Diodorus on the Fall of Motya
In 398, Dionysius I, the tyrant of Syracuse, launched a campaign against the Carthaginians, who had conquered central Sicily in a large war in 408-405. He had carefully prepared the war, and immediately captured Motya, the main base of the Carthaginians, situated on a small island in the far west. Diodorus of Sicily tells the story in his Library of World History.
The translation of section 14.47.1-53.5 was made by C.H. Oldfather.
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[14.47.2] which contained the statement that the Syracusans had resolved to make war upon the Carthaginians unless they withdrew from the Greek cities. The herald accordingly, pursuant to his orders, sailed to Libya and delivered the letter to the Senate. When it had been read in the council and subsequently before the people, it came about that the Carthaginians were not a little distressed at the thought of war; for the plague had killed great numbers of them, and they were also totally unprepared. |
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[14.47.3] Nevertheless, they waited for the Syracusans to take the initiative and dispatched members of the senate with large sums of money to recruit mercenaries in Europe. |
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[14.47.4] Dionysius with the Syracusans, the mercenaries, and his allies marched forth from Syracuse and made his way towards Eryx.note For not far from this hill lay the city of Motya, a Carthaginian colony, which they used as their chief base of operations against Sicily; and Dionysius hoped that with this city in his power he would have no small advantage over his enemies. |
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[14.47.5] In the course of his march he received from time to time the contingents from the Greek cities, supplying the full levy of each with arms; for they were all eager to join his campaign, hating as they did the heavy hand of Carthaginian domination and relishing the prospect at last of freedom. |
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[14.47.6] He received first the levy from Camarina, then those of Gela and Acragas; and after these he sent for the Himeraeans, whose home was on the other side of Sicily, and after adding the men of Selinus, as he passed by, he arrived at Motya with all his army. |
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[14.47.7] He had 80,000 infantry, well over 3,000 cavalry, and a little less than 200 warships, and he was accompanied by not less than 500 merchantships loaded with great numbers of engines of war and all the other supplies needed. |
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[14.47.1] When Dionysius, the tyrant of the Syracusans, had completed all his preparations for the war according to his personal design, he sent a herald to Carthage, having given him a letter to the Senate, |