Pausanias Analysis

Passage 10.17.9

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Passage 10.17.9: Carthaginian domination of Sardinia and the mercenary Balari revolt

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ ὅτε ναυτικῷ μάλιστα ἴσχυσαν, κατεστρέψαντο μὲν καὶ ἅπαντας τοὺς ἐν τῇ Σαρδοῖ πλὴν Ἰλιέων τε καὶ Κορσῶν---τούτοις δὲ μὴ ἐς δουλείαν ὑπαχθῆναι τὸ ἐχυρὸν ἤρκεσε τῶν ὀρῶν---, ᾤκισαν δὲ ἐν τῇ νήσῳ καὶ αὐτοὶ πόλιν οἱ Καρχηδόνιοι Κάραλίν τε καὶ Σύλκους. τοῦ δὲ ἐπικουρικοῦ τῶν Καρχηδονίων Λίβυες ἢ Ἴβηρες ἐς ἀμφισβήτησιν λαφύρων ἀφικόμενοι καὶ ὡς εἶχον ὀργῆς ἀποστάντες ἐσῳκίσαντο ἐς τὰ ὑψηλὰ καὶ οὗτοι τῆς νήσου. Βαλαροὶ τὸ ὄνομά ἐστιν αὐτοῖς κατὰ γλῶσσαν τὴν Κυρνίων· Βαλαροὺς γὰρ τοὺς φυγάδας καλοῦσιν οἱ Κύρνιοι.

English Translation

When the Carthaginians were strongest at sea, they subdued all the inhabitants of Sardinia except the Ilians and the Corsicans; and these resisted slavery by the strength of their mountain strongholds. Moreover, the Carthaginians themselves established in the island the cities of Caralis and Sulci. Certain Libyans and Iberians, who were serving as mercenaries for the Carthaginians, engaged in disputes over the distribution of booty and, seizing the opportunity afforded by their anger, revolted and established themselves in the mountainous parts of the island. These men are called Balari in the language of the Cyrnians; for the Cyrnians name exiles "Balari."

Proper Nouns

Balares (Βαλαροί) person
Carthaginians (Καρχηδόνιοι) person
Corsicans (Κορσοί) person
Also in: 10.17.8
Cyrnians (Corsicans) (Κύρνιοι) person
Libyans (Λίβυες) person
Ilians (Ἰλεῖς) person
Iberians (Ἴβηρες) person
Also in: 1.33.4 10.17.5
Karalis (Cagliari) (Κάραλις) place
Sardinia (Σαρδών) place Q1462
Sulci (Σύλκοι) place Q1782566
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