by Polybius
23. The “Fair Promontory” here referred to is that which lies immediately to the north of Carthage; south of which the Carthaginians stipulated that the Romans should not sail with ships of war, because, as I imagine, they did not wish them to be acquainted with the coast near Byzacium, or the lesser Syrtis, which places they call Emporia, owing to the productiveness of the district. The treaty then goes on to say that, if any one of them is driven thither by stress of weather or fear of an enemy, and stands in need of anything for the worship of the gods and the repair of his vessel, this and no more he may take; and all those who have come to anchor there must necessarily depart within five days. To Carthage, and all the country on the Carthaginian side of the Fair Promontory in Libya, to Sardinia, and the Carthaginian province of Sicily, the treaty allows the Romans to sail for mercantile purposes; and the Carthaginians engage their public credit that such persons shall enjoy absolute security.
It is clear from this treaty that the Carthaginians speak of Sardinia and Libya as belonging to them entirely; but, on the other hand, make a distinction in the case of Sicily, and only stipulate for that part of it which is subject to Carthage. Similarly, the Romans also only stipulate concerning Latium; the rest of Italy they do not mention, as not being under their authority.
[1] μετὰ δὲ ταύτας ἑτέρας ποιοῦνται συνθήκας, ἐν αἷς προσπεριειλήφασι Καρχηδόνιοι Τυρίους καὶ τὸν Ἰτυκαίων δῆμον. [2] πρόσκειται δὲ καὶ τῷ Καλῷ ἀκρωτηρίῳ Μαστία Ταρσήιον: ὧν ἐκτὸς οἴονται δεῖν Ῥωμαίους μήτε λῄζεσθαι μήτε πόλιν κτίζειν. [3] εἰσὶ δὲ τοιαίδε τινές: “1ἐπὶ τοῖσδε φιλίαν εἶναι Ῥωμαίοις “1καὶ τοῖς Ῥωμαίων συμμάχοις καὶ Καρχηδονίων “1καὶ Τυρίων καὶ Ἰτυκαίων δήμῳ καὶ τοῖς τούτων “ [4] 1συμμάχοις. τοῦ Καλοῦ ἀκρωτηρίου, Μαστίας Ταρ”1σηίου, μὴ λῄζεσθαι ἐπέκεινα Ῥωμαίους μηδ᾽ ἐμ” [5] 1πορεύεσθαι μηδὲ πόλιν κτίζειν. ἐὰν δὲ Καρχη”1δόνιοι λάβωσιν ἐν τῇ Λατίνῃ πόλιν τινὰ μὴ οὖσαν “1ὑπήκοον Ῥωμαίοις, τὰ χρήματα καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας “ [6] 1ἐχέτωσαν, τὴν δὲ πόλιν ἀποδιδότωσαν. ἐὰν δέ “1τινες Καρχηδονίων λάβωσί τινας, πρὸς οὓς εἰρήνη “1μέν ἐστιν ἔγγραπτος Ῥωμαίοις, μὴ ὑποτάττονται “1δέ τι αὐτοῖς, μὴ καταγέτωσαν εἰς τοὺς Ῥωμαίων “1λιμένας: ἐὰν δὲ καταχθέντος ἐπιλάβηται ὁ Ῥω” [7] 1μαῖος, ἀφιέσθω. ὡσαύτως δὲ μηδ᾽ οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι “ [8] 1ποιείτωσαν. ἂν ἔκ τινος χώρας, ἧς Καρχηδόνιοι “1ἐπάρχουσιν, ὕδωρ ἢ ἐφόδια λάβῃ ὁ Ῥωμαῖος, μετὰ “1τούτων τῶν ἐφοδίων μὴ ἀδικείτω μηδένα πρὸς “ [9] 1οὓς εἰρήνη καὶ φιλία ἐστὶ Καρχηδονίοις. ὡσαύ” [10] 1τως δὲ μηδ᾽ ὁ Καρχηδόνιος ποιείτω. εἰ δέ, μὴ “1ἰδίᾳ μεταπορευέσθω: ἐὰν δέ τις τοῦτο ποιήσῃ, “ [11] 1δημόσιον γινέσθω τὸ ἀδίκημα. ἐν Σαρδόνι καὶ “1Λιβύῃ μηδεὶς Ῥωμαίων μήτ᾽ ἐμπορευέσθω μήτε “1πόλιν κτιζέτω, *** εἰ μὴ ἕως τοῦ ἐφόδια λαβεῖν “1ἢ πλοῖον ἐπισκευάσαι. ἐὰν δὲ χειμὼν κατενέγκῃ, “ [12] 1ἐν πένθ᾽ ἡμέραις ἀποτρεχέτω. ἐν Σικελίᾳ ἧς “1Καρχηδόνιοι ἐπάρχουσι καὶ ἐν Καρχηδόνι πάντα “1καὶ ποιείτω καὶ πωλείτω ὅσα καὶ τῷ πολίτῃ ἔξ” [13] 1εστιν. ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ ὁ Καρχηδόνιος ποιείτω ἐν “1Ῥώμῃ.”2 [14] πάλιν ἐν ταύταις ταῖς συνθήκαις τὰ μὲν κατὰ Λιβύην καὶ Σαρδόνα προσεπιτείνουσιν ἐξιδιαζόμενοι καὶ πάσας ἀφαιρούμενοι τὰς ἐπιβάθρας Ῥωμαίων, [15] περὶ δὲ Σικελίας τἀναντία προσδιασαφοῦσι, περὶ τῆς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ταττομένης. [16] ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι περὶ τῆς Λατίνης: οὐκ οἴονται δεῖν τοὺς Καρχηδονίους ἀδικεῖν Ἀρδεάτας, Ἀντιάτας, Κιρκαιίτας, Ταρρακινίτας. αὗται δ᾽ εἰσὶν αἱ πόλεις αἱ περιέχουσαι παρὰ θάλατταν τὴν Λατίνην χώραν, ὑπὲρ ἧς ποιοῦνται τὰς συνθήκας.
24. After this treaty there was a second, in which we find that the Carthaginians have included the Tyrians and the township of Utica in addition to their former territory; and to the Fair Promontory Mastia and Tarseium are added, as the points east of which the Romans are not to make marauding expeditions or found a city. The treaty is as follows: “There shall be friendship between the Romans and their allies, and the Carthaginians, Tyrians, and township of Utica, on these terms: The Romans shall not maraud, nor traffic, nor found a city east of the Fair Promontory, Mastia, Tarseium. If the Carthaginians take any city in Latium which is not subject to Rome, they may keep the prisoners and the goods, but shall deliver up the town. If the Carthaginians take any folk, between whom and Rome a peace has been made in writing, though they be not subject to them, they shall not bring them into any harbours of the Romans; if such an one be so brought ashore, and any Roman lay claim to him, he shall be released. In like manner shall the Romans be bound towards the Carthaginians.
“If a Roman take water or provisions from any district within the jurisdiction of Carthage, he shall not injure, while so doing, any between whom and Carthage there is peace and friendship. Neither shall a Carthaginian in like case. If any one shall do so, he shall not be punished by private vengeance, but such action shall be a public misdemeanour.
“In Sardinia and Libya no Roman shall traffic nor found a city; he shall do no more than take in provisions and refit his ship. If a storm drive him upon those coasts, he shall depart within five days.
“In the Carthaginian province of Sicily and in Carthage he may transact business and sell whatsoever it is lawful for a citizen to do. In like manner also may a Carthaginian at Rome.”
Once more in this treaty we may notice that the Carthaginians emphasise the fact of their entire possession of Libya and Sardinia, and prohibit any attempt of the Romans to land in them at all; and on the other hand, in the case of Sicily, they clearly distinguish their own province in it. So, too, the Romans, in regard to Latium, stipulate that the Carthaginians shall do no wrong to Ardea, Antium, Circeii, Tarracina, all of which are on the seaboard of Latium, to which alone the treaty refers.
[1] ἔτι τοιγαροῦν τελευταίας συνθήκας ποιοῦνται Ῥωμαῖοι κατὰ τὴν Πύρρου διάβασιν πρὸ τοῦ συστήσασθαι τοὺς Καρχηδονίους τὸν περὶ Σικελίας πόλεμον: [2] ἐν αἷς τὰ μὲν ἄλλα τηροῦσι πάντα κατὰ τὰς ὑπαρχούσας ὁμολογίας, πρόσκειται δὲ τούτοις τὰ ὑπογεγραμμένα. [3] “1ἐὰν συμμαχίαν ποιῶνται πρὸς “1Πύρρον ἔγγραπτον, ποιείσθωσαν ἀμφότεροι, ἵνα “1ἐξῇ βοηθεῖν ἀλλήλοις ἐν τῇ τῶν πολεμουμένων “ [4] 1χώρᾳ: ὁπότεροι δ᾽ ἂν χρείαν ἔχωσι τῆς βοηθείας, “1τὰ πλοῖα παρεχέτωσαν Καρχηδόνιοι καὶ εἰς τὴν “1ὁδὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἄφοδον, τὰ δὲ ὀψώνια τοῖς αὑ” [5] 1τῶν ἑκάτεροι. Καρχηδόνιοι δὲ καὶ κατὰ �
�άλατταν “1Ῥωμαίοις βοηθείτωσαν, ἂν χρεία ᾖ. τὰ δὲ πληρώ”1ματα μηδεὶς ἀναγκαζέτω ἐκβαίνειν ἀκουσίως.”2 τὸν δ᾽ ὅρκον ὀμνύειν ἔδει τοιοῦτον, [6] ἐπὶ μὲν τῶν πρώτων συνθηκῶν Καρχηδονίους μὲν τοὺς θεοὺς τοὺς πατρῴους, Ῥωμαίους δὲ Δία λίθον κατά τι παλαιὸν ἔθος, ἐπὶ δὲ τούτων τὸν Ἄρην καὶ τὸν Ἐνυάλιον. [7] ἔστι δὲ τὸ Δία λίθον τοιοῦτον: λαβὼν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα λίθον ὁ ποιούμενος τὰ ὅρκια περὶ τῶν συνθηκῶν, ἐπειδὰν ὀμόσῃ δημοσίᾳ πίστει, λέγει τάδε: “ [8] 1εὐορκοῦντι μέν μοι εἴη τἀγαθά: εἰ δ᾽ ἄλλως διανοηθείην τι ἢ πράξαιμι, πάντων τῶν ἄλλων σῳζομένων ἐν ταῖς ἰδίαις πατρίσιν, ἐν τοῖς ἰδίοις νόμοις, ἐπὶ τῶν ἰδίων βίων, ἱερῶν, τάφων, ἐγὼ μόνος ἐκπέσοιμι οὕτως ὡς ὅδε λίθος νῦν. [9] “2 καὶ ταῦτ᾽ εἰπὼν ῥίπτει τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς χειρός.
25. A third treaty again was made by Rome at the time of the invasion of Pyrrhus into Sicily, before the Carthaginians undertook the war for the possession of Sicily. This treaty contains the same provisions as the two earlier treaties with these additional clauses: —
“If they make a treaty of alliance with Pyrrhus, the Romans or Carthaginians shall make it on such terms as not to preclude the one giving aid to the other, if that one’s territory is attacked.
“If one or the other stand in need of help, the Carthaginians shall supply the ships, whether for transport or war; but each people shall supply the pay for its own men employed on them.
“The Carthaginians shall also give aid by sea to the Romans if need be; but no one shall compel the crews to disembark against their will.”
Provision was also made for swearing to these treaties. In the case of the first, the Carthaginians were to swear by the gods of their ancestors, the Romans by Jupiter Lapis, in accordance with an ancient custom; in the case of the last treaty, by Mars and Quirinus.
The form of swearing by Jupiter Lapis was this. The commissioner for swearing to the treaty took a stone in his hand, and, having taken the oath in the name of his country, added these words, “If I abide by this oath may he bless me; but if I do otherwise in thought or act, may all others be kept safe each in his own country, under his own laws, in enjoyment of his own goods, household gods, and tombs, — may I alone be cast out, even as this stone is now.” And having uttered these words he throws the stone from his hand.
[1] τούτων δὴ τοιούτων ὑπαρχόντων, καὶ τηρουμένων τῶν συνθηκῶν ἔτι νῦν ἐν χαλκώμασι παρὰ τὸν Δία τὸν Καπετώλιον ἐν τῷ τῶν ἀγορανόμων ταμιείῳ, [2] τίς οὐκ ἂν εἰκότως θαυμάσειεν Φιλίνου τοῦ συγγραφέως, οὐ διότι ταῦτ᾽ ἠγνόει — τοῦτο μὲν γὰρ οὐ θαυμαστόν, ἐπεὶ καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς ἔτι καὶ Ῥωμαίων καὶ Καρχηδονίων οἱ πρεσβύτατοι καὶ μάλιστα δοκοῦντες περὶ τὰ κοινὰ σπουδάζειν ἠγνόουν — [3] ἀλλὰ πόθεν ἢ πῶς ἐθάρρησε γράψαι τἀναντία τούτοις, διότι Ῥωμαίοις καὶ Καρχηδονίοις ὑπάρχοιεν συνθῆκαι, καθ᾽ ἃς ἔδει Ῥωμαίους μὲν ἀπέχεσθαι Σικελίας ἁπάσης, [4] Καρχηδονίους δ᾽ Ἰταλίας, καὶ διότι ὑπερέβαινον Ῥωμαῖοι τὰς συνθήκας καὶ τοὺς ὅρκους, ἐπεὶ ἐποιήσαντο τὴν πρώτην εἰς Σικελίαν διάβασιν, μήτε γεγονότος μήθ᾽ ὑπάρχοντος παράπαν ἐγγράφου τοιούτου μηδενός. [5] ταῦτα γὰρ ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ λέγει βύβλῳ διαρρήδην. περὶ ὧν ἡμεῖς ἐν τῇ παρασκευῇ τῆς ἰδίας πραγματείας μνησθέντες εἰς τοῦτον ὑπερεθέμεθα τὸν καιρὸν κατὰ μέρος περὶ αὐτῶν ἐξεργάσασθαι διὰ τὸ καὶ πλείους διεψεῦσθαι τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τούτοις, πιστεύσαντας τῇ Φιλίνου γραφῇ. [6] οὐ μὴν ἀλλ᾽ εἰ κατὰ τοῦτό τις ἐπιλαμβάνεται Ῥωμαίων περὶ τῆς εἰς Σικελίαν διαβάσεως, ὅτι καθόλου Μαμερτίνους προσέλαβον εἰς τὴν φιλίαν καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα δεομένοις ἐβοήθησαν, οἵτινες οὐ μόνον τὴν Μεσσηνίων πόλιν ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν Ῥηγίνων παρεσπόνδησαν, εἰκότως ἂν δόξειεν δυσαρεστεῖν. [7] εἰ δὲ παρὰ τοὺς ὅρκους καὶ τὰς συνθήκας ὑπολαμβάνει τις αὐτοὺς πεποιῆσθαι τὴν διάβασιν, ἀγνοεῖ προφανῶς.
26. Seeing that such treaties exist and are preserved to this day, engraved on brass in the treasury of the Aediles in the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, the historian Philinus certainly does give us some reason to be surprised at him. Not at his ignorance of their existence: for even in our own day those Romans and Carthaginians, whose age placed them nearest to the times, and who had the reputation of taking the greatest interest in public affairs, were unaware of it. But what is surprising is, that he should have ventured on a statement exactly opposite: “That there was a treaty between Rome and Carthage, in virtue of which the Romans were bound to keep away from the whole of Sicily, the Carthaginians from the whole of Italy; and that the Romans broke the treaty and their oath when they first crossed over to Sicily.” Whereas there does not exist, nor ever has existed, any such written compact at all. Yet this assertion he makes in so many words in his second book. I referred to this in the preface of my work, but reserved a more detailed discussion of it to this place; which was necessary, because the assertion of Philinus has misled a considerable number of people on this point. I have nothing to say if a man chooses to attack the Romans for crossing into Sicily, on the grounds of their having taken the Mamertines into alliance at all; or in having thus acted in answer to their request, after these men’s treachery to Rhegium as well as Messene: but if any one supposes that in so crossing they broke oaths or treaties, he is manifestly ignorant of the truth.
[1] συντελεσθέντος τοίνυν τοῦ περὶ Σικελίας πολέμου ποιοῦνται συνθήκας ἄλλας, ἐν αἷς τὰ συνέχοντα τῶν ἐγγράπτων ἦν ταῦτα: “ [2] 1ἐκχωρεῖν Καρχηδονίους “1καὶ Σικελίας ἁπάσης καὶ τῶν νήσων ἁπασῶν τῶν “ [3] 1κειμένων Ἰταλίας μεταξὺ καὶ Σικελίας. τὴν ἀσφάλειαν “1ὑπάρχειν παρ᾽ ἑκατέρων τοῖς ἑκατέρων συμμάχοις. “ [4] 1μηδετέρους ἐν ταῖς ἀλλήλων ἐπαρχίαις μηδὲν ἐπι”1τάττειν μηδ᾽ οἰκοδομεῖν δημοσίᾳ μηδὲ ξενολογεῖν “1μηδὲ προσλαμβάνειν εἰς φιλίαν τοὺς ἀλλήλων συμ” [5] 1μάχους. ἐξενεγκεῖν Καρχηδονίους ἐν ἔτεσιν δέκα “1δισχίλια καὶ διακόσια τάλαντα, παραυτίκα δὲ δοῦ” [6] 1ναι χίλια. τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους χωρὶς λύτρων ἀπο”1δοῦναι πάντας Καρχηδονίους τοῖς Ῥωμαίοις.”2 μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πάλιν, [7] λήξαντος τοῦ Λιβυκοῦ πολέμου, Ῥωμαῖοι Καρχηδονίοις πόλεμον ἐξενέγκαντες ἕως δόγματος ἐπισυνθήκας ἐποιήσαντο τοιαύτας: “ [8] 1ἐκ
”1χωρεῖν Καρχηδονίους Σαρδόνος καὶ προσεξενεγκεῖν “1ἄλλα χίλια καὶ διακόσια τάλαντα,”2 καθάπερ ἐπάνω προείπαμεν. [9] ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς προειρημένοις τελευταῖαι πρὸς Ἀσδρούβαν ἐν Ἰβηρίᾳ γίνονται διομολογήσεις, “1ἐφ᾽ ᾧ μὴ διαβαίνειν Καρχηδονίους ἐπὶ πολέμῳ “ [10] 1τὸν Ἴβηρα ποταμόν.”2 ταῦθ᾽ ὑπῆρχε τὰ δίκαια Ῥωμαίοις καὶ Καρχηδονίοις ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἕως εἰς τοὺς κατ᾽ Ἀννίβαν καιρούς.