Ἀκρόπολις

acropolis

Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 7 Mar 2000 · Vetting: high · 9 revisions

Translation

Damascius [writes]: "for the most prominent of the fortresses have, by and large, a shared nature. One would recognize what is being said from what happens where acropoleis are concerned. For while these seem to function largely as security of [= from] enemies¹ -- when there are any -- and as a safeguard of freedom, they do also often lead to slavery and evil conspiracies, as Polybius says".²

Greek original

Ἀκρόπολις· Δαμάσκιος· τὰ γὰρ ἐπιφανέστατα τῶν ὀχυρωμάτων ὡς ἐπίπαν κοινὴν ἔχει τὴν φύσιν. γνοίη δ' ἄν τις τὸ λεγόμενον ἐκ τῶν περὶ τὰς ἀκροπόλεις συμβαινόντων. αὗται γὰρ δοκοῦσι μὲν μεγάλα συμβάλλεσθαι πρὸς ἀσφάλειαν τῶν πολεμίων, ἐν οἷς ἂν ὦσι, καὶ πρὸς τὴν τῆς ἐλευθερίας φυλακήν, γίνονται δὲ καὶ πολλάκις αἴτιαι δουλείας καὶ κακῶν ὁμολογουμένων, ὥς φησι Πολύβιος.

Betacode

*)akro/polis: *dama/skios: ta\ ga\r e)pifane/stata tw=n o)xurwma/twn w(s e)pi/pan koinh\n e)/xei th\n fu/sin. gnoi/h d' a)/n tis to\ lego/menon e)k tw=n peri\ ta\s a)kropo/leis sumbaino/ntwn. au(=tai ga\r dokou=si me\n mega/la sumba/llesqai pro\s a)sfa/leian tw=n polemi/wn, e)n oi(=s a)\n w)=si, kai\ pro\s th\n th=s e)leuqeri/as fulakh/n, gi/nontai de\ kai\ polla/kis ai)/tiai doulei/as kai\ kakw=n o(mologoume/nwn, w(/s fhsi *polu/bios.

Notes (2)

Same entry in ps.-Zonaras.
1Adler notes, but does not adopt, the attractive emendation (Küster, Schweighäuser) of polemi/wn 'enemies' to po/lewn 'cities' here. ↩
2Damascius, Life of Isidore fr. 302 Zintzen (308 Asmus), citing Polybius fr. 4.

↩

Neighbours in Adler order

α1012Ἀκρόνυξnightfall α1013ἈκροῶI hearken to α1014Ἀκροποδιτίon tip-toe α1015Ἀκρόπολιςacropolis α1016Ἀκροπόλοισινin the ranges, in lofty places α1017Ἀκροστόλιαstemposts, sternposts α1018Ἀκροσφαλεῖςprecarious

Revisions (9)

2 Aug 2018Ronald Allencosmeticule
9 May 2018Ronald Allencosmeticule (name spelling) n.1, cosmeticule n.2
16 May 2015Catharine Rothadded title
28 Mar 2014David Whiteheadtweaked tr; another note
1 Feb 2012David Whiteheadaugmented notes and keywords; tweaks
5 Jun 2002David Whiteheadadded keyword; cosmetics
17 Jan 2001David Whiteheadmodified translation; added note and keywords; cosmetics
7 Mar 2000Jennifer Benedicttranslated

Translation

Greek original

Betacode

*)akro/polis: *dama/skios: ta\ ga\r e)pifane/stata tw=n o)xurwma/twn w(s e)pi/pan koinh\n e)/xei th\n fu/sin. gnoi/h d' a)/n tis to\ lego/menon e)k tw=n peri\ ta\s a)kropo/leis sumbaino/ntwn. au(=tai ga\r dokou=si me\n mega/la sumba/llesqai pro\s a)sfa/leian tw=n polemi/wn, e)n oi(=s a)\n w)=si, kai\ pro\s th\n th=s e)leuqeri/as fulakh/n, gi/nontai de\ kai\ polla/kis ai)/tiai doulei/as kai\ kakw=n o(mologoume/nwn, w(/s fhsi *polu/bios.