Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.21.4

← 4.21.3 4.21.5 →

Passage 4.21.4: Aristomenes' aborted night attack on the Messenians.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐν μὲν δὴ νυκτὶ οὐδὲν ἄξιον ἐπράχθη λόγου παρʼ οὐδετέρων· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἡ ἀπειρία τῶν τόπων καὶ ἡ τόλμα τοῦ Ἀριστομένους παρεῖχε μελλησμόν, τοῖς δὲ Μεσσηνίοις οὔτε παρὰ τῶν στρατηγῶν σύνθημα ἐγεγόνει φθάνοντας εἰληφέναι τάς τε δᾷδας, ἢ εἴ τινα λαμπτῆρα ἀλλοῖον ἅψαιτό τις, ὕων ἂν ἐσβέννυεν ὁ θεός.

English Translation

During that night indeed, nothing worthy of note was accomplished on either side; for on the one hand, their unfamiliarity with the region and the audacity of Aristomenes caused hesitation, while on the other, the Messenians received no prearranged signal from their commanders. Moreover, if any torches had been kindled prematurely or if someone attempted to ignite another type of lamp, the god, by sending rain, would have extinguished it.

Proper Nouns

god (θεός) deity
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
Aristomenes (Ἀριστομένης) person
← 4.21.3 4.21.5 →