--- title: "The Jewish War · Ἱστορία Ἰουδαϊκοῦ πολέμου πρὸς Ῥωμαίους" author: "Josephus" translator: "William Whiston" languages: [grc, en] shelf: "Second Temple" section: 17 of 38 url: https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-war-greek/17/ cite: "Josephus, tr. William Whiston, The Jewish War · Ἱστορία Ἰουδαϊκοῦ πολέμου πρὸς Ῥωμαίους, section 17. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-war-greek/17/" --- # The Jewish War · Ἱστορία Ἰουδαϊκοῦ πολέμου πρὸς Ῥωμαίους *Josephus, tr. William Whiston* The revolt against Rome and the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, told by a Jewish general who fought in it and then went over to the Romans: Niese’s Greek beside Whiston’s English, section by section. > Greek: ed. Benedikt Niese, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0526.tlg004, CC BY-SA 4.0). > English: William Whiston, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0526.tlg004.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence. ## 17. Book III · sections 1–127 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-war-greek/17/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/josephus-jewish-war-greek/17/#p-N [¶0] 1. WHEN Nero was informed of the Romans’ ill success in Judea, a concealed consternation and terror, as is usual in such cases, fell upon him; although he openly looked very big, and was very angry, and said that what had happened was rather owing to the negligence of the commander, than to any valor of the enemy: and as he thought it fit for him, who bare the burden of the whole empire, to despise such misfortunes, he now pretended so to do, and to have a soul superior to all such sad accidents whatsoever. Yet did the disturbance that was in his soul plainly appear by the solicitude he was in [how to recover his affairs again]. > Greek: 1. Νέρωνι δʼ ὡς ἠγγέλη τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἰουδαίαν πταίσματα, λεληθυῖα μὲν ὡς εἰκὸς ἔκπληξις ἐμπίπτει καὶ δέος, φανερῶς δὲ ὑπερηφάνει καὶ προσωργίζετο, στρατηγῶν μὲν ῥᾳστώνῃ μᾶλλον ἢ ταῖς τῶν πολεμίων ἀρεταῖς γεγονέναι τὰ συμβάντα λέγων, πρέπειν δʼ ἡγούμενος ἑαυτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄγκον τῆς ἡγεμονίας κατασοβαρεύεσθαι τῶν σκυθρωπῶν καὶ δοκεῖν δεινοῦ παντὸς ἐπάνω τὴν ψυχὴν ἔχειν. [¶1] 3. And as he was deliberating to whom he should commit the care of the East, now it was in so great a commotion, and who might be best able to punish the Jews for their rebellion, and might prevent the same distemper from seizing upon the neighboring nations also, - he found no one but Vespasian equal to the task, and able to undergo the great burden of so mighty a war, seeing he was growing an old man already in the camp, and from his youth had been exercised in warlike exploits: he was also a man that had long ago pacified the west, and made it subject to the Romans, when it had been put into disorder by the Germans; he had also recovered to them Britain by his arms, which had been little known before whereby he procured to his father Claudius to have a triumph bestowed on him without any sweat or labor of his own. > Greek: 3. διηλέγχετό γε μὴν ὁ τῆς ψυχῆς θόρυβος ὑπὸ τῶν φροντίδων σκεπτομένου τίνι πιστεύσει κινουμένην τὴν ἀνατολήν, ὃς τιμωρήσεται μὲν τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἐπανάστασιν, προκαταλήψεται δʼ αὐτοῖς ἤδη καὶ τὰ πέριξ ἔθνη συννοσοῦντα. μόνον εὑρίσκει Οὐεσπασιανὸν ταῖς χρείαις ἀναλογοῦντα καὶ τηλικούτου πολέμου μέγεθος ἀναδέξασθαι δυνάμενον, ἄνδρα ταῖς ἀπὸ νεότητος στρατείαις ἐγγεγηρακότα καὶ προειρηνεύσαντα μὲν πάλαι Ῥωμαίοις τὴν ἑσπέραν ὑπὸ Γερμανῶν ταρασσομένην, προσκτησάμενον δὲ τοῖς ὅπλοις Βρεττανίαν τέως λανθάνουσαν, ὅθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ πατρὶ Κλαυδίῳ παρέσχε χωρὶς ἱδρῶτος ἰδίου θρίαμβον καταγαγεῖν. [¶2] 6. So Nero esteemed these circumstances as favorable omens, and saw that Vespasian's age gave him sure experience, and great skill, and that he had his sons as hostages for his fidelity to himself, and that the flourishing age they were in would make them fit instruments under their father's prudence. Perhaps also there was some interposition of Providence, which was paving the way for Vespasian's being himself emperor afterwards. Upon the whole, he sent this man to take upon him the command of the armies that were in Syria; but this not without great encomiums and flattering compellations, such as necessity required, and such as might mollify him into complaisance. So Vespasian sent his son Titus from Achaia, where he had been with Nero, to Alexandria, to bring back with him from thence the fifth and. the tenth legions, while he himself, when he had passed over the Hellespont, came by land into Syria, where he gathered together the Roman forces, with a considerable number of auxiliaries from the kings in that neighborhood. > Greek: 6. Ταῦτά τε δὴ προκλῃδονιζόμενος καὶ σταθερὰν μετʼ ἐμπειρίας τὴν ἡλικίαν ὁρῶν, μέγα δὲ πίστεως αὐτοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς ὅμηρον καὶ τὰς τούτων ἀκμὰς χεῖρα τῆς πατρῴας συνέσεως, τάχα τι καὶ περὶ τῶν ὅλων ἤδη τοῦ θεοῦ προοικονομουμένου, πέμπει τὸν ἄνδρα ληψόμενον τὴν ἡγεμονίαν τῶν ἐπὶ Συρίας στρατευμάτων, πολλὰ πρὸς τὸ ἐπεῖγον οἷα κελεύουσιν αἱ ἀνάγκαι μειλιξάμενός τε καὶ προθεραπεύσας. ὁ δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, ἔνθα συνῆν τῷ Νέρωνι, τὸν μὲν υἱὸν Τίτον ἀπέστειλεν ἐπʼ Ἀλεξανδρείας τὸ πέμπτον καὶ δέκατον ἐκεῖθεν ἀναστήσοντα τάγμα, περάσας δʼ αὐτὸς τὸν Ἑλλήσποντον πεζὸς εἰς Συρίαν ἀφικνεῖται κἀκεῖ τάς τε Ῥωμαϊκὰς δυνάμεις συνήγαγε καὶ συχνοὺς παρὰ τῶν γειτνιώντων βασιλέων συμμάχους. [¶3] 9. Now the Jews, after they had beaten Cestius, were so much elevated with their unexpected success, that they could not govern their zeal, but, like people blown up into a flame by their good fortune, carried the war to remoter places. Accordingly, they presently got together a great multitude of all their most hardy soldiers, and marched away for Ascalon. This is an ancient city that is distant from Jerusalem five hundred and twenty furlongs, and was always an enemy to the Jews; on which account they determined to make their first effort against it, and to make their approaches to it as near as possible. This excursion was led on by three men, who were the chief of them all, both for strength and sagacity; Niger, called the Persite, Silas of Babylon, and besides them John the Essene. Now Ascalon was strongly walled about, but had almost no assistance to be relied on [near them], for the garrison consisted of one cohort of footmen, and one troop of horsemen, whose captain was Antonius. > Greek: 9. Ἰουδαῖοι δὲ μετὰ τὴν Κεστίου πληγὴν ἐπηρμένοι ταῖς ἀδοκήτοις εὐπραγίαις ἀκρατεῖς ἦσαν ὁρμῆς καὶ ὥσπερ ἐκριπιζόμενοι τῇ τύχῃ προσωτέρω τὸν πόλεμον ἐξῆγον· πᾶν γοῦν εὐθέως ὅσον ἦν μαχιμώτατον αὐτοῖς ἀθροισθέντες ὥρμησαν ἐπʼ Ἀσκάλωνα. πόλις ἐστὶν ἀρχαία τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων εἴκοσι πρὸς τοῖς πεντακοσίοις ἀπέχουσα σταδίους ἀεὶ διὰ μίσους Ἰουδαίοις γεγενημένη, διὸ καὶ τότε ταῖς πρώταις ὁρμαῖς ἐγγίων ἔδοξεν. ἐξηγοῦντο δὲ τῆς καταδρομῆς τρεῖς ἄνδρες ἀλκήν τε κορυφαῖοι καὶ συνέσει, Νίγερ τε ὁ Περαΐτης καὶ ὁ Βαβυλώνιος Σίλας, πρὸς οἷς Ἰωάννης ὁ Ἐσσαῖος. ἡ δὲ Ἀσκάλων ἐτετείχιστο μὲν καρτερῶς, βοηθείας δὲ ἦν σχεδὸν ἔρημος· ἐφρουρεῖτο γὰρ ὑπό τε σπείρας πεζῶν καὶ ὑπὸ μιᾶς ἴλης ἱππέων, ἧς ἐπῆρχεν Ἀντώνιος. [¶4] 13. These Jews, therefore, out of their anger, marched faster than ordinary, and, as if they had come but a little way, approached very near the city, and were come even to it; but Antonius, who was not unapprized of the attack they were going to make upon the city, drew out his horsemen beforehand, and being neither daunted at the multitude, nor at the courage of the enemy, received their first attacks with great bravery; and when they crowded to the very walls, he beat them off. Now the Jews were unskillful in war, but were to fight with those who were skillful therein; they were footmen to fight with horsemen; they were in disorder, to fight those that were united together; they were poorly armed, to fight those that were completely so; they were to fight more by their rage than by sober counsel, and were exposed to soldiers that were exactly obedient; and did every thing they were bidden upon the least intimation. So they were easily beaten; for as soon as ever their first ranks were once in disorder, they were put to flight by the enemy's cavalry, and those of them that came behind such as crowded to the wall fell upon their own party's weapons, and became one another's enemies; and this so long till they were all forced to give way to the attacks of the horsemen, and were dispersed all the plain over, which plain was wide, and all fit for the horsemen; which circumstance was very commodious for the Romans, and occasioned the slaughter of the greatest number of the Jews; for such as ran away, they could overrun them, and make them turn back; and when they had brought them back after their flight, and driven them together, they ran them through, and slew a vast number of them, insomuch that others encompassed others of them, and drove them before them whithersoever they turned themselves, and slew them easily with their arrows; and the great number there were of the Jews seemed a solitude to themselves, by reason of the distress they were in, while the Romans had such good success with their small number, that they seemed to themselves to be the greater multitude. And as the former strove zealously under their misfortunes, out of the shame of a sudden flight, and hopes of the change in their success, so did the latter feel no weariness by reason of their good fortune; insomuch that the fight lasted till the evening, till ten thousand men of the Jews’ side lay dead, with two of their generals, John and Silas, and the greater part of the remainder were wounded, with Niger, their remaining general, who fled away together to a small city of Idumea, called Sallis. Some few also of the Romans were wounded in this battle. > Greek: 13. Οἱ μὲν οὖν πολὺ ταῖς ὁρμαῖς συντονώτερον ὁδεύσαντες ὡς ἐγγύθεν ὡρμημένοι καὶ δὴ παρῆσαν· ὁ δὲ Ἀντώνιος, οὐ γὰρ ἠγνόει μέλλουσαν ἔτι τὴν ἔφοδον αὐτῶν, προεξήγαγε τοὺς ἱππεῖς καὶ οὐδὲν οὔτε πρὸς τὸ πλῆθος οὔτε τὴν τόλμαν ὑποδείσας τῶν πολεμίων καρτερῶς τὰς πρώτας ὁρμὰς ἀνεδέξατο καὶ τοὺς ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος ὠθουμένους ἀνέστειλεν. οἱ δὲ πρὸς ἐμπείρους πολέμων ἄπειροι καὶ πεζοὶ πρὸς ἱππεῖς, ἀσύντακτοί τε πρὸς ἡνωμένους καὶ πρὸς ὁπλίτας ἐξηρτυμένους εἰκαιότερον ὡπλισμένοι, θυμῷ τε πλέον ἢ βουλῇ στρατηγούμενοι πρὸς εὐπειθεῖς καὶ νεύματι πάντα πράττοντας ἀντιτασσόμενοι πονοῦσιν ῥᾳδίως· ὡς γὰρ αὐτῶν ἅπαξ ἤδη συνεταράχθησαν αἱ πρῶται φάλαγγες, ὑπὸ τῆς ἵππου τρέπονται, καὶ τοῖς κατόπιν αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος βιαζομένοις περιπίπτοντες ἀλλήλων ἦσαν πολέμιοι, μέχρι πάντες ταῖς τῶν ἱππέων ἐμβολαῖς εἴξαντες ἐσκεδάσθησαν ἀνὰ πᾶν τὸ πεδίον· τὸ δὲ ἦν πολὺ καὶ πᾶν ἱππάσιμον. ὃ δὴ καὶ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις συνεργῆσαν πλεῖστον εἰργάσατο τῶν Ἰουδαίων φόνον· τούς τε γὰρ φεύγοντας αὐτῶν φθάνοντες ἐπέστρεφον καὶ τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ δρόμου συνειλουμένων διεκπαίοντες ἀπείρους ἀνῄρουν, ἄλλοι δὲ ἄλλους ὅπῃ τρέποιντο κυκλούμενοι καὶ περιελαύνοντες κατηκόντιζον ῥᾳδίως. καὶ τοῖς μὲν Ἰουδαίοις τὸ ἴδιον πλῆθος ἐρημία παρὰ τὰς ἀμηχανίας κατεφαίνετο, Ῥωμαῖοι δὲ ἐν ταῖς εὐπραγίαις καίπερ ὄντες ὀλίγοι τῷ πολέμῳ καὶ περισσεύειν σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ὑπελάμβανον. καὶ τῶν μὲν προσφιλονεικούντων τοῖς πταίσμασιν αἰδοῖ τε φυγῆς ταχείας καὶ μεταβολῆς ἐλπίδι, τῶν δὲ μὴ κοπιώντων ἐν οἷς εὐτύχουν, παρέτεινεν ἡ μάχη μέχρι δείλης, ἕως ἀνῃρέθησαν μὲν μύριοι τῶν Ἰουδαίων τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἄνδρες καὶ δύο τῶν ἡγεμόνων, Ἰωάννης τε καὶ Σίλας· οἱ λοιποὶ δὲ τραυματίαι τὸ πλέον σὺν τῷ περιλειπομένῳ τῶν ἡγεμόνων Νίγερι τῆς Ἰδουμαίας εἰς πολίχνην τινά, Χάαλλις καλεῖται, συνέφυγον. ὀλίγοι δέ τινες καὶ τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐπὶ τῆσδε τῆς παρατάξεως ἐτρώθησαν. [¶5] 22. Yet were not the spirits of the Jews broken by so great a calamity, but the losses they had sustained rather quickened their resolution for other attempts; for, overlooking the dead bodies which lay under their feet, they were enticed by their former glorious actions to venture on a second destruction; so when they had lain still so little a while that their wounds were not yet thoroughly cured, they got together all their forces, and came with greater fury, and in much greater numbers, to Ascalon. But their former ill fortune followed them, as the consequence of their unskilfulness, and other deficiencies in war; for Antonius laid ambushes for them in the passages they were to go through, where they fell into snares unexpectedly, and where they were encompassed about with horsemen, before they could form themselves into a regular body for fighting, and were above eight thousand of them slain; so all the rest of them ran away, and with them Niger, who still did a great many bold exploits in his flight. However, they were driven along together by the enemy, who pressed hard upon them, into a certain strong tower belonging to a village called Bezedeh However, Antonius and his party, that they might neither spend any considerable time about this tower, which was hard to be taken, nor suffer their commander, and the most courageous man of them all, to escape from them, they set the wall on fire; and as the tower was burning, the Romans went away rejoicing, as taking it for granted that Niger was destroyed; but he leaped out of the tower into a subterraneous cave, in the innermost part of it, and was preserved; and on the third day afterward he spake out of the ground to those that with great lamentation were searching for him, in order to give him a decent funeral; and when he was come out, he filled all the Jews with an unexpected joy, as though he were preserved by God's providence to be their commander for the time to come. > Greek: 22. Οὐ μὴν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τηλικαύτῃ συμφορᾷ κατεστάλησαν τὰ φρονήματα, μᾶλλον δʼ αὐτῶν τὸ πάθος ἤγειρε τὰς τόλμας, ὑπερορῶντές τε τοὺς ἐν ποσὶ νεκροὺς ἐδελεάζοντο τοῖς προτέροις κατορθώμασιν ἐπὶ πληγὴν δευτέραν. διαλιπόντες γοῦν οὐδʼ ὅσον ἰάσασθαι τὰ τραύματα καὶ τὴν δύναμιν πᾶσαν ἐπισυλλέξαντες ὀργιλώτερον καὶ πολλῷ πλείους ἐπαλινδρόμουν ἐπὶ τὴν Ἀσκάλωνα. παρείπετο δʼ αὐτοῖς μετά τε τῆς ἀπειρίας καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πρὸς πόλεμον ἐλασσωμάτων ἡ προτέρα τύχη· τοῦ γὰρ Ἀντωνίου τὰς παρόδους προλοχίσαντος ἀδόκητοι ταῖς ἐνέδραις ἐμπεσόντες καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἱππέων πρὶν εἰς μάχην συντάξασθαι κυκλωθέντες, πάλιν πίπτουσι μὲν ὑπὲρ ὀκτακισχιλίους, οἱ λοιποὶ δὲ πάντες ἔφυγον, σὺν οἷς καὶ Νίγερ, πολλὰ κατὰ τὴν φυγὴν εὐτολμίας ἐπιδειξάμενος ἔργα, συνελαύνονταί τε προσκειμένων τῶν πολεμίων εἴς τινα πύργον ὀχυρὸν κώμης Βελζεδὲκ καλουμένης. οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν Ἀντώνιον ὡς μήτε τρίβοιντο περὶ τὸν πύργον ὄντα δυσάλωτον μήτε ζῶντα τὸν ἡγεμόνα καὶ γενναιότατον τῶν πολεμίων περιίδοιεν, ὑποπιμπρᾶσι τὸ τεῖχος. φλεγομένου δὲ τοῦ πύργου Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν ἀναχωροῦσι γεγηθότες ὡς διεφθαρμένου καὶ Νίγερος, ὁ δὲ εἰς τὸ μυχαίτατον τοῦ φρουρίου σπήλαιον καταπηδήσας ἐκ τοῦ πύργου διασώζεται, καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας τρεῖς τοῖς μετʼ ὀλοφυρμοῦ πρὸς κηδείαν αὐτὸν ἐρευνῶσιν ὑποφθέγγεται. προελθὼν δὲ χαρᾶς ἀνελπίστου πάντας ἐπλήρωσεν Ἰουδαίους ὡς προνοίᾳ θεοῦ σωθεὶς αὐτοῖς στρατηγὸς εἰς τὰ μέλλοντα. [¶6] 29. And now Vespasian took along with him his army from Antioch, (which is the metropolis of Syria, and without dispute deserves the place of the third city in the habitable earth that was under the Roman empire, both in magnitude, and other marks of prosperity,) where he found king Agrippa, with all his forces, waiting for his coming, and marched to Ptolemais. At this city also the inhabitants of Sepphoris of Galilee met him, who were for peace with the Romans. These citizens had beforehand taken care of their own safety, and being sensible of the power of the Romans, they had been with Cestius Gallus before Vespasian came, and had given their faith to him, and received the security of his right hand, and had received a Roman garrison; and at this time withal they received Vespasian, the Roman general, very kindly, and readily promised that they would assist him against their own countrymen. Now the general delivered them, at their desire, as many horsemen and footmen as he thought sufficient to oppose the incursions of the Jews, if they should come against them. And indeed the danger of losing Sepphoris would be no small one, in this war that was now beginning, seeing it was the largest city of Galilee, and built in a place by nature very strong, and might be a security of the whole nation's [fidelity to the Romans]. > Greek: 29. Οὐεσπασιανὸς δὲ τὰς δυνάμεις ἀναλαβὼν ἐκ τῆς Ἀντιοχείας, ἣ μητρόπολίς ἐστι τῆς Συρίας, μεγέθους τε ἕνεκα καὶ τῆς ἄλλης εὐδαιμονίας τρίτον ἀδηρίτως ἐπὶ τῆς ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίοις οἰκουμένης ἔχουσα τόπον, ἔνθα μετὰ πάσης τῆς ἰδίας ἰσχύος ἐκδεχόμενον αὐτοῦ τὴν ἄφιξιν καὶ Ἀγρίππαν τὸν βασιλέα κατειλήφει, ἐπὶ Πτολεμαΐδος ἠπείγετο. καὶ κατὰ ταύτην ὑπαντῶσιν αὐτῷ τὴν πόλιν οἱ τῆς Γαλιλαίας Σέπφωριν νεμόμενοι πόλιν, μόνοι τῶν τῇδε εἰρηνικὰ φρονοῦντες· οἳ καὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίας καὶ τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἰσχύος οὐκ ἀπρονόητοι πρὶν ἀφικέσθαι Οὐεσπασιανὸν Καισεννίῳ Γάλλῳ πίστεις τε ἔδοσαν καὶ δεξιὰς ἔλαβον καὶ παρεδέξαντο φρουράν. τότε γε μὴν φιλοφρόνως ἐκδεξάμενοι τὸν ἡγεμόνα προθύμως σφᾶς αὐτοὺς ὑπέσχοντο κατὰ τῶν ὁμοφύλων συμμάχους· οἷς ὁ στρατηγὸς ἀξιώσασι τέως πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν ἱππεῖς τε καὶ πεζοὺς παραδίδωσιν ὅσους ἀνθέξειν ταῖς καταδρομαῖς, εἴ τι Ἰουδαῖοι παρακινοῖεν, ὑπελάμβανον· καὶ γὰρ οὐ μικρὸν ἐδόκει τὸ κινδύνευμα πρὸς τὸν μέλλοντα πόλεμον ἀφαιρεθῆναι τὴν Σέπφωριν, μεγίστην μὲν οὖσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας πόλιν, ἐρυμνοτάτῳ δʼ ἐπιτετειχισμένην χωρίῳ καὶ φρουρὰν ὅλου τοῦ ἔθνους ἐσομένην. [¶7] 35. NOW Phoenicia and Syria encompass about the Galilees, which are two, and called the Upper Galilee and the Lower. They are bounded toward the sun-setting, with the borders of the territory belonging to Ptolemais, and by Carmel; which mountain had formerly belonged to the Galileans, but now belonged to the Tyrians; to which mountain adjoins Gaba, which is called the City of Horsemen, because those horsemen that were dismissed by Herod the king dwelt therein; they are bounded on the south with Samaria and Scythopolis, as far as the river Jordan; on the east with Hippeae and Gadaris, and also with Ganlonitis, and the borders of the kingdom of Agrippa; its northern parts are hounded by Tyre, and the country of the Tyrians. As for that Galilee which is called the Lower, it, extends in length from Tiberias to Zabulon, and of the maritime places Ptolemais is its neighbor; its breadth is from the village called Xaloth, which lies in the great plain, as far as Bersabe, from which beginning also is taken the breadth of the Upper Galilee, as far as the village Baca, which divides the land of the Tyrians from it; its length is also from Meloth to Thella, a village near to Jordan. > Greek: 35. Δύο δʼ οὔσας τὰς Γαλιλαίας, τήν τε ἄνω καὶ τὴν κάτω προσαγορευομένην, περιίσχει μὲν ἡ Φοινίκη τε καὶ Συρία, διορίζει δὲ ἀπὸ μὲν δύσεως ἡλίου Πτολεμαῒς τοῖς τῆς χώρας τέρμασι καὶ Κάρμηλος, τὸ πάλαι μὲν Γαλιλαίων, νῦν δὲ Τυρίων ὄρος· ᾧ προσίσχει Γαβαά, πόλις ἱππέων, οὕτω προσαγορευομένη διὰ τὸ τοὺς ὑφʼ Ἡρώδου βασιλέως ἀπολυομένους ἱππεῖς ἐν αὐτῇ κατοικεῖν· ἀπὸ δὲ μεσημβρίας Σαμαρεῖτίς τε καὶ Σκυθόπολις μέχρι τῶν Ἰορδάνου ναμάτων. πρὸς ἕω δὲ Ἱππηνῇ τε καὶ Γαδάροις ἀποτέμνεται καὶ τῇ Γαυλωνίτιδι· ταύτῃ καὶ τῆς Ἀγρίππα βασιλείας ὅροι. τὰ προσάρκτια δʼ αὐτῆς Τύρῳ τε καὶ τῇ Τυρίων χώρᾳ περατοῦται. καὶ τῆς μὲν κάτω καλουμένης Γαλιλαίας ἀπὸ Τιβεριάδος μέχρι Χαβουλών, ἧς ἐν τοῖς παραλίοις Πτολεμαῒς γείτων, τὸ μῆκος ἐκτείνεται. πλατύνεται δʼ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν τῷ μεγάλῳ πεδίῳ κειμένης κώμης, Ἐξαλὼθ καλεῖται, μέχρι Βηρσάβης, ἣ καὶ τῆς ἄνω Γαλιλαίας εἰς εὖρος ἀρχὴ μέχρι Βακὰ κώμης· αὕτη δὲ τὴν Τυρίων γῆν ὁρίζει. μηκύνεται δὲ μέχρι Μηρὼθ ἀπὸ Θελλᾶ κώμης Ἰορδάνου γείτονος. [¶8] 41. These two Galilees, of so great largeness, and encompassed with so many nations of foreigners, have been always able to make a strong resistance on all occasions of war; for the Galileans are inured to war from their infancy, and have been always very numerous; nor hath the country been ever destitute of men of courage, or wanted a numerous set of them; for their soil is universally rich and fruitful, and full of the plantations of trees of all sorts, insomuch that it invites the most slothful to take pains in its cultivation, by its fruitfulness; accordingly, it is all cultivated by its inhabitants, and no part of it lies idle. Moreover, the cities lie here very thick, and the very many villages there are here are every where so full of people, by the richness of their soil, that the very least of them contain above fifteen thousand inhabitants. > Greek: 41. Τηλικαῦται δʼ οὖσαι τὸ μέγεθος καὶ τοσούτοις ἔθνεσιν ἀλλοφύλοις κεκυκλωμέναι πρὸς πᾶσαν ἀεὶ πολέμου πεῖραν ἀντέσχον· μάχιμοί τε γὰρ ἐκ νηπίων καὶ πολλοὶ Γαλιλαῖοι πάντοτε, καὶ οὔτε δειλία ποτὲ τοὺς ἄνδρας οὔτε λιπανδρία τὴν χώραν κατέσχεν, ἐπειδὴ πίων τε πᾶσα καὶ εὔβοτος καὶ δένδρεσι παντοίοις κατάφυτος, ὡς ὑπὸ τῆς εὐπετείας προκαλέσασθαι καὶ τὸν ἥκιστα γῆς φιλόπονον. προσησκήθη γοῦν ὑπὸ τῶν οἰκητόρων πᾶσα, καὶ μέρος αὐτῆς ἀργὸν οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πόλεις πυκναὶ καὶ τὸ τῶν κωμῶν πλῆθος πανταχοῦ πολυάνθρωπον διὰ τὴν εὐθηνίαν, ὡς τὴν ἐλαχίστην ὑπὲρ πεντακισχιλίους πρὸς τοῖς μυρίοις ἔχειν οἰκήτορας. [¶9] 44. In short, if any one will suppose that Galilee is inferior to Perea in magnitude, he will be obliged to prefer it before it in its strength; for this is all capable of cultivation, and is every where fruitful; but for Perea, which is indeed much larger in extent, the greater part of it is desert and rough, and much less disposed for the production of the milder kinds of fruits; yet hath it a moist soil [in other parts], and produces all kinds of fruits, and its plains are planted with trees of all sorts, while yet the olive tree, the vine, and the palm tree are chiefly cultivated there. It is also sufficiently watered with torrents, which issue out of the mountains, and with springs that never fail to run, even when the torrents fail them, as they do in the dog-days. Now the length of Perea is from Macherus to Pella, and its breadth from Philadelphia to Jordan; its northern parts are bounded by Pella, as we have already said, as well as its Western with Jordan; the land of Moab is its southern border, and its eastern limits reach to Arabia, and Silbonitis, and besides to Philadelphene and Gerasa. > Greek: 44. Καθόλου δέ, εἰ καὶ τῷ μεγέθει τις ἐλαττώσειε τῆς Περαίας τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, προέλοιτο δʼ ἂν τῇ δυνάμει· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἐνεργὸς ὅλη καὶ συνεχής ἐστιν καρποφόρος, ἡ Περαία δὲ πολὺ μὲν μείζων, ἔρημος δὲ καὶ τραχεῖα τὸ πλέον πρός τε καρπῶν ἡμέρων αὔξησιν ἀγριωτέρα, τό γε μὴν μαλθακὸν αὐτῆς καὶ πάμφορον, καὶ τὰ πεδία δένδρεσι ποικίλοις κατάφυτα τὸ πλεῖστόν τε ἐλαίαν [τε] καὶ ἄμπελον καὶ φοινικῶνας ἤσκηται, διαρδομένη χειμάρροις τε τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ὀρῶν καὶ πηγαῖς ἀεννάοις ἅλις, εἴ ποτʼ ἐκεῖνοι σειρίῳ φθίνοιεν. μῆκος μὲν [οὖν] αὐτῆς ἀπὸ Μαχαιροῦντος εἰς Πέλλαν, εὖρος δʼ ἀπὸ Φιλαδελφείας μέχρι Ἰορδάνου. καὶ Πέλλῃ μέν, ἣν προειρήκαμεν, τὰ πρὸς ἄρκτον ὁρίζεται, πρὸς ἑσπέραν δὲ Ἰορδάνῃ· μεσημβρινὸν δʼ αὐτῆς πέρας ἡ Μωαβῖτις, καὶ πρὸς ἀνατολὴν Ἀραβίᾳ τε καὶ Σιλωνίτιδι, πρὸς δὲ Φιλαδελφηνῇ καὶ Γεράσοις ἀποτέμνεται. [¶10] 48. Now as to the country of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee; it begins at a village that is in the great plain called Ginea, and ends at the Acrabbene toparchy, and is entirely of the same nature with Judea; for both countries are made up of hills and valleys, and are moist enough for agriculture, and are very fruitful. They have abundance of trees, and are full of autumnal fruit, both that which grows wild, and that which is the effect of cultivation. They are not naturally watered by many rivers, but derive their chief moisture from rain-water, of which they have no want; and for those rivers which they have, all their waters are exceeding sweet: by reason also of the excellent grass they have, their cattle yield more milk than do those in other places; and, what is the greatest sign of excellency and of abundance, they each of them are very full of people. > Greek: 48. Ἡ δὲ Σαμαρεῖτις χώρα μέση μὲν τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐστὶ καὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίας· ἀρχομένη γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ κειμένης Γηνεὼς ὄνομα κώμης ἐπιλήγει τῆς Ἀκραβετηνῶν τοπαρχίας· φύσιν δὲ τῆς Ἰουδαίας κατʼ οὐδὲν διάφορος. ἀμφότεραι γὰρ ὀρειναὶ καὶ πεδιάδες, εἴς τε γεωργίαν μαλθακαὶ καὶ πολύφοροι κατάδενδροί τε καὶ ὀπώρας ὀρεινῆς καὶ ἡμέρου μεσταί, παρʼ ὅσον οὐδαμοῦ φύσει διψάδες, ὕονται δὲ τὸ πλέον· γλυκὺ δὲ νᾶμα πᾶν διαφόρως ἐν αὐταῖς, καὶ διὰ πλῆθος πόας ἀγαθῆς τὰ κτήνη πλέον ἢ παρʼ ἄλλοις γαλακτοφόρα. μέγιστόν γε μὴν τεκμήριον ἀρετῆς καὶ εὐθηνίας τὸ πληθύειν ἀνδρῶν ἑκατέραν. [¶11] 51. In the limits of Samaria and Judea lies the village Anuath, which is also named Borceos. This is the northern boundary of Judea. The southern parts of Judea, if they be measured lengthways, are bounded by a Village adjoining to the confines of Arabia; the Jews that dwell there call it Jordan. However, its breadth is extended from the river Jordan to Joppa. The city Jerusalem is situated in the very middle; on which account some have, with sagacity enough, called that city the Navel of the country. Nor indeed is Judea destitute of such delights as come from the sea, since its maritime places extend as far as Ptolemais: it was parted into eleven portions, of which the royal city Jerusalem was the supreme, and presided over all the neighboring country, as the head does over the body. As to the other cities that were inferior to it, they presided over their several toparchies; Gophna was the second of those cities, and next to that Acrabatta, after them Thamna, and Lydda, and Emmaus, and Pella, and Idumea, and Engaddi, and Herodium, and Jericho; and after them came Jamnia and Joppa, as presiding over the neighboring people; and besides these there was the region of Gamala, and Gaulonitis, and Batanea, and Trachonitis, which are also parts of the kingdom of Agrippa. This [last] country begins at Mount Libanus, and the fountains of Jordan, and reaches breadthways to the lake of Tiberias; and in length is extended from a village called Arpha, as far as Julias. Its inhabitants are a mixture of Jews and Syrians. And thus have I, with all possible brevity, described the country of Judea, and those that lie round about it. > Greek: 51. Μεθόριος δʼ αὐτῶν ἡ Ἀνουάθου Βόρκαιος προσαγορευομένη κώμη· πέρας αὕτη τῆς Ἰουδαίας τὰ πρὸς βορέαν, τὰ νότια δʼ αὐτῆς ἐπὶ μῆκος μετρουμένης ὁρίζει προσκυροῦσα τοῖς Ἀράβων ὅροις κώμη, καλοῦσι δʼ αὐτὴν Ἰορδὰν οἱ τῇδε Ἰουδαῖοι. εὖρός γε μὴν ἀπὸ Ἰορδάνου ποταμοῦ μέχρις Ἰόππης ἀναπέπταται. μεσαιτάτη δʼ αὐτῆς πόλις τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα κεῖται, παρʼ ὃ καί τινες οὐκ ἀσκόπως ὀμφαλὸν τὸ ἄστυ τῆς χώρας ἐκάλεσαν. ἀφῄρηται δʼ οὐδὲ τῶν ἐκ θαλάσσης τερπνῶν ἡ Ἰουδαία τοῖς παραλίοις κατατείνουσα μέχρι Πτολεμαΐδος. μερίζεται δʼ εἰς ἕνδεκα κληρουχίας, ὧν ἄρχει μὲν βασίλειον τὰ Ἱεροσόλυμα προανίσχουσα τῆς περιοίκου πάσης ὥσπερ ἡ κεφαλὴ σώματος· αἱ λοιπαὶ δὲ μετʼ αὐτὴν διῄρηνται τὰς τοπαρχίας. Γοφνὰ δευτέρα καὶ μετὰ ταύτην Ἀκραβετά, Θαμνὰ πρὸς ταύταις καὶ Λύδδα, Ἀμμαοῦς καὶ Πέλλη καὶ Ἰδουμαία καὶ Ἐνγαδδαὶ καὶ Ἡρώδειον καὶ Ἱεριχοῦς, μεθʼ ἃς Ἰάμνεια καὶ Ἰόππη τῶν περιοίκων ἀφηγοῦνται, κἀπὶ ταύταις ἥ τε Γαμαλιτικὴ καὶ Γαυλανῖτις Βαταναία τε καὶ Τραχωνῖτις, αἳ καὶ τῆς Ἀγρίππα βασιλείας εἰσὶ μοῖραι. ἀρχομένη δὲ ἀπὸ Λιβάνου ὄρους καὶ τῶν Ἰορδάνου πηγῶν ἡ χώρα μέχρι τῆς πρὸς Τιβεριάδα λίμνης εὐρύνεται, ἀπὸ δὲ κώμης καλουμένης Ἀρφᾶς μέχρις Ἰουλιάδος ἐκτείνεται τὸ μῆκος. οἰκοῦσι δʼ αὐτὴν μιγάδες Ἰουδαῖοί τε καὶ Σύροι. τὰ μὲν δὴ περὶ τῆς Ἰουδαίων τε καὶ πέριξ χώρας ὡς ἐνῆν μάλιστα συντόμως ἀπηγγέλκαμεν. [¶12] 59. NOW the auxiliaries which were sent to assist the people of Sepphoris, being a thousand horsemen, and six thousand footmen, under Placidus the tribune, pitched their camp in two bodies in the great plain. The foot were put into the city to be a guard to it, but the horse lodged abroad in the camp. These last, by marching continually one way or other, and overrunning the parts of the adjoining country, were very troublesome to Josephus and his men; they also plundered all the places that were out of the city's liberty, and intercepted such as durst go abroad. On this account it was that Josephus marched against the city, as hoping to take what he had lately encompassed with so strong a wall, before they revolted from the rest of the Galileans, that the Romans would have much ado to take it; by which means he proved too weak, and failed of his hopes, both as to the forcing the place, and as to his prevailing with the people of Sepphoris to deliver it up to him. By this means he provoked the Romans to treat the country according to the law of war; nor did the Romans, out of the anger they bore at this attempt, leave off, either by night or by day, burning the places in the plain, and stealing away the cattle that were in the country, and killing whatsoever appeared capable of fighting perpetually, and leading the weaker people as slaves into captivity; so that Galilee was all over filled with fire and blood; nor was it exempted from any kind of misery or calamity, for the only refuge they had was this, that when they were pursued, they could retire to the cities which had walls built them by Josephus. > Greek: 59. Ἡ δʼ ὑπὸ Οὐεσπασιανοῦ πεμφθεῖσα Σεπφωρίταις βοήθεια, χίλιοι μὲν ἱππεῖς ἑξακισχίλιοι δὲ πεζοί, Πλακίδου χιλιαρχοῦντος αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ μεγάλῳ πεδίῳ στρατοπεδευσάμενοι διαιροῦνται, καὶ τὸ μὲν πεζὸν ἐν τῇ πόλει πρὸς φυλακὴν αὐτῆς, τὸ δʼ ἱππικὸν ἐπὶ τῆς παρεμβολῆς αὐλίζεται. προϊόντες δὲ ἑκατέρωθεν συνεχῶς καὶ τὰ πέριξ τῆς χώρας κατατρέχοντες μεγάλα τοὺς περὶ τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἐκάκουν ἀτρεμοῦντα τάς τε πόλεις ἔξωθεν λῃζόμενοι καὶ προθέοντας ὁπότε θαρρήσειαν ἀνακόπτοντες. ὥρμησέ γε μὴν Ἰώσηπος ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν αἱρήσειν ἐλπίσας, ἣν αὐτὸς πρὶν ἀποστῆναι Γαλιλαίων ἐτείχισεν ὡς καὶ Ῥωμαίοις δυσάλωτον εἶναι· διὸ καὶ τῆς ἐλπίδος ἀφήμαρτεν τοῦ τε βιάζεσθαι καὶ τοῦ μεταπείθειν Σεπφωρίτας ἀσθενέστερος εὑρεθείς. παρώξυνεν δὲ μᾶλλον τὸν πόλεμον ἐπὶ τὴν χώραν, καὶ οὔτε νύκτωρ οὔτε μεθʼ ἡμέραν ὀργῇ τῆς ἐπιβολῆς οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι διέλιπον δῃοῦντες αὐτῶν τὰ πεδία καὶ διαρπάζοντες τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς χώρας κτήματα, καὶ κτείνοντες μὲν ἀεὶ τὸ μάχιμον, ἀνδραποδιζόμενοι δὲ τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς. πυρὶ δὲ ἡ Γαλιλαία καὶ αἵματι πεπλήρωτο πᾶσα πάθους τε οὐδενὸς ἢ συμφορᾶς ἀπείρατος ἦν· μία γὰρ καταφυγὴ διωκομένοις αἱ ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰωσήπου τειχισθεῖσαι πόλεις ἦσαν. [¶13] 64. But as to Titus, he sailed over from Achaia to Alexandria, and that sooner than the winter season did usually permit; so he took with him those forces he was sent for, and marching with great expedition, he came suddenly to Ptolemais, and there finding his father, together with the two legions, the fifth and the tenth, which were the most eminent legions of all, he joined them to that fifteenth legion which was with his father; eighteen cohorts followed these legions; there came also five cohorts from Cesarea, with one troop of horsemen, and five other troops of horsemen from Syria. Now these ten cohorts had severally a thousand footmen, but the other thirteen cohorts had no more than six hundred footmen apiece, with a hundred and twenty horsemen. There were also a considerable number of auxiliaries got together, that came from the kings Antiochus, and Agrippa, and Sohemus, each of them contributing one thousand footmen that were archers, and a thousand horsemen. Malchus also, the king of Arabia, sent a thousand horsemen, besides five thousand footmen, the greatest part of which were archers; so that the whole army, including the auxiliaries sent by the kings, as well horsemen as footmen, when all were united together, amounted to sixty thousand, besides the servants, who, as they followed in vast numbers, so because they had been trained up in war with the rest, ought not to be distinguished from the fighting men; for as they were in their masters’ service in times of peace, so did they undergo the like dangers with them in times of war, insomuch that they were inferior to none, either in skill or in strength, only they were subject to their masters. > Greek: 64. Ὁ δὲ Τίτος περαιωθεὶς ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀχαΐας εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν ὠκύτερον ἢ κατὰ χειμῶνος ὥραν, παραλαμβάνει μὲν ἐφʼ ἣν ἔσταλτο δύναμιν, συντόνῳ δὲ χρώμενος πορείᾳ διὰ τάχους εἰς Πτολεμαΐδα ἀφικνεῖται. κἀκεῖ καταλαβὼν τὸν πατέρα δυσὶ τοῖς ἅμα αὐτῷ τάγμασιν, ἦν δὲ τὰ ἐπισημότατα τὸ πέμπτον καὶ τὸ δέκατον, ζεύγνυσι τὸ ἀχθὲν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ πεντεκαιδέκατον. τούτοις εἵποντο ὀκτωκαίδεκα σπεῖραι· προσεγένοντο δὲ καὶ ἀπὸ Καισαρείας πέντε καὶ ἱππέων ἴλη μία, πέντε δʼ ἕτεραι τῶν ἀπὸ Συρίας ἱππέων. τῶν δὲ σπειρῶν αἱ δέκα μὲν εἶχον ἀνὰ χιλίους πεζούς, αἱ δὲ λοιπαὶ δεκατρεῖς ἀνὰ ἑξακοσίους μὲν πεζούς, ἱππεῖς δὲ ἑκατὸν εἴκοσιν. συχνὸν δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῶν βασιλέων συνήχθη συμμαχικόν, Ἀντιόχου μὲν καὶ Ἀγρίππα καὶ Σοαίμου παρασχομένων ἀνὰ δισχιλίους πεζοὺς τοξότας καὶ χιλίους ἱππεῖς, τοῦ δὲ Ἄραβος Μάλχου χιλίους πέμψαντος ἱππεῖς ἐπὶ πεζοῖς πεντακισχιλίοις, ὧν τὸ πλέον ἦσαν τοξόται, ὡς τὴν πᾶσαν δύναμιν συνεξαριθμουμένων τῶν βασιλικῶν ἱππέας τε καὶ πεζοὺς εἰς ἓξ ἀθροίζεσθαι μυριάδας δίχα θεραπόντων, οἳ παμπληθεῖς μὲν εἵποντο, διὰ δὲ συνάσκησιν πολεμικὴν οὐκ ἂν ἀποτάσσοιντο τοῦ μαχίμου, κατὰ μὲν εἰρήνην ἐν ταῖς μελέταις τῶν δεσποτῶν ἀεὶ στρεφόμενοι, συγκινδυνεύοντες δʼ ἐν πολέμοις, ὡς μήτʼ ἐμπειρίᾳ μήτʼ ἀλκῇ τινος πλὴν τῶν δεσποτῶν ἐλαττοῦσθαι. [¶14] 70. NOW here one cannot but admire at the precaution of the Romans, in providing themselves of such household servants, as might not only serve at other times for the common offices of life, but might also be of advantage to them in their wars. And, indeed, if any one does but attend to the other parts of their military discipline, he will be forced to confess that their obtaining so large a dominion hath been the acquisition of their valor, and not the bare gift of fortune; for they do not begin to use their weapons first in time of war, nor do they then put their hands first into motion, while they avoided so to do in times of peace; but, as if their weapons did always cling to them, they have never any truce from warlike exercises; nor do they stay till times of war admonish them to use them; for their military exercises differ not at all from the real use of their arms, but every soldier is every day exercised, and that with great diligence, as if it were in time of war, which is the reason why they bear the fatigue of battles so easily; for neither can any disorder remove them from their usual regularity, nor can fear affright them out of it, nor can labor tire them; which firmness of conduct makes them always to overcome those that have not the same firmness; nor would he be mistaken that should call those their exercises unbloody battles, and their battles bloody exercises. Nor can their enemies easily surprise them with the suddenness of their incursions; for as soon as they have marched into an enemy's land, they do not begin to fight till they have walled their camp about; nor is the fence they raise rashly made, or uneven; nor do they all abide ill it, nor do those that are in it take their places at random; but if it happens that the ground is uneven, it is first leveled: their camp is also four-square by measure, and carpenters are ready, in great numbers, with their tools, to erect their buildings for them. > Greek: 70. Κἀν τούτῳ μὲν οὖν θαυμάσαι τις ἂν Ῥωμαίων τὸ προμηθὲς κατασκευαζομένων ἑαυτοῖς τὸ οἰκετικὸν οὐ μόνον εἰς τὰς τοῦ βίου διακονίας ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς πολέμους χρήσιμον. εἰ δέ τις αὐτῶν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἄλλην σύνταξιν τῆς στρατιᾶς ἀπίδοι, γνώσεται τὴν τοσήνδε ἡγεμονίαν αὐτοὺς ἀρετῆς κτῆμα ἔχοντας, οὐ δῶρον τύχης. οὐ γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἀρχὴ τῶν ὅπλων πόλεμος, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ μόνας τὰς χρείας τὼ χεῖρε κινοῦσιν ἐν εἰρήνῃ προηργηκότες, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ συμπεφυκότες τοῖς ὅπλοις οὐδέποτε τῆς ἀσκήσεως λαμβάνουσιν ἐκεχειρίαν οὐδὲ ἀναμένουσιν τοὺς καιρούς. αἱ μελέται δʼ αὐτοῖς οὐδὲν τῆς κατὰ ἀλήθειαν εὐτονίας ἀποδέουσιν, ἀλλʼ ἕκαστος ὁσημέραι στρατιώτης πάσῃ προθυμίᾳ καθάπερ ἐν πολέμῳ γυμνάζεται. διὸ κουφότατα τὰς μάχας διαφέρουσιν· οὔτε γὰρ ἀταξία διασκίδνησιν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς ἐν ἔθει συντάξεως οὔτε δέος ἐξίστησιν οὔτε δαπανᾷ πόνος, ἕπεται δὲ τὸ κρατεῖν ἀεὶ κατὰ τῶν οὐχ ὁμοίων βέβαιον. καὶ οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοι τις εἰπὼν τὰς μὲν μελέτας αὐτῶν χωρὶς αἵματος παρατάξεις, τὰς παρατάξεις δὲ μεθʼ αἵματος μελέτας. οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς εὐάλωτοι πολεμίοις· ὅπῃ δʼ ἂν ἐμβάλωσιν εἰς ἐχθρῶν γῆν, οὐ πρὶν ἅπτονται μάχης ἢ τειχίσαι στρατόπεδον. τὸ δὲ οὐκ εἰκαῖον οὐδὲ ἀνώμαλον ἐγείρουσιν οὐδὲ πάντες ἢ ἀτάκτως διαλαβόντες, ἀλλʼ εἰ μὲν ἀνώμαλος ὢν τύχοι χῶρος, ἐξομαλίζεται· διαμετρεῖται δὲ παρεμβολὴ τετράγωνος αὐτοῖς. καὶ τεκτόνων πλῆθος ἕπεται τῶν τε πρὸς τὴν δόμησιν ἐργαλείων. [¶15] 79. As for what is within the camp, it is set apart for tents, but the outward circumference hath the resemblance to a wall, and is adorned with towers at equal distances, where between the towers stand the engines for throwing arrows and darts, and for slinging stones, and where they lay all other engines that can annoy the enemy, all ready for their several operations. They also erect four gates, one at every side of the circumference, and those large enough for the entrance of the beasts, and wide enough for making excursions, if occasion should require. They divide the camp within into streets, very conveniently, and place the tents of the commanders in the middle; but in the very midst of all is the general's own tent, in the nature of a temple, insomuch, that it appears to be a city built on the sudden, with its market-place, and place for handicraft trades, and with seats for the officers superior and inferior, where, if any differences arise, their causes are heard and determined. The camp, and all that is in it, is encompassed with a wall round about, and that sooner than one would imagine, and this by the multitude and the skill of the laborers; and, if occasion require, a trench is drawn round the whole, whose depth is four cubits, and its breadth equal. > Greek: 79. Καὶ τὸ μὲν ἔνδον εἰς σκηνὰς διαλαμβάνουσιν, ἔξωθεν δʼ ὁ κύκλος τείχους ὄψιν ἐπίχει πύργοις ἐξ ἴσου διαστήματος κεκοσμημένος. ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν μεταπυργίων τούς τε ὀξυβελεῖς καὶ καταπέλτας καὶ λιθοβόλα καὶ πᾶν ἀφετήριον ὄργανον τιθέασιν, πάντα πρὸς τὰς βολὰς ἕτοιμα. πύλαι δὲ ἐνοικοδομοῦνται τέσσαρες καθʼ ἕκαστον τοῦ περιβόλου κλίμα, πρός τε εἰσόδους τῶν ὑποζυγίων εὐμαρεῖς καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐκδρομὰς αὐτῶν, εἰ κατεπείγοι, πλατεῖαι. ῥυμοτομοῦσι δʼ εὐδιαθέτως εἴσω τὸ στρατόπεδον, καὶ μέσας μὲν τὰς τῶν ἡγεμόνων σκηνὰς τίθενται, μεσαίτατον δὲ τούτων τὸ στρατήγιον ναῷ παραπλήσιον· ὥσπερ δὲ ἐν σχεδίῳ πόλις καὶ ἀγορά τις ἀποδείκνυται καὶ χειροτέχναις χωρίον θῶκοί τε λοχαγοῖς καὶ ταξιάρχοις, ὅπῃ δικάζοιεν, εἴ τινες διαφέροιντο. τειχίζεται δὲ ὁ περίβολος καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ πάντα θᾶττον ἐπινοίας πλήθει καὶ ἐπιστήμῃ τῶν πονούντων· εἰ δʼ ἐπείγοι, καὶ τάφρος ἔξωθεν περιβάλλεται βάθος τετράπηχυς καὶ εὖρος ἴση. [¶16] 85. When they have thus secured themselves, they live together by companies, with quietness and decency, as are all their other affairs managed with good order and security. Each company hath also their wood, and their corn, and their water brought them, when they stand in need of them; for they neither sup nor dine as they please themselves singly, but all together. Their times also for sleeping, and watching, and rising are notified beforehand by the sound of trumpets, nor is any thing done without such a signal; and in the morning the soldiery go every one to their centurions, and these centurions to their tribunes, to salute them; with whom all the superior officers go to the general of the whole army, who then gives them of course the watchword and other orders, to be by them cared to all that are under their command; which is also observed when they go to fight, and thereby they turn themselves about on the sudden, when there is occasion for making sallies, as they come back when they are recalled in crowds also. > Greek: 85. Φραξάμενοι δʼ αὐλίζονται κατὰ συντάξεις ἕκαστοι μεθʼ ἡσυχίας τε καὶ κόσμου. πάντα δʼ αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰ ἄλλα μετʼ εὐταξίας ἀνύεται καὶ ἀσφαλείας, ξυλεία τε καὶ ἐπισιτισμός, εἰ δέοιντο, καὶ ὑδρεία κατὰ συντάξεις ἑκάστοις. οὐδὲ γὰρ δεῖπνον ἢ ἄριστον ὁπότε θελήσειαν αὐτεξούσιον ἑκάστῳ, πᾶσιν δʼ ὁμοῦ, τούς τε ὕπνους αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰς φυλακὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξεγέρσεις σάλπιγγες προσημαίνουσιν, οὐδʼ ἔστιν ὅ τι γίνεται δίχα παραγγέλματος. ὑπὸ δὲ τὴν ἕω τὸ στρατιωτικὸν μὲν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἑκατοντάρχας ἕκαστοι, πρὸς δὲ τοὺς χιλιάρχους οὗτοι συνίασιν ἀσπασόμενοι, μεθʼ ὧν πρὸς τὸν ἡγεμόνα τῶν ὅλων οἱ ταξίαρχοι πάντες. ὁ δʼ αὐτοῖς τό τε ἐξ ἔθους σημεῖον καὶ τἆλλα παραγγέλματα δίδωσιν διαφέρειν εἰς τοὺς ὑποτεταγμένους· ὃ δὴ κἀπὶ παρατάξεως πράττοντες ἐπιστρέφονταί τε ταχέως, ἵνα δέοι, καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐφόδους αὐτοῖς καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἀνακλήσεις ὑποχωροῦσιν ἀθρόοι. [¶17] 89. Now when they are to go out of their camp, the trumpet gives a sound, at which time nobody lies still, but at the first intimation they take down their tents, and all is made ready for their going out; then do the trumpets sound again, to order them to get ready for the march; then do they lay their baggage suddenly upon their mules, and other beasts of burden, and stand, as at the place of starting, ready to march; when also they set fire to their camp, and this they do because it will be easy for them to erect another camp, and that it may not ever be of use to their enemies. Then do the trumpets give a sound the third time, that they are to go out, in order to excite those that on any account are a little tardy, that so no one may be out of his rank when the army marches. Then does the crier stand at the general's right hand, and asks them thrice, in their own tongue, whether they be now ready to go out to war or not? To which they reply as often, with a loud and cheerful voice, saying, “We are ready.” And this they do almost before the question is asked them: they do this as filled with a kind of martial fury, and at the same time that they so cry out, they lift up their right hands also. > Greek: 89. Ἐξιέναι δὲ τοῦ στρατοπέδου δέον ὑποσημαίνει μὲν ἡ σάλπιγξ, ἠρεμεῖ δʼ οὐδείς, ἀλλʼ ἅμα νεύματι τὰς μὲν σκηνὰς ἀναιροῦσιν, πάντα δʼ ἐξαρτύονται πρὸς τὴν ἔξοδον. καὶ πάλιν αἱ σάλπιγγες ὑποσημαίνουσιν παρεσκευάσθαι. οἱ δʼ ἐν τάχει τοῖς τε ὀρεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς ὑποζυγίοις ἐπιθέντες τὴν ἀποσκευὴν ἑστᾶσιν ὥσπερ ἐφʼ ὕσπληγος ἐξορμᾶν ἕτοιμοι, ὑποπιμπρᾶσίν τε ἤδη τὴν παρεμβολὴν ὡς αὐτοῖς μὲν ὂν ῥᾴδιον ἐκεῖ πάλιν τειχίσασθαι, μὴ γένοιτο δʼ ἐκεῖνό ποτε τοῖς πολεμίοις χρήσιμον. καὶ τρίτον δʼ ὅμως αἱ σάλπιγγες προσημαίνουσιν τὴν ἔξοδον ἐπισπέρχουσαι τοὺς διʼ αἰτίαν τινὰ βραδύναντας, ὡς μή τις ἀπολειφθείη τάξεως. ὅ τε κῆρυξ δεξιὸς τῷ πολεμάρχῳ παραστάς, εἰ πρὸς πόλεμόν εἰσιν ἕτοιμοι, τῇ πατρίῳ γλώσσῃ τρὶς ἀναπυνθάνεται. κἀκεῖνοι τοσαυτάκις ἀντιβοῶσιν μέγα τι καὶ πρόθυμον ἕτοιμοι λέγοντες εἶναι, φθάνουσιν δὲ τὸν ἐπερωτῶντα, καί τινος ἀρηΐου πνεύματος ὑποπιμπλάμενοι τῇ βοῇ συνεξαίρουσιν τὰς δεξιάς. [¶18] 93. When, after this, they are gone out of their camp, they all march without noise, and in a decent manner, and every one keeps his own rank, as if they were going to war. The footmen are armed with breastplates and head-pieces, and have swords on each side; but the sword which is upon their left side is much longer than the other, for that on the right side is not longer than a span. Those foot-men also that are chosen out from the rest to be about the general himself have a lance and a buckler, but the rest of the foot soldiers have a spear and a long buckler, besides a saw and a basket, a pick-axe and an axe, a thong of leather and a hook, with provisions for three days, so that a footman hath no great need of a mule to carry his burdens. The horsemen have a long sword on their right sides, axed a long pole in their hand; a shield also lies by them obliquely on one side of their horses, with three or more darts that are borne in their quiver, having broad points, and not smaller than spears. They have also head-pieces and breastplates, in like manner as have all the footmen. And for those that are chosen to be about the general, their armor no way differs from that of the horsemen belonging to other troops; and he always leads the legions forth to whom the lot assigns that employment. > Greek: 93. Ἔπειτα προϊόντες ὁδεύουσιν ἡσυχῇ καὶ μετὰ κόσμου πάντες, ὥσπερ ἐν πολέμῳ τὴν ἰδίαν τάξιν ἕκαστος φυλάσσων, οἱ μὲν πεζοὶ θώραξιν πεφραγμένοι καὶ κράνεσιν καὶ μαχαιροφοροῦντες ἀμφοτέρωθεν. μακρότερον δʼ αὐτῶν τὸ λαιὸν ξίφος πολλῷ· τὸ γὰρ κατὰ τὸ δεξιὸν σπιθαμῆς οὐ πλέον ἔχει τὸ μῆκος. φέρουσι δʼ οἱ μὲν περὶ τὸν στρατηγὸν ἐπίλεκτοι πεζοὶ λόγχην καὶ ἀσπίδα, ἡ δὲ λοιπὴ φάλαγξ ξυστόν τε καὶ θυρεὸν ἐπιμήκη, πρὸς οἷς πρίονα καὶ κόφινον ἄμην τε καὶ πέλεκυν, πρὸς δὲ ἱμάντα καὶ δρέπανον καὶ ἅλυσιν, ἡμερῶν τε τριῶν ἐφόδιον· ὡς ὀλίγον ἀποδεῖν τῶν ἀχθοφορούντων ὀρέων τὸν πεζόν. τοῖς δὲ ἱππεῦσιν μάχαιρα μὲν ἐκ δεξιῶν μακρὰ καὶ κοντὸς ἐπιμήκης ἐν χειρί, θυρεὸς δὲ παρὰ πλευρὸν ἵππου πλάγιος, καὶ κατὰ γωρυτοῦ παρήρτηνται τρεῖς ἢ πλείους ἄκοντες, πλατεῖς μὲν αἰχμάς, οὐκ ἀποδέοντες δὲ δοράτων μέγεθος· κράνη δὲ καὶ θώρακες ὁμοίως τοῖς πεζοῖς ἅπασιν. οὐδενὶ δὲ ὅπλων διαλλάττουσιν οἱ περὶ τὸν στρατηγὸν ἔκκριτοι τῶν ἐν ταῖς ἴλαις ἱππέων. κλήρῳ δὲ τῶν ταγμάτων ἀεὶ τὸ λαχὸν ἡγεῖται. [¶19] 98. This is the manner of the marching and resting of the Romans, as also these are the several sorts of weapons they use. But when they are to fight, they leave nothing without forecast, nor to be done off-hand, but counsel is ever first taken before any work is begun, and what hath been there resolved upon is put in execution presently; for which reason they seldom commit any errors; and if they have been mistaken at any time, they easily correct those mistakes. They also esteem any errors they commit upon taking counsel beforehand to be better than such rash success as is owing to fortune only; because such a fortuitous advantage tempts them to be inconsiderate, while consultation, though it may sometimes fail of success, hath this good in it, that it makes men more careful hereafter; but for the advantages that arise from chance, they are not owing to him that gains them; and as to what melancholy accidents happen unexpectedly, there is this comfort in them, that they had however taken the best consultations they could to prevent them. > Greek: 98. Τοιαῦται μὲν οὖν αἱ Ῥωμαίων πορεῖαί τε καὶ καταλύσεις, πρὸς δὲ ὅπλων διαφοραί, οὐδὲν δὲ ἀπροβούλευτον ἐν ταῖς μάχαις οὐδὲ αὐτοσχέδιον, ἀλλὰ γνώμη μὲν ἀεὶ παντὸς ἔργου προάγει, τοῖς δοχθεῖσι δὲ ἕπεται τὰ ἔργα· παρʼ ὃ καὶ σφάλλονται μὲν ἥκιστα, κἂν πταίσωσι δέ, ῥᾳδίως ἀναλαμβάνουσι τὰ σφάλματα. ἡγοῦνταί τε τῶν ἀπὸ τύχης ἐπιτευγμάτων ἀμείνους τὰς ἐπὶ τοῖς προβουλευθεῖσιν διαμαρτίας, ὡς τοῦ μὲν αὐτομάτου καλοῦ δελεάζοντος εἰς ἀπρομήθειαν, τῆς σκέψεως δέ, κἂν ἀτυχήσῃ ποτέ, πρὸς τὸ μὴ αὖθις καλὴν ἐχούσης μελέτην· καὶ τῶν μὲν αὐτομάτων ἀγαθῶν οὐ τὸν λαβόντα αἴτιον εἶναι, τῶν δὲ παρὰ γνώμην προσπεσόντων σκυθρωπῶν παραμυθίαν τό γε προσηκόντως βεβουλεῦσθαι. [¶20] 102. Now they so manage their preparatory exercises of their weapons, that not the bodies of the soldiers only, but their souls may also become stronger: they are moreover hardened for war by fear; for their laws inflict capital punishments, not only for soldiers running away from the ranks, but for slothfulness and inactivity, though it be but in a lesser degree; as are their generals more severe than their laws, for they prevent any imputation of cruelty toward those under condemnation, by the great rewards they bestow on the valiant soldiers; and the readiness of obeying their commanders is so great, that it is very ornamental in peace; but when they come to a battle, the whole army is but one body, so well coupled together are their ranks, so sudden are their turnings about, so sharp their hearing as to what orders are given them, so quick their sight of the ensigns, and so nimble are their hands when they set to work; whereby it comes to pass that what they do is done quickly, and what they suffer they bear with the greatest patience. Nor can we find any examples where they have been conquered in battle, when they came to a close fight, either by the multitude of the enemies, or by their stratagems, or by the difficulties in the places they were in; no, nor by fortune neither, for their victories have been surer to them than fortune could have granted them. In a case, therefore, where counsel still goes before action, and where, after taking the best advice, that advice is followed by so active an army, what wonder is it that Euphrates on the east, the ocean on the west, the most fertile regions of Libya on the south, and the Danube and the Rhine on the north, are the limits of this empire? One might well say that the Roman possessions are not inferior to the Romans themselves. > Greek: 102. Παρασκευάζουσι μὲν οὖν ἐν ταῖς μελέταις τῶν ὅπλων οὐ τὰ σώματα μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ψυχὰς ἀλκίμους, προσασκοῦνται δὲ καὶ τῷ φόβῳ. οἵ τε γὰρ νόμοι παρʼ αὐτοῖς οὐ λιποταξίου μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ῥᾳστώνης ὀλίγης θανατικοὶ οἵ τε στρατηγοὶ τῶν νόμων φοβερώτεροι· ταῖς γὰρ πρὸς τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς τιμαῖς ῥύονται τὸ δοκεῖν ὠμοὶ πρὸς τοὺς κολαζομένους. τοσοῦτον δʼ αὐτῶν τὸ πρὸς τοὺς ἡγεμόνας πειθήνιον, ὡς ἔν τε εἰρήνῃ κόσμον εἶναι καὶ ἐπὶ παρατάξεως ἓν σῶμα τὴν ὅλην στρατιάν. οὕτως αὐτῶν ἀσφαλεῖς μὲν αἱ τάξεις, εὔστροφοι δʼ εἰσὶν αἱ περιαγωγαί, ὀξεῖαι δʼ ἀκοαὶ μὲν παραγγέλμασιν, ὄψεις δὲ σημείοις, ἔργοις δὲ χεῖρες. ὅθεν δρᾶσαι μὲν ἀεὶ ταχεῖς, βραδύτατοι δὲ παθεῖν εἰσιν, οὐδʼ ἔστιν ὅπου σταθέντες ἢ πλήθους ἡσσήθησαν ἢ στρατηγημάτων ἢ δυσχωρίας, ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τύχης· καὶ γὰρ ταύτης αὐτοῖς τὸ κρατεῖν βεβαιότερον. οἷς οὖν βουλὴ μὲν ἄρχει παρατάξεως, ἕπεται δὲ τοῖς βεβουλευμένοις στρατὸς οὕτω δραστήριος, τί θαυμαστόν, εἰ πρὸς ἕω μὲν Εὐφράτης, ὠκεανὸς δὲ πρὸς ἑσπέραν, μεσημβρινὸν δὲ Λιβύης τὸ πιότατον καὶ πρὸς ἄρκτον Ἴστρος τε καὶ Ῥῆνος τῆς ἡγεμονίας ὅροι; δεόντως γὰρ ἄν τις εἴποι τὸ κτῆμα τῶν κτησαμένων ἔλασσον. [¶21] 108. This account I have given the reader, not so much with the intention of commending the Romans, as of comforting those that have been conquered by them, and for the deterring others from attempting innovations under their government. This discourse of the Roman military conduct may also perhaps be of use to such of the curious as are ignorant of it, and yet have a mind to know it. I return now from this digression. > Greek: 108. Ταῦτα μὲν οὖν διεξῆλθον οὐ Ῥωμαίους ἐπαινέσαι προαιρούμενος τοσοῦτον, ὅσον εἴς τε παραμυθίαν τῶν κεχειρωμένων καὶ εἰς ἀποτροπὴν τῶν νεωτεριζόντων· εἴη δʼ ἂν τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν τῶν φιλοκαλούντων καὶ πρὸς ἐμπειρίας ἡ ἀγωγὴ τῆς Ῥωμαίων στρατιᾶς. ἐπάνειμι δʼ ὅθεν ἐπὶ ταῦτʼ ἐξέβην. [¶22] 110. AND now Vespasian, with his son Titus, had tarried some time at Ptolemais, and had put his army in order. But when Placidus, who had overrun Galilee, and had besides slain a number of those whom he had caught, (which were only the weaker part of the Galileans, and such as were of timorous souls,) saw that the warriors ran always to those cities whose walls had been built by Josephus, he marched furiously against Jotapata, which was of them all the strongest, as supposing he should easily take it by a sudden surprise, and that he should thereby obtain great honor to himself among the commanders, and bring a great advantage to them in their future campaign; because if this strongest place of them all were once taken, the rest would be so aftrighted as to surrender themselves. But he was mightily mistaken in his undertaking; for the men of Jotapata were apprized of his coming to attack them, and came out of the city, and expected him there. So they fought the Romans briskly when they least expected it, being both many in number, and prepared for fighting, and of great alacrity, as esteeming their country, their wives, and their children to be in danger, and easily put the Romans to flight, and wounded many of them, and slew seven of them; because their retreat was not made in a disorderly manner, be-cause the strokes only touched the surface of their bodies, which were covered with their armor in all parts, and because the Jews did rather throw their weapons upon them from a great distance, than venture to come hand to hand with them, and had only light armor on, while the others were completely armed. However, three men of the Jews’ side were slain, and a few wounded; so Placidus, finding himself unable to assault the city, ran away. > Greek: 110. Οὐεσπασιανὸς μὲν ἅμα τῷ παιδὶ Τίτῳ διατρίβων τέως ἐν τῇ Πτολεμαΐδι συνέτασσεν τὰς δυνάμεις, ὁ δὲ τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κατατρέχων Πλάκιδος ἐπεὶ πολὺ μὲν πλῆθος ἀνῃρήκει τῶν καταλαμβανομένων, τοῦτο δʼ ἦν τὸ ἀσθενέστερον Γαλιλαίων καὶ ταῖς φυγαῖς ἐναποκάμνον, ὁρῶν δὲ συμφεῦγον ἀεὶ τὸ μάχιμον εἰς τὰς ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἰωσήπου τειχισθείσας πόλεις ὥρμησεν ἐπὶ τὴν ὀχυρωτάτην αὐτῶν Ἰωταπάταν, οἰόμενος ἐξ ἐφόδου μὲν αἱρήσειν ῥᾳδίως, μέγα δὲ κλέος αὐτῷ παρὰ τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν κἀκείνοις ὄφελος εἰς τὰ λοιπὰ παρέξειν· προσχωρήσειν γὰρ δέει τὰς ἄλλας πόλεις τῆς καρτερωτάτης ἐχομένης. πολύ γε μὴν διήμαρτεν τῆς ἐλπίδος· ἐπιόντα γὰρ αὐτὸν οἱ Ἰωταπατηνοὶ προαισθόμενοι πρὸ τῆς πόλεως ἐκδέχονται, καὶ τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις συρραγέντες ἀδοκήτοις πολλοὶ καὶ πρὸς μάχην ἕτοιμοι πρόθυμοί τε ὡς ἂν ὑπὲρ κινδυνευούσης πατρίδος καὶ γυναικῶν καὶ τέκνων, τρέπονται ταχέως. καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν τιτρώσκουσι τῶν Ῥωμαίων, ἑπτὰ δὲ ἀναιροῦσιν διὰ τὸ μήτε ἄτακτον αὐτῶν τὴν ὑποχώρησιν γενέσθαι καὶ τὰς πληγὰς ἐπιπολαίους πεφραγμένων πάντοθεν τῶν σωμάτων, τούς τε Ἰουδαίους πόρρωθεν βάλλειν πλέον ἢ συμπλέκεσθαι θαρρεῖν γυμνῆτας ὁπλίταις. ἔπεσον δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἰουδαίων τρεῖς ἄνδρες καὶ ἐτρώθησαν ὀλίγοι. Πλάκιδος μὲν οὖν τῆς ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ὁρμῆς ἀτονώτερος εὑρεθεὶς φεύγει. [¶23] 115. But as Vespasian had a great mind to fall upon Galilee, he marched out of Ptolemais, having put his army into that order wherein the Romans used to march. He ordered those auxiliaries which were lightly armed, and the archers, to march first, that they might prevent any sudden insults from the enemy, and might search out the woods that looked suspiciously, and were capable of ambuscades. Next to these followed that part of the Romans which was completely armed, both footmen, and horsemen. Next to these followed ten out of every hundred, carrying along with them their arms, and what was necessary to measure out a camp withal; and after them, such as were to make the road even and straight, and if it were any where rough and hard to be passed over, to plane it, and to cut down the woods that hindered their march, that the army might not be in distress, or tired with their march. Behind these he set such carriages of the army as belonged both to himself and to the other commanders, with a considerable number of their horsemen for their security. After these he marched himself, having with him a select body of footmen, and horsemen, and pikemen. After these came the peculiar cavalry of his own legion, for there were a hundred and twenty horsemen that peculiarly belonged to every legion. Next to these came the mules that carried the engines for sieges, and the other warlike machines of that nature. After these came the commanders of the cohorts and tribunes, having about them soldiers chosen out of the rest. Then came the ensigns encompassing the eagle, which is at the head of every Roman legion, the king, and the strongest of all birds, which seems to them a signal of dominion, and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom they march; these sacred ensigns are followed by the trumpeters. Then came the main army in their squadrons and battalions, with six men in depth, which were followed at last by a centurion, who, according to custom, observed the rest. As for the servants of every legion, they all followed the footmen, and led the baggage of the soldiers, which was borne by the mules and other beasts of burden. But behind all the legions carne the whole multitude of the mercenaries; and those that brought up the rear came last of all for the security of the whole army, being both footmen, and those in their armor also, with a great number of horsemen. > Greek: 115. Οὐεσπασιανὸς δὲ ὡρμημένος αὐτὸς ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐξελαύνει τῆς Πτολεμαΐδος διατάξας τὴν στρατιὰν ὁδεύειν καθὰ Ῥωμαίοις ἔθος. τοὺς μέν γε ψιλοὺς τῶν ἐπικούρων καὶ τοξότας προάγειν ἐκέλευσεν, ὡς ἀνακόπτοιεν τὰς ἐξαπιναίους τῶν πολεμίων ἐπιδρομὰς καὶ διερευνῷεν τὰς ὑπόπτους καὶ λοχᾶσθαι δυναμένας ὕλας, οἷς εἵπετο καὶ Ῥωμαίων ὁπλιτικὴ μοῖρα πεζοί τε καὶ ἱππεῖς. τούτοις ἀφʼ ἑκάστης ἑκατονταρχίας ἠκολούθουν δέκα τήν τε ἑαυτῶν σκευὴν καὶ τὰ μέτρα τῆς παρεμβολῆς φέροντες, καὶ μετʼ αὐτοὺς ὁδοποιοί, τά τε σκολιὰ τῆς λεωφόρου κατευθύνειν καὶ χθαμαλοῦν τὰ δύσβατα καὶ τὰς ἐμποδίους ὕλας προανακόπτειν, ὡς μὴ ταλαιπωροῖτο δυσποροῦν τὸ στράτευμα. κατόπιν δὲ τούτων τάς τε ἰδίας καὶ τὰς τῶν ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἡγεμόνων ἔταξεν ἀποσκευὰς καὶ συχνοὺς ἐπὶ τούτοις πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν τῶν ἱππέων. μεθʼ οὓς αὐτὸς ἐξήλαυνεν τούς τε ἐπιλέκτους τῶν πεζῶν καὶ ἱππέων καὶ τοὺς λογχοφόρους ἔχων. εἵπετο δʼ αὐτῷ τὸ ἴδιον τοῦ τάγματος ἱππικόν· ἴδιοι γὰρ ἑκάστου τάγματος εἴκοσι πρὸς τοῖς ἑκατὸν ἱππεῖς. τούτοις δʼ ἠκολούθουν οἱ τὰς ἑλεπόλεις φέροντες ὀρεῖς καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ μηχανήματα. μετὰ τούτους ἡγεμόνες τε καὶ σπειρῶν ἔπαρχοι σὺν χιλιάρχοις, ἐπιλέκτους περὶ σφᾶς στρατιώτας ἔχοντες· ἔπειτα αἱ σημαῖαι περιίσχουσαι τὸν ἀετόν, ὃς παντὸς ἄρχει Ῥωμαίοις τάγματος, βασιλεύς τε οἰωνῶν ἁπάντων καὶ ἀλκιμώτατος ὤν· ὃ δὴ καὶ τῆς ἡγεμονίας τεκμήριον αὐτοῖς καὶ κλῃδών, ἐφʼ οὓς ἂν ἴωσιν, τοῦ κρατήσειν δοκεῖ. τοῖς δὲ ἱεροῖς ἠκολούθουν οἱ σαλπιγκταί, καὶ κατόπιν αὐτῶν ἡ φάλαγξ τὸ στῖφος εἰς ἓξ πλατύνασα. τούτοις παρείπετό τις ἑκατόνταρχος ἐξ ἔθους τὴν τάξιν ἐπισκοπούμενος. τὸ δʼ οἰκετικὸν ἑκάστου τάγματος ἅπαν τοῖς πεζοῖς εἵπετο, τὰς ἀποσκευὰς τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀρεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς ὑποζυγίοις ἄγοντες· κατόπιν δὲ πάντων [τῶν ταγμάτων] ὁ μίσθιος ὄχλος, οἷς οὐραγοὶ πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν ἠκολούθουν πεζοί τε καὶ ὁπλῖται καὶ τῶν ἱππέων συχνοί. [¶24] 127. And thus did Vespasian march with his army, and came to the bounds of Galileo, where he pitched his camp and restrained his soldiers, who were eager for war; he also showed his army to the enemy, in order to affright them, and to afford them a season for repentance, to see whether they would change their minds before it came to a battle, and at the same time he got things ready for besieging their strong minds. And indeed this sight of the general brought many to repent of their revolt, and put them all into a consternation; for those that were in Josephus's camp, which was at the city called Garis, not far from Sepphoris, when they heard that the war was come near them, and that the Romans would suddenly fight them hand to hand, dispersed themselves and fled, not only before they came to a battle, but before the enemy ever came in sight, while Josephus and a few others were left behind; and as he saw that he had not an army sufficient to engage the enemy, that the spirits of the Jews were sunk, and that the greater part would willingly come to terms, if they might be credited, he already despaired of the success of the whole war, and determined to get as far as he possibly could out of danger; so he took those that staid along with him, and fled to Tiberias. > Greek: 127. Οὕτως ὁδεύσας Οὐεσπασιανὸς μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἰς τοὺς ὅρους ἀφικνεῖται τῆς Γαλιλαίας, ἔνθα καταστρατοπεδευσάμενος ὡρμημένους εἰς πόλεμον τοὺς στρατιώτας κατεῖχεν, ἐπιδεικνύμενος τὴν στρατιὰν εἰς κατάπληξιν τοῖς πολεμίοις καὶ μετανοίας καιρὸν διδούς, εἰ πρὸ μάχης μεταβάλοιντο· ἅμα δὲ καὶ πρὸς πολιορκίαν τῶν ἐρυμάτων ἐξηρτύετο. μετάνοιαν μὲν οὖν τῆς ἀποστάσεως ὀφθεὶς ὁ στρατηγὸς πολλοῖς ἐνειργάσατο, κατάπληξιν δὲ πᾶσιν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὸν Ἰώσηπον ἐστρατοπεδευκότες οὐκ ἄπωθεν τῆς Σεπφώρεως παρὰ πόλιν Γαρὶν καλουμένην ἐπεὶ πλησιάζοντα τὸν πόλεμον ἤκουσαν ὅσον τε οὔπω τοὺς Ῥωμαίους συμμίξοντας σφίσιν, οὐ μόνον πρὸ μάχης, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὶν ἰδεῖν τοὺς ἐχθροὺς διασκίδνανται φυγῇ. καταλείπεται δʼ ὁ Ἰώσηπος μετʼ ὀλίγων, καὶ κατιδὼν ὡς οὔτε δέχεσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους ἀρκετὴν ἔχει δύναμιν καὶ πεπτώκοι τὰ φρονήματα τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἄσμενοί τʼ ἄν, εἰ πιστεύοιντο, χωροῖεν οἱ πλείους ἐπὶ σπονδάς, ἐδεδίει μὲν ἤδη περὶ παντὸς τοῦ πολέμου, τότε δʼ ὡς πορρωτάτω χωρίζεσθαι τῶν κινδύνων ἔκρινεν. ἀναλαβὼν δὲ τοὺς συμμείναντας εἰς Τιβεριάδα καταφεύγει.