Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.29.2

← 4.29.1 4.29.3 →

Passage 4.29.2: Demetrius's surprise dawn entry into Messene through the wall at Ithome.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

χρημάτων ἐσπανίζετο Φίλιππος, καὶ---ἔδει γὰρ πάντως οἱ γενέσθαι χρήματα--- ἀποστέλλει Δημήτριον ναυσὶν ἐς Πελοπόννησον. Δημήτριος δὲ κατήγετό που τῆς Ἀργείας ἐς λιμένα τῶν ἐρημοτέρων· αὐτίκα δὲ ὡς εἶχε διὰ τῶν ἐπιτομωτάτων τῆς χώρας τὴν στρατιὰν ἦγεν ἐπὶ Μεσσήνης. προτάξας δὲ ὅσον ἦν τῶν τε ὅπλων τῇ σκευῇ κοῦφον καὶ τῆς ἐς τὴν Ἰθώμην εἶχεν ὁδοῦ οὐκ ἀπείρως, λανθάνει περὶ ὄρθρον μάλιστα ὑπερβὰς τὸ τεῖχος, καθὸ τῆς τε πόλεως μεταξὺ ἦν καὶ ἄκρας τῆς Ἰθώμης.

English Translation

Philip found himself short of funds, and—because it was absolutely necessary for him to obtain money—he sent Demetrius by sea into the Peloponnese. Demetrius made his landing at some deserted harbor in the Argolid, and then immediately took his army by the shortest possible route through the country towards Messene. Sending ahead lightly equipped troops and those who were thoroughly familiar with the road leading up to Ithome, he passed unnoticed over the wall around dawn, at precisely the point between the city itself and the citadel of Ithome.

Proper Nouns

Demetrius (Δημήτριος) person
Philip (Φίλιππος) person
Messene (Μεσσήνη) place Q1022117
Peloponnese (Πελοπόννησος) place Q78967
Argolis (Ἀργεία) place Q12649101
Ithome (Ἰθώμη) place Q602538
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