουσι μὲν κατὰ τὸ ὑπὲρ τὴν χαράδραν, ἦσαν δὲ οὔτε πλῆθος οὔτε ἐμπειρίᾳ διαφέροντες οὐδέτεροι, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἰσόρροπος ἡ μάχη σφίσιν ἐγένετο.

Proper Nouns:

μάχη

When the armies approached one another, the hoplites, carried impetuously against their foes without moderation and with relentless hatred, were prevented by the dividing ravine from engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The cavalry and the light-armed troops, however, clashed above the ravine, but neither side was superior in numbers or experience, and thus the battle between them was evenly balanced.

Passage 4.7.6 Class: Non-skeptical

ἐν ὅσῳ δὲ οὗτοι συνεστήκασιν, ἐν τοσούτῳ τοὺς οἰκέτας ἐκέλευεν ὁ Εὐφαὴς πρῶτα μὲν τὰ κατὰ νῶτον τοῦ στρατοπέδου φράξασθαι τοῖς σταυροῖς, μετὰ δὲ τὰ πλευρὰ ἀμφότερα. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἥ τε νύξ ἐπέλαβε καὶ ἡ μάχη διελέλυτο, τότε ἤδη καὶ τὰ πρὸ τοῦ στρατοπέδου κατὰ τὴν χαράδραν ἐφράξαντο, ὥστε ἐπισχούσης ἡμέρας τῆς τε προνοίας τοῦ Εὐφαοῦς τοῖς Λακεδαιμονίοις ἐπιπίπτει λογισμὸς εἶχόν τε οὔτε ὅπως μάχεσθαι χρὴ πρὸς τοὺς Μεσσηνίους μὴ προϊόντας ἐκ τοῦ χάρακος προσκαθῆσθαί τε ἀπεγίνωσκον ἀπαράσκευοι τοῖς πᾶσιν ὁμοίως ὄντες.

Proper Nouns:

Εὐφαής Εὐφαής Λακεδαιμόνιοι Μεσσήνιοι

During the time in which these were standing ready, Euphaes ordered the servants firstly to fence off with stakes the rear of the camp, and next both its flanks. When night fell and the fighting had ceased, they then fenced off also the front of the camp along the ravine, so that at daybreak, because of the foresight of Euphaes, the Lacedaemonians became aware of the situation, perceiving that they had neither the means to fight against the Messenians, who would not come out from behind their palisade, nor could they remain in position, as they were equally lacking preparation in every respect.

Passage 4.7.7 Class: Non-skeptical

καὶ τότε μὲν ἀποχωροῦσιν οἴκαδε, ἐνιαυτῷ δὲ ὕστερον κακιζόντων σφᾶς τῶν γεγηρακότων καὶ δειλίαν τε ὁμοῦ προφερόντων καὶ τοῦ ὅρκου τὴν ὑπεροψίαν, οὕτω δευτέραν ἐκ τοῦ προφανοῦς ἐπὶ Μεσσηνίους στρατείαν ἐποιοῦντο. ἡγοῦντο δὲ οἱ βασιλεῖς ἀμφότεροι, Θεόπομπός τε ὁ Νικάνδρου καὶ Πολύδωρος ὁ Ἀλκαμένους· Ἀλκαμένης δὲ οὐκέτι περιῆν. ἀντεστρατοπεδεύοντο δὲ καὶ οἱ Μεσσήνιοι καὶ πειρωμένων μάχης τῶν Σπαρτιατῶν ἄρχειν ἀντεπεξῄεσαν.

Proper Nouns:

Θεόπομπος Μεσσήνιοι Μεσσήνιοι Νίκανδρος Πολύδωρος Σπαρτιᾶται Ἀλκαμενής Ἀλκαμενής

Then they returned home, but after one year, when the older men blamed them, reproaching them both for cowardice and for disregarding their oath, the Spartans openly undertook a second campaign against the Messenians. Both kings led them, Theopompus son of Nicander and Polydorus son of Alcamenes, Alcamenes himself being no longer alive. The Messenians also encamped opposite them, and whenever the Spartans attempted to engage in battle, they advanced against them in turn.

Passage 4.7.8 Class: Non-skeptical

Λακεδαιμονίοις δὲ ἡγεῖτο Πολύδωρος μὲν κατὰ τὸ κέρας τὸ ἀριστερόν, Θεόπομπος δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ δεξιῷ, τὸ μέσον δὲ εἶχεν Εὐρυλέων, τὰ μὲν παρόντα Λακεδαιμόνιος, τὰ ἐξ ἀρχῆς δὲ ἀπὸ Κάδμου καὶ ἐκ Θηβῶν, Αἰγέως τοῦ Οἰολύκου τοῦ Θήρα τοῦ Αὐτεσίωνος ἀπόγονος πέμπτος. τοῖς δὲ Μεσσηνίοις κατὰ μὲν τὸ δεξιὸν τῶν Λακεδαιμονίων ἀντετάσσοντο Ἄντανδρός τε καὶ Εὐφαής, τὸ δὲ ἕτερον κέρας τὸ κατὰ τὸν Πολύδωρον Πυθάρατος εἶχε, Κλέοννις δὲ τὸ μέσον.

Proper Nouns:

Αἰγεύς Αὐτεσίων Εὐρυλέων Εὐφαής Θήρας Θεόπομπος Θῆβαι Κάδμος Κλέοννις Λακεδαιμόνιοι Λακεδαιμόνιος Μεσσήνιοι Οἰόλυκος Πολύδωρος Πυθάρατος Ἄντανδρος

The Lacedaemonians were led by Polydorus on the left wing, by Theopompus on the right, and by Euryleon in the center. Euryleon was at that time a Lacedaemonian, though in origin he was descended, in the fifth generation, from Cadmus of Thebes, through Aegeus, the son of Oeolycus, the son of Theras, the son of Autesion. Arrayed against the Lacedaemonian right wing among the Messenians were Antandrus and Euphaes; Pytharatus commanded the other wing, opposing Polydorus, while Cleonnis led the center.

Passage 4.7.9 Class: Non-skeptical

συνιέναι δὲ ἤδη μελλόντων, ἐπεὶ παριόντες οἱ βασιλεῖς προέτρεπον τοὺς αὑτῶν, πρὸς μὲν δὴ τοὺς Λακεδαιμονίους βραχεῖαν κατὰ τὸ ἐπιχώριον τὴν παράκλησιν ἐποιεῖτο ὁ Θεόπομπος, τοῦ τε ὅρκου τοῦ κατὰ τῶν Μεσσηνίων ἀναμιμνήσκων καὶ ὡς καλόν σφισι τὸ φιλοτίμημα, τῶν πατέρων οἳ τοὺς περιοίκους κατεδουλώσαντο φανῆναι λαμπρότερα εἰργασμένους καὶ χώραν εὐδαιμονεστέραν προσκεκτημένους· Εὐφαὴς δὲ μακρότερα μὲν εἶπεν ἢ ὁ Σπαρτιάτης, οὐ πλείω δὲ οὐδʼ οὗτος ἢ ἐφιέντα ἑώρα τὸν καιρόν.

Proper Nouns:

Εὐφαής Θεόπομπος Λακεδαιμόνιος Μεσσήνιοι Σπαρτιάτης βασιλεύς

As they were now about to engage, the kings passed along their ranks, exhorting their respective troops. Among the Lacedaemonians, according to their custom, Theopompus made his exhortation brief, reminding them of their oath sworn against the Messenians, and emphasizing how glorious an honor they would gain if they should be shown to surpass their forefathers, who had subdued the neighboring peoples, by achieving an even more splendid victory and acquiring a more prosperous land. Euphaes, however, spoke at greater length than the Spartan had done, though even he did not extend his remarks beyond what he saw the occasion allowed.

Passage 4.7.10 Class: Non-skeptical

οὐ γὰρ περὶ γῆς μόνον οὐδὲ κτημάτων τὸν ἀγῶνα ἀπέφαινε γενησόμενον, εἰδέναι δὲ ἔφη σαφῶς ἃ νικωμένους ἐπιλήψεται· γυναῖκας μὲν γὰρ ἀχθήσεσθαι καὶ τέκνα ἐν ἀνδραπόδων μέρει, τοῖς δὲ ἐν ἡλικίᾳ τὸ ἐλαφρότατον ἔσεσθαι. θάνατον, ἢν μετʼ αἰκίας μὴ γένηται, συλήσεσθαι δέ σφισι καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ καὶ τὰς πατρίδας ἐμπρήσεσθαι· λέγειν δὲ οὐκ εἰκάζων, μάρτυρα δὲ ἐναργῆ πᾶσιν εἶναι τῶν ἐγκαταληφθέντων ἐν Ἀμφείᾳ τὰ πάθη.

Proper Nouns:

Ἀμφεία

For he declared the contest was not merely over land or possessions, but asserted that he knew clearly what would befall them should they be defeated. Their wives and children would be carried off as slaves, and for those of military age the very least fate to expect was death, if they were not first tortured. Moreover, their sanctuaries would be plundered and their homeland burned. And he said this not as mere conjecture, for all had before them a clear witness in the sufferings of those who had been captured at Ampheia.

Passage 4.7.11 Class: Non-skeptical

πρό τε δὴ τηλικούτων κακῶν κέρδος εἶναι καλῶς τινα ἀποθανεῖν, πολὺ δὲ εἶναι ῥᾷον ἀηττήτοις οὖσιν ἔτι καὶ τὰς τόλμας καθεστηκόσιν ἐξ ἴσου προθυμίᾳ τοὺς ἀντιτεταγμένους ὑπερβαλεῖν ἢ προαποβαλόντας τὸ φρόνημα ἐπανορθοῦσθαι τὰ ἐπταισμένα.

Indeed, it is advantageous, before falling into evils of such magnitude, that one should meet a noble death; and it is far easier, while still undefeated and maintaining a spirit of courage, to surpass one’s opponents through equal enthusiasm than, having already lost one's resolve, to restore failures.

Legend:

Chapter 4.7