Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.7.6

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Passage 4.7.6: Euphaes fortifies the Messenian camp with palisades, trapping the Lacedaemonians.

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

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.

English Translation

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.

Proper Nouns

Euphaes (Εὐφαής) person Q5850304
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Messenians (Μεσσήνιοι) person
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