Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.7.4

← 9.7.3 9.7.5 →

Passage 9.7.4: Thebes' circuit wall rebuilt under Cassander and its later shifting alliances.

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

Κασσάνδρῳ μὲν ὅστις δὴ θεῶν τὴν δίκην ἔμελλεν ἀποδώσειν· Θηβαίοις δὲ ἐπὶ μὲν Κασσάνδρου πᾶς ὁ ἀρχαῖος περίβολος ἀνῳκίσθη, ἔδει δὲ ἄρα καὶ ὕστερον κακῶν σφᾶς μεγάλων γεύσασθαι. Μιθριδάτῃ γὰρ καταστάντι ἐς τὸν πρὸς Ῥωμαίους πόλεμον προσεχώρησαν Θηβαῖοι κατʼ ἄλλο ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν οὐδέν, τοῦ δὲ Ἀθηναίων δήμου φιλίᾳ. Σύλλα δὲ ἐσβαλόντος ἐς τὴν Βοιωτίαν δεῖμα ἔσχε τοὺς Θηβαίους, καὶ ἐγνωσιμάχησάν τε αὐτίκα καὶ ἐτράποντο αὖθις ἐς τὴν Ῥωμαίων φιλίαν.

English Translation

Whichever of the gods it was who was to exact punishment on Cassander, he indeed paid the penalty. As for the Thebans, under Cassander's rule the entire ancient circuit-wall was rebuilt; yet even afterwards they were evidently destined to experience great misfortunes. For when Mithridates had entered upon war against the Romans, the Thebans joined him—not, as I suppose, from any other motive than friendship for the Athenian people. But when Sulla invaded Boeotia, fear overtook the Thebans, and they swiftly reconsidered their decision, returning once again to friendship with the Romans.

Proper Nouns

Thebans (Θηβαῖοι) person
Cassander (Κάσσανδρος) person
Mithridates (Μιθριδάτης) person
Sulla (Σύλλας) person
Athenians (Ἀθηναῖοι) person
Romans (Ῥωμαῖοι) person
Boeotia (Βοιωτία) place Q187570
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