Delphi Complete Works of Procopius
Page 612
[5] χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ ἐπιρρεύσαντος πεπονηκέναι τῆς γεφύρας τὰ πλεῖστα ξυνέβη. ἐῴκει τε πεσουμένοις αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα, καὶ τοῖς διαβαίνουσι διὰ τοῦτα ὁ θάνατος ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἦν.
[5] But as much time passed it came about that the greater part of the bridge had suffered; indeed it seemed to be on the point of falling at any moment and for this reason death faced those who crossed it.
[6] πρᾶγμά τε εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐπινενοημένον τοῖς πάλαι ἀνθρώποις, τῇ τῶν προεστηκότων ὀλιγωρίᾳ ἐγίνετο κινδύνου τε πολλοῦ καὶ φόβου αἴτια.
[6] Thus a structure which was devised by men of former times for the preservation of life came, by reason of the negligence of the authorities, to be a source of great danger and a thing to be feared.
[7] ὁ δὲ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς βασιλεὺς τὰ διερρυηκότα ἐπανορθώσας σπουδῇ ἅπαντα τῇ τε γεφύρᾳ καὶ τοῖς παριοῦσι τὴν ἀσφάλειαν ἀνεσώσατο, τήν τε πόλιν ἀπέδειξεν αὖθις τὴν ἐκ τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἀκινδύνως ἀναδουμένην εὐπρέπειαν.
[7] But our Emperor with great care set right all the damaged parts and once more restored the safety of the bridge and of those who crossed it, and caused the city to plume itself again, and without risk, on the river’s beauty.
[8] Ἔστι δέ τις μετ᾽ αὐτὴν Ἄδανα πόλις, ἧς δὴ ἐς τὰ πρὸς ἀνίσχοντα ἥλιον ποταμὸς φέρεται ]Σάρος ὄνομα, ἐκ τῶν ἐν Ἀρμενίοις ὀρῶν κατιών.
[8] Beyond it there is a certain city named Adana, on the eastern side of which the Sarus River flows, coming down from the mountains of Armenia.
[9] ναυσίπορος δὲ ὁ Σάρος ἐστὶ καὶ ἀνδράσι πεζοῖς οὐδαμῆ ἐσβατός. γέφυρα οὖν ἐκ παλαιοῦ τῇδε ὑπερφυής τε ἀποτετόρνευται καὶ λόγου ἀξία.
[9] The Sarus is navigable and quite impossible for men on foot to ford. So in ancient times an enormous and very notable bridge was constructed here. It was built in the following fashion.
[10] γεγένηται δὲ τρόπῳ τοιῷδε. λίθων μὲν εὐμεγέθων οἰκοδομίαι πολλαχῇ τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἐκ τῆς γῆς ἐπανεστήκασιν ἐς μέγα τι πάχος διήκουσαι, καὶ τῷ ποταμῷ κατὰ μὲν τὸ εὖρος ξυνεξικνούμεναι, τὸ δέ γε ὕψος πολλῷ ὑπερβάλλουσαι τῷ ὑπεραίροντι.
[10] At many points in the river piers of massive blocks of stone were reared upon its bed, built to a great thickness and forming a line extending across the entire width of the stream and in height rising far above high water.
[11] ὕπερθέν τε δυοῖν κατὰ μέσον ἀψῖδες ἐν τῷ μετεώρῳ ἐπηρμέναι ἀνέχουσιν ὕψους ἐς μέγα τι χρῆμα. ταύτης δὲ τῆς τῶν λίθων ξυνθήκης, ἣ κατὰ τὸ ὕδωρ οὖσα ἐτύγχανεν, ἅτε ῥοθίῳ μαχομένης πολλῷ, ἐπὶ χρόνου μῆκος ἀπέραντον ὅσον διεφθάρθαι τὰ πλεῖστα ξυνέβη.
[11] Above each pair of piers spring arches which rise to a great height, spanning the open space between them. The portion of this masonry which chanced to be below the water and so was constantly battered by its powerful current had, in a space of time beyond reckoning, come to be mostly destroyed.
[12] οὐκ εἰς μακράν τε ἡ γέφυρα πᾶσα τῷ ποταμῷ ἐμπεσεῖσθαι ἐπίδοξος ἦν. ἐγίνετό τε ἀεὶ ἐν εὔχῃ τῶν διαβαινόντων ἑκάστῳ ἐν τῇ κατ᾽ αὐτὸν διαβάσει τὴν τοῦ χρόνου στιγμὴν διαμεῖναι μόνον ἐν τῷ βεβαίῳ τὴν γέφυραν.
[12] So the whole bridge appeared likely after no long time to fall into the river. It had come to be always the prayer of each man who crossed the bridge that it might remain firm if only during the moment of his crossing.
[13] ἀλλὰ βασιλεὺς Ἰουστινιανὸς ἑτέραν τινὰ τῷ ποταμῷ πορείαν ὀρύξας, ἐκεῖσε μὲν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ καιροῦ μεταπορεύεσθαι διωθήσατο, ὕδατος δὲ χωρὶς τὴν οἰκοδομίαν λαβών, ἧσπερ ἐπεμνήσθην ἀρτίως, καὶ αὐτῆς τὰ πεπονθότα περιελὼν ἀνῳκοδομήσατο οὐδεμίᾳ μελλήσει, τόν τε ποταμὸν αὖθις ἐς τὴν πρόσθεν ὁδὸν ἐπανήγαγεν, ἣν κοίτην καλοῦσι. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τῇδε κεχώρηκε.
[13] But the Emperor Justinian dug another channel for the river and forced it to change its course temporarily; and then getting the masonry which I have just mentioned free from the water and removing the damaged portions, he rebuilt them without any delay and then returned the river to its former path, which they call the “bed.” Thus then were these things done.a
[14] Κύδνος δὲ ποταμὸς κατὰ πόλιν μέσην Ταρσὸν φέρεται. καὶ χρόνον μὲν τὸν ἄλλον οὐδὲν ἄχαρι διαπεπραγμένος φαίνεται πώποτε, ἅπαξ δὲ αὐτῷ ξυνηνέχθη ποτὲ τὰ ἀνήκεστα διεργάσασθαι ἐξ ]αἰτίας τοιᾶσδε.
[14] At Tarsus, the Cydnus River flows through the middle of the city. It appears that in general it had caused no damage at any time, but on one occasion it chanced that it did cause irreparable loss, for the following reason.
[15] τοῦ μὲν καιροῦ ἀμφὶ τροπὰς ἐαρινὰς ἦν· νότος δὲ ἄνεμος ἐξαπιναίως ἐπιπνεύσας πολὺς τὰς χιόνας διέλυσε πάσας, αἷς δὴ χειμῶνος ὥρᾳ ἐπιπεσούσαις τὸ ὄρος ὁ Ταῦρος ἐκεκάλυπτο σχεδόν τι ὅλον.
[15] It was about the time of the spring equinox, and a strong south wind which arose suddenly had melted all the snow which had fallen through the winter season, blanketing practically the whole Taurus range.
[16] ῥύακες οὖν ὑδάτων πανταχόθεν ξυνέρρεον τῶν ἐκείνῃ σκοπέλων, αἵ τε χαράδραι χειμάρρους ἀφίεσαν πᾶσαι, καὶ κρήναις πολλαῖς αἵ τε ὑπώρειαι καὶ οἱ πρόποδες ὀρῶν τῶν Ταυρείων κατάρρυτοι ἦσαν.
[16] Consequently streams of water were pouring down from the heights everywhere and each of the ravines discharged a torrent, and both the summits and the foothills of the Taurus mountains were deluged.
[17] τούτοις οὖν ὁ Κύδνος τοῖς ὕδασι κυματίας γεγενημένος, ἐπεὶ ἐς αὐτὸν ἐν γειτόνων ὄντα ἐπεσέβαλλον, ἅμα δέ οἱ καὶ ὄμβρων ἐπιγενομένων πολλῶν, τὰ μὲν Ταρσέων προάστεια πάντα, ὅσα πρὸς μεσημβρίαν τετραμμένα ἐτύγχανε, κατακλύσας εὐθὺς ἐξίτηλα τὸ παράπαν ἐποίει· ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν δὲ μορμύρων ᾔει καὶ τὰς γεφύρας βραχείας οὔσας περιελὼν τάς τε ἀγορὰς συνεῖχεν ἁπάσας τάς τε ἀγυιὰς ὑπερέβλυζε καὶ τοῖς οἴκοις καὶ ὑπερῴοις ἐπιπολάζων ἐπὶ μέγα ἐχώρει.
[17] So by reason of this water the Cydnus rose in flood, for the streams kept pouring their water into it, since it was close to the mountains, and it was further swollen by heavy rains which fell at the same time; consequ
ently the river flooded and immediately wiped out completely all the suburbs which were situated to the south of the city. Then it went roaring against the city itself, and tearing out the bridges, which were small, it covered all the market-places, flooded the streets, and wrought havoc by entering the houses and rising even to their upper storeys.
[18] νύκτα τε καὶ ἡμέραν ἡ πόλις ὅλη ἐν κινδύνῳ διαγέγονε καὶ σάλῳ τοιούτῳ, καὶ μόλις ἐν ὑστάτῳ ὁ ποταμὸς οὗτος κατὰ βραχὺ ἀπολωφήσας ἐν τοῖς εἰωθόσι γέγονεν αὖθις.
[18] Night and day the whole city continued in this critical and uncertain situation, and it was only tardily and at length that the river subsided little by little and returned once more to its accustomed level.
[19] ἅπερ ἐπεὶ βασιλεὺς Ἰουστινιανὸς ἥκουσεν, ἐπενόει τοιάδε. πρῶτα μὲν ἑτέραν πρὸ τῆς πόλεως διεσκευάσατο τῷ ποταμῷ κοίτην, ὅπως ἐνταῦθα διασχιζόμενος ἑκατέρωθί τε μερίζων τὸν ῥοῦν κατὰ ἥμισυ γεγονὼς μάλιστα ἐπὶ Ταρσὸν ἴοι.
[19] When the Emperor Justinian learned of this, he devised the following plan. First he prepared another bed for the river above the city, in order that the stream might be separated there into two parts and might divide its volume so that only about half of it should flow toward Tarsus.
[20] ἔπειτα δὲ τὰς γεφύρας παρὰ πολὺ εὐρυτέρας πεποιημένος κρείσσους ἀπειργάσατο εἶναι ἢ πλημμύροντι βιασθῆναι ]τῷ Κύδνῳ. ταύτῃ τε διεπράξατο φόβου καὶ κινδύνου ἐκτὸς ἐς πάντα τὸν χρόνον οἰκεῖσθαι τὴν πόλιν.
[20] Then he made the bridges very much broader and so strong that the Cydnus in flood could not sweep them away. Thus he brought it about that the city stands forever freed from fear and from danger.
[6] [6] [1] Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐν Κίλιξιν Ἰουστινιανῷ βασιλεῖ ταύτῃ πη ἔσχεν. ἐν δὲ Ἱεροσολύμοις ἱερὸν τῇ θεοτόκῳ ἀνέθηκεν, ᾧπερ ἄλλο εἰκασθῆναι οὐδὲν οἷόν τέ ἐστι.
[1] Such were the works of the Emperor Justinian in Cilicia. And in Jerusalem he dedicated to the Mother of God a shrine with which no other can be compared.
[2] νέαν ἐκκλησίαν καλοῦσι τὸ ἱερὸν οἱ ἐπιχώριοι· ὅπερ δὴ ὁποῖόν ποτέ ἐστιν, ἐγὼ δηλώσω, τοσοῦτον ὑπειπών, ὡς ἡ πόλις ἥδε λοφώδης μέν ἐστιν ἐκ τοῦ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον, οὐ γεώδεις δὲ οἱ λόφοι εἰσίν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔν τε τραχεῖ καὶ ἀποκρήμνῳ ἐπανεστήκασι, τὰς ἀμφόδους ἐν κλίμακος τρόπῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀρθίου ἐς τὸ πρανὲς κατατείνοντες.
[2] This is called by the natives the “New Church”; and I shall explain of what sort it is, first making this observation, that this city is for the most part set upon hills; however these hills have no soil upon them, but stand with rough and very steep sides, causing the streets to run straight up and down like ladders.
[3] τὰ μὲν οὖν ἄλλα τῆς πόλεως οἰκοδομήματα ἅπαντα ἐφ᾽ ἑνὸς χωρίου συμβαίνει εἶναι, ἢ ἐπὶ λόφου πεποιημένα, ἢ ἐν τῷ χθαμαλῷ κατὰ τὸ ἀναπεπταμένον τῆς γῆς, τοῦτο δὲ μόνον τὸ ἱερὸν οὐ ταύτῃ πη ἔχει.
[3] All the other buildings of the city chance to lie in one group, part of them built upon a hill and part upon the lower level where the earth spreads out flat; but this shrine alone forms an exception.
[4] ἐπέστελλε γὰρ αὐτὸ Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεὺς ἐν τῷ προὔχοντι γενέσθαι τῶν λόφων, δηλώσας ὁποῖον τά τε ἄλλα δεήσει καὶ τὸ εὖρος αὐτῷ καὶ μῆκος εἶναι.
[4] For the Emperor Justinian gave orders that it be built on the highest of the hills, specifying what the length and breadth of the building should be, as well as the other details.
[5] οὐκ ἀπέχρησέ τε κατὰ τὴν βασιλέως ἐπίταξιν πρὸς τοῦ ἔργου τὴν χρείαν ὁ λόφος, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ἱεροῦ τὸ τεταρτημόριον ἀπελέλειπτο πρός τε ἄνεμον νότον καὶ ἀνίσχοντά που τὸν ἥλιον, ἵνα δὴ ὀργιάζειν τοῖς ἱερεῦσι θέμις.
[5] However, the hill did not satisfy the requirements of the project, according to the Emperor’s specifications, but a fourth part of the church, facing the south and the east, was left unsupported, that part in which the priests are wont to perform the rites.
[6] διὸ δὴ ἐπενόουν τάδε οἷς τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο ἐπέκειτο. ἀπορριψάμενοι τὰ θεμέλια εἰς γῆς τῆς ὑπτίας τὰ ἔσχατα, οἰκοδόμημα πεποίηνται συνεπανεστηκὸς τῷ σκοπέλῳ.
[6] Consequently those in charge of this work hit upon the following plan. They threw the foundations out as far as the limit of the even ground, and then erected a structure which rose as high as the rock.
[7] ἐπειδή τε ἄνω κατὰ τὴν ἀκρωνυχίαν ἐγένοντο, τῶν ]τοίχων καθύπερθε θόλους ἐνθέμενοι συνάπτουσι τὴν οἰκοδομίαν τῷ ἄλλῳ τοῦ τεμένους ἐδάφει.
[7] And when they had raised this up level with the rock they set vaults upon the supporting walls, and joined this substructure to the other foundation of the church.
[8] ταύτῃ τε ὁ νεὼς πὴ μὲν ἐπὶ πέτρας ἰσχυρᾶς ἵδρυται, πὴ δὲ ᾐώρηται, τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως δυνάμεως μέγεθος ἄλλο ἐπιτεχνησαμένης τῷ λόφῳ.
[8] Thus the church is partly based upon living rock, and partly carried in the air by a great extension artificially added to the hill by the Emperor’s power.
[9] ταύτης δὲ δὴ τῆς οἰκοδομίας οἱ λίθοι οὐ τοιοίδε εἰσὶ μέγεθος, ὁποίους ἴσμεν.
[9] The stones of this substructure are not of a size such as we are acquainted with,
[10] πρὸς γὰρ τοῦ χωρίου τὴν φύσιν οἱ ἐπιδημιουργοὶ τοῦ ἔργου τοῦδε διαμαχόμενοι ὕψος τε ἀντιτεταγμένον τῷ σκοπέλῳ διαπονούμενοι, τῶν ξυνειθισμένων ὠλιγωρηκότες ἁπάντων ἐπὶ τὰ παράδοξα καὶ ὅλως ἀγνῶτα τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ἐχώρουν,
[10] for the builders of this work, in struggling against the nature of the terrain and labouring to attain a height to match the rocky elevation, had to abandon all familiar methods and resort to practices which were strange and altogether unknown.
[11] πέτρας οὖν ὑπερμεγέθεις ἐκ τῶν ὀρῶν ὑποτεμνόμενοι ἅπερ οὐρανομήκη ἐν τοῖς πρὸ τῆς πόλεως χωρίοις ἀνέχει, ξύσαντές τε αὐτὰς ἐπισταμένως, ἐνταῦθα ἦγον τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.
[11] So they cut out blocks of unusual size from the hills which rise to the sky in the region before the city, and after dressing them carefully they brought them to the site in the following manner.
[12] ἁμάξας μὲν ταῖς πέτραις ἐτεκτήναντο μεγέθει ἴσας, ἕνα δὲ λίθον ἐνετίθεντο ἁμάξῃ ἑκάστῃ, βόες τε ἀριστίνδην πρὸς βασιλέως ξυνειλεγμένοι κα�
�ὰ τεσσαράκοντα σὺν τῇ ἁμάξῃ τὸν λίθον ἐφεῖλκον.
[12] They built waggons to match the size of the stones, placed a single block on each of them, and had each waggon with its stone drawn by forty oxen which had been selected by the Emperor for their strength.
[13] ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ τὰς ἐς τὴν πόλιν φερούσας ὁδοὺς ταύτας δὴ φέρειν τὰς ἁμάξας ἀμήχανα ἦν, ἐκτέμνοντες ἐπὶ πλεῖστον τὰ ὄρη ἐσιτητὰ ταῖς ἐπιγενομέναις ἁμάξαις ἐποίουν, οὕτως τε περιμήκη ἀπειργάσαντο τὸν νεών, ᾗπερ βουλομένῳ τῷ βασιλεῖ ἦν.
[13] But since it was impossible for the roads leading to the city to accommodate these waggons, they cut into the hills for a very great distance, and made them passable for the waggons as they came along there, and thus they completed the length of the church in accordance with the Emperor’s wish.
[14] εὖρός τε αὐτῷ κατὰ λόγον πεποιημένοι, τέγος ἐπιθεῖναι τῷ ἱερῷ ὡς ἥκιστα εἶχον.
[14] However, when they made the width in due proportion, they found themselves quite unable to set a roof upon the building.
[15] δρυμούς τε οὖν καὶ δάση πάντα περιιόντες, καὶ εἴ πού τι χωρίον ἠκούετο οὐρανομήκεσι κατάφυτον δένδροις, ὕλην τινὰ εὗρον ἀμφιλαφῆ, κέδρους φέρουσαν ἐς ὕψος ἐξικνουμένας ἀπέραντον ὅσον, αἷς δὴ τὴν ὀροφὴν τῷ νεῲ ]ἔθεντο, ὕψος αὐτῷ κατὰ μέτρον πεποιημένοι, ἐς ὅσον τε εὐρύνεται καὶ ἐς τὸ μῆκος ἐξάγεται.