第6巻 第27章

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ οὐδέν τι ἧσσον ἀντέχοντας τῇ ταλαιπωρίᾳ τοὺς βαρβάρους ὁρῶν ἐς τοῦ ὕδατος καθίστασθαι τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν διενοεῖτο, ταύτῃ ῥᾷόν τε καὶ εὐπορώτερον αἱρήσειν τοὺς πολεμίους οἰόμενος.

Dewing But when Belisarius saw that the barbarians continued none the less to hold out in their suffering, he was minded to carry out his plot against their water-supply, thinking that in this way he would accomplish the capture of his enemy with greater ease and facility.

Greek καί, ἦν γάρ τις κρήνη Αὐξίμου πρὸς βορρᾶν ἄνεμον ἐν χώρῳ κρημνώδει, τοῦ περιβόλον ἀπέχουσα ὅσον λίθου βολήν, κατὰ βραχὺ μάλιστα τὸν ῥοῦν ἀφιεῖσα ἔς τινα δεξαμενὴν αὐτόθι ἐκ παλαιοῦ οὖσαν, ἥ τε δεξαμενὴ πλήρης γεγενημένη ἐκ ταύτης δὴ τῆς ὀλίγης ἐπιρροῆς παρείχετο πόνῳ οὐδενὶ τοῖς ἐν Αὐξίμῳ ὑδρεύεσθαι, ἔννοιά τις Βελισαρίῳ ἐγένετο ὡς, ἢν μὴ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐνταῦθα ξυσταίη, οὐ μή ποτε οἷοί τε ὦσιν οἱ βάρβαροι πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων βαλλόμενοι ἐν χρόνῳ πολλῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ἐπιρροῆς τοὺς ἀμφορέας ἐμπλήσασθαι.

Dewing Now there was a spring on a steep slope to the north of Auximus, about a stone's throw distant from the circuit- wall, which discharged its water in a very small stream into a cistern which had been there from of old; and when the cistern became full from this small inflow, it was a matter of no difficulty for the inhabitants of Auximus to draw the water. This situation suggested to Belisarius that, if the water should not be collected there, the barbarians would never be able to fill their jars from the spring's flow, because they would be exposed to the missiles of their enemy for a long time.

Greek διαφθεῖραι γοῦν ἐθέλων τὴν δεξαμενὴν ἐπενόει τάδε. ἐξοπλίσας τὸ στράτευμα ὅλον, κύκλῳ τε αὐτὸ ἀμφὶ τὸν περίβολον ὡς ἐς μάχην ταξάμενος, δόκησιν τοῖς ἐναντίοις παρείχετο ὡς τῷ τειχίσματι προσβαλεῖν αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα πανταχόθεν μέλλοι.

Dewing Wishing, therefore, to destroy the cistern, he devised the following plan. He armed his whole force and drew it up in a circle about the circuit-wall as if for battle, giving his opponents the impression that he was about to make an attack upon their defences from all sides without the least delay.

Greek διὸ δὴ κατωρρωδηκότες τὴν ἔφοδον οἱ Γότθοι ἐν ταῖς ἐπάλξεσιν ἡσυχῆ ἔμενον, ὡς ἐνθένδε ἀμυνούμενοι τοὺς πολεμίους.

Dewing The Goths, consequently, fearing the attack, remained quietly at the battlements, with the intention of warding off their enemy from that position.

Greek ἐν τούτῳ δὲ Βελισάριος Ἰσαύρους πέντε τοὺς ἐς τὰς οἰκοδομίας ἐμπείρους ξύν τε πελέκεσι καὶ ἄλλοις ὀργάνοις ἐς λίθων ἐκτομὰς ἐπιτηδείοις ἐς τὴν δεξαμενὴν ἀσπίδων πλήθει κρυπτομένους ἐσήγαγε, διαφθεῖραί τε καὶ διελεῖν τοὺς τοίχους πάσῃ δυνάμει κατὰ τάχος ἐκέλευεν.

Dewing But Belisarius meanwhile chose out five Isaurians who were skilled in masonry and conducted them to the cistern with mattocks and other implements suitable for cutting stone, concealing them as they went under a great number of shields; then he commanded them to put forth all their strength to break up and tear down the walls of the cistern as quickly as possible.

Greek οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι τέως μὲν τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐπὶ τὸ τεῖχος ὑπώπτευον ἰέναι, ἡσυχίαν ἦγον, ὅπως ἂν ὡς ἀγχοτάτω γενομένους εὐπετῶς βάλλοιεν, ἐν νῷ τὸ ποιούμενον ἥκιστα ἔχοντες· ἐπεὶ δὲ τοὺς Ἰσαύρους ἐντὸς γενομένους τῆς δεξαμενῆς εἶδον, λίθους τε καὶ τοξεύματα πάντα ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἔβαλλον.

Dewing As for the barbarians, as long as they suspected that these men were coming against the wall, they remained quiet, in order that they might come as close as possible and thus form an easy mark for their missiles, never once thinking what their real object was; but when they saw that the Isaurians had got inside the cistern, they began to hurl stones and discharge all kinds of missiles at them.

Greek τότε δὴ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι Ῥωμαῖοι ἅπαντες ὑπεχώρουν δρόμῳ, μόνοι δὲ οἱ πέντε Ἴσαυροι, ἐπεὶ ἐγένοντο ἐν τῷ ἀσφαλεῖ, ἔργου εἴχοντο· κύρτωμα γάρ τι ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὕδατος σκιᾶς ἕνεκα τοῖς πάλαι ἀνθρώποις τῇδε πεποίηται.

Dewing Then indeed all the other Romans retired on the run, but the five Isaurians alone, who had now reached safety, began their work; for a sort of vault had been built over the cistern by the men of old in order to shade the water.

Greek οὗ δὴ ἐντὸς γεγενημένοι ὡς ἥκιστα τῶν πολεμίων, καίπερ συχνὰ βαλλόντων, ἐφρόντιζον.

Dewing So when they had got under this vault, they paid not the least heed to the enemy, although they were discharging missiles with great frequency.

Greek Διὸ δὴ οἱ Γότθοι ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου μένειν οὐκέτι ἠνείχοντο, ἀλλὰ ἀνοίξαντες τὴν ταύτῃ πυλίδα ἐπὶ τοὺς Ἰσαύρους ἅπαντες θυμῷ τε πολλῷ καὶ θορύβῳ ἐχόμενοι ᾔεσαν.

Dewing In view of this the Goths could no longer endure to remain inside the fortifications, but opening the small gate on that side, they all rushed out against the Isaurians with great fury and tumult.

Greek καὶ οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι Βελισαρίου σφίσιν ἐγκελευομένου σπουδῇ πολλῇ ὑπηντίαζον. γίνεται μὲν οὖν μάχη καρτερὰ ἐν χρόνῳ πολλῷ ὠθισμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ φόνος ἑκατέρων πολύς.

Dewing And the Romans, urged on by Belisarius, made a counter-charge with great enthusiasm. So a fierce battle took place in which for a long time they engaged in a hand-to‑hand struggle, and there was great slaughter on both sides.

Greek Ῥωμαίων δὲ μᾶλλον συχνοὶ ἔπιπτον. ἅτε γὰρ οἱ βάρβαροι ὕπερθεν ἀμυνόμενοι ὀλίγοι τε πολλοὺς ἐβιάζοντο καὶ τῷ ὠθισμῷ περιγενόμενοι πλείους ἔκτεινον ἢ αὐτοὶ ἔθνησκον.

Dewing But the men were falling more thickly among the Romans. For since the barbarians were defending themselves from a higher position, a few men could overpower many, and gaining superiority in the hand-to‑hand struggle, they were killing more men than those who were killed among themselves.

Greek ἐνδιδόναι μέντοι Ῥωμαῖοι οὐδαμῆ ἤθελον, παρόντα τε καὶ κραυγῇ ἐγκελευόμενον Βελισάριον αἰσχυνόμενοι.

Dewing However, the Romans were determined not to give in, feeling shame before Belisarius, who was present and urging them on with shouts.

Greek τότε δὴ καὶ βέλος τι ἐπὶ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τὴν γαστέρα ᾔει ξὺν ῥοίζῳ πολλῷ, πρός του τῶν ἐναντίων, εἴτε τύχῃ τινὶ εἴτε προνοίᾳ ἐνταῦθα βληθέν.

Dewing While this battle was in progress, it also happened that a missile came flying with a shrill whiz toward the belly of the general, having been directed there by one of the enemy either by some chance or with deliberate intent. And this missile was not seen at all by Belisarius.

Greek ὅπερ Βελισάριος μὲν ὡς ἥκιστα εἶδεν. οὐ γὰρ οὖν οὔτε φυλάσσεσθαι οὔτε πη ἐκτρέπεσθαι ἴσχυσε. δορυφόρος δέ τις Οὐνίγαστος ὄνομα παρ’ αὐτὸν ἑστηκὼς κατενόησέ τε οὐκ ἄποθεν ὂν τῆς Βελισαρίου γαστρός, καὶ χεῖρα τὴν δεξιὰν προβαλλόμενος ἔσωσε μὲν τὸν στρατηγὸν ἐκ τοῦ παραδόξου, αὐτὸς δὲ πληγεὶς τῷ τοξεύματι εὐθὺς μὲν περιώδυνος γεγονὼς ἀνεχώρησε.

Dewing At any rate, he failed either to guard against it or to step aside to avoid it. But a certain spearman named Unigastus, who was standing beside him, saw it when it was not far from the belly of Belisarius, and by putting forth his right hand saved the general unexpectedly; but he himself, owing to the wound inflicted by the arrow, withdrew immediately, suffering severe pain.

Greek μετὰ δὲ τῶν νεύρων οἱ ἀποκοπέντων οὐκέτι τὴν χεῖρα ἐνεργεῖν ἴσχυσεν. ἥ τε μάχη πρωὶ ἀρξαμένη ἐς μέσην ἡμέραν ἀφίκετο.

Dewing And after that, since the sinews had been severed, he was never able to use his hand again. And the battle, which had begun early in the morning, continued up to midday.

Greek Καὶ τῶν Ἀρμενίων ἄνδρες ἑπτὰ ὑπό τε Ναρσῇ καὶ Ἀρατίῳ τασσόμενοι ἔργα ἐπεδείξαντο ἀρετῆς ἄξια, ἔς τε τὴν δυσχωρίαν, ἣ μάλιστα ἀνάντης ἦν, ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ ὁμαλεῖ περιθέοντες καὶ κτείνοντες τῶν πολεμίων τοὺς ἀεὶ σφίσιν ἀντιστατοῦντας, ἕως διωσάμενοι τοὺς ἐκείνῃ βαρβάρους ἐτρέψαντο.

Dewing And seven men of the Armenians from the command of Narses and Aratius made a display of valorous deeds, running about the unfavourable ground, which was exceedingly steep, just as if on the level, and killing those of the enemy who from time to time made a stand against them, until they forced back the barbarians in that part of the line and routed them.

Greek οἵ τε ἄλλοι Ῥωμαῖοι ἐνδιδόντας ὁρῶντες ἤδη τοὺς πολεμίους ἐδίωκον καὶ ἡ τροπὴ λαμπρὰ ἐγεγόνει, οἵ τε βάρβαροι αὖθις ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου ἐγένοντο.

Dewing Then the other Romans, seeing the enemy now giving way, began to pursue them and the rout became decisive, and the barbarians went back inside the fortifications.

Greek Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν οὖν τήν τε δεξαμενὴν διεφθάρθαι καὶ τοῖς Ἰσαύροις ἅπαν ἐπιτετελέσθαι τὸ ἔργον ᾤοντο, οἱ δὲ οὐδὲ ὅσον χάλικα ἐνθένδε ἀφελέσθαι παντελὲς ἴσχυσαν.

Dewing Now the Romans thought that the cistern had been destroyed and that the Isaurians had accomplished their whole task, but in fact they had been altogether unable to remove so much as one pebble from the masonry;

Greek οἱ γὰρ πάλαι τεχνῖται, ἀρετῆς ἐς τὰ ἔργα ἐπιμελούμενοι μάλιστα, οὕτω δὴ καὶ ταύτην τὴν οἰκοδομίαν εἰργάσαντο, ὥστε μήτε χρόνῳ μήτε ἀνθρώπων ἐπιβουλῇ εἴκειν.

Dewing for the artisans of old, who cared most of all for excellence in their work had built this masonry in such a way as to yield neither to time nor to the attempts of men to destroy it.

Greek ἄπρακτοι γοῦν οἱ Ἴσαυροι, ἐπειδὴ Ῥωμαίους τοῦ χῶρου κρατήσαντας εἶδον, ἐκ τῆς δεξαμενῆς ἀπαλλαγέντες ἐς τὸ στρατόπεδον ἀπεχώρησαν.

Dewing At any rate the Isaurians had accomplished nothing when upon seeing that the Romans had won the position, they left the cistern and withdrew to the camp.

Greek διὸ δὴ Βελισάριος τῶν τε ζῴων τὰ νεκρὰ καὶ βοτάνας ἐς ἀνθρώπου φθορὰν ἱκανῶς πεφυκυίας ῥίπτειν ἐν τῷ ὕδατι τοὺς στρατιώτας ἐκέλευε καὶ λίθον κατακεκαυμένην ἐνδελεχέστατα ʽἣν πάλαι μὲν τίτανον, τανῦν δὲ ἄσβεστον καλεῖν νενομίκασιν’ ἐμβαλόντας ἐνταῦθα σβεννύειν.

Dewing Consequently Belisarius commanded the soldiers to throw into the water the dead bodies of animals and such herbs as nature has caused to be especially deadly for man, and also to put in a kind of stone, very thoroughly burned, which in olden times they were accustomed to call "titanos," but which at the present time they call "asbestos"⁠ and thus to quench it in the water.

Greek καὶ οἱ μὲν κατὰ ταῦτα ἐποίουν, οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι φρέατι ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβόλου ὕδωρ τι βραχὺ ὡς μάλιστα ἔχοντι ἐν τούτῳ δὴ τῷ χρόνῳ ἐλασσόνως ἢ κατὰ τὴν χρείαν ἐχρῶντο.

Dewing And the soldiers did accordingly, but the barbarians made use of a well inside the fortifications which had an exceedingly scant supply of water, and thus they supplied themselves during this time, but with a smaller quantity than they needed.

Greek καὶ τὸ λοιπὸν Βελισάριος οὔτε βίᾳ τὸ χωρίον ἑλεῖν οὔτε τινὰ ἐπιβουλὴν ἐπιδείξασθαι ὕδατος πέρι ἢ ἄλλου ὁτουοῦν ἐν σπουδῇ ἐποιεῖτο, μόνῳ τῷ λιμῷ περιέσεσθαι τῶν πολεμίων ἐλπίδα ἔχων.

Dewing Thereafter Belisarius no longer exerted himself either to capture the place by storm or to carry out any plot with regard to the water or anything else, hoping that by famine alone he would overcome the enemy.

Greek καὶ ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ τῆς φυλακῆς ἰσχυρότατα ἐπεμελεῖτο. οἵ τε Γότθοι καραδοκοῦντες ἔτι τὸν ἐκ Ῥαβέννης στρατὸν ἐν πολλῇ ἀπορίᾳ τῶν ἀναγκαίων ἡσύχαζον.

Dewing And because of this purpose he exercised the greatest care in guarding the lines. The Goths, meanwhile, still expecting the army from Ravenna and being in great want of provisions, remained quiet.

Greek Ἤδη δὲ οἱ ἐν Φισούλῃ πολιορκούμενοι ὡς μάλιστα τῷ λιμῷ ἐπιέζοντο, φέρειν τε τὸ κακὸν οὐχ οἷοί τε ὄντες, ἀπειπόντες δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἐκ Ῥαβέννης ἐλπίδα, τοῖς ἐναντίοις προσχωρεῖν ἔγνωσαν.

Dewing By this time the Goths who were besieged in Fisula were beginning to be exceedingly hard pressed by famine, and, being unable to endure the suffering, and also of the hope from Ravenna, they decided to yield to their opponents.

Greek Κυπριανῷ τοίνυν καὶ Ἰουστίνῳ ἐς λόγους ἐλθόντες, τά τε πιστὰ ὑπὲρ τῶν σωμάτων λαβόντες, σφᾶς τε αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸ φρούριον ὁμολογίᾳ παρέδοσαν. καὶ αὐτοὺς οἱ ἀμφὶ Κυπριανὸν ξὺν τῷ Ῥωμαίων στρατῷ ἐπαγόμενοι, φρουράν τε αὐτάρκη ἐν Φισούλῃ καταστησάμενοι, ἐς Αὔξιμον ἦλθον.

Dewing They accordingly opened negotiations with Cyprian and Justinus, and, upon receiving pledges for their lives, they surrendered both themselves and the fortress. Then Cyprian and his colleagues, taking them along with the Roman army, and after establishing a sufficient garrison at Fisula, came to Auximus.

Greek Βελισάριος δὲ αὐτῶν τοὺς ἡγουμένους τοῖς ἐν Αὐξίμῳ βαρβάροις ἀεὶ ἐνδεικνύμενος ἐκέλευε τῆς ἀπονοίας μεθίεσθαι, τὴν ἐκ Ῥαβέννης ἀποσεισαμένοις ἐλπίδα· ὄνησις γάρ τις οὐ μή ποτε οὐδὲ αὐτοῖς ἔσται, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ πλεῖστον τῇ ταλαιπωρίᾳ κεκακωμένοι οὐδὲν ἧσσον ἐς ταὐτὸν τύχης τοῖς ἐν Φισούλῃ ἀφίξονται.

Dewing And Belisarius, from that time, was constantly displaying their leaders to the barbarians in Auximus and bidding them cling no longer to their insane purpose, but abandon their hope from Ravenna; for they, like the others, would never receive the least assistance, but after being utterly worn out by hardship they would none the less come to the same fate as had the garrison in Fisula.

Greek οἱ δὲ πολλὰ ἐν σφίσιν αὐτοῖς λογισάμενοι, ἐπειδὴ τῷ λιμῷ οὐκέτι ἀντεῖχον, τούς τε λόγους ἐνεδέχοντο καὶ παραδοῦναι τὴν πόλιν ἠξίουν, ἐφ’ ᾧ αὐτοὶ ἀπαθεῖς κακῶν ξὺν τοῖς χρήμασιν ἐπὶ Ῥαβέννης πορεύσονται.

Dewing And they, after long deliberation among themselves, seeing that they could no longer hold out against the famine, were ready to receive his proposals and expressed a desire to surrender the city, on condition that they themselves suffer no harm and proceed with their belongings to Ravenna.

Greek διὸ δὴ Βελισάριος τοῖς παροῦσι διηπορεῖτο, πολεμίους μὲν τοιούτους τε τὴν ἀρετὴν καὶ τοσούτους τὸ πλῆθος τοῖς ἐν Ῥαβέννῃ ἀναμίγνυσθαι ἀξύμφορον εἶναι οἰόμενος, τοῦ δὲ καιροῦ ὑστερῆσαι ὡς ἥκιστα ἤθελεν, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ Ῥάβεννάν τε καὶ Οὐίττιγιν, ᾐωρημένων ἔτι τῶν πραγμάτων, ἰέναι.

Dewing As a result of this, Belisarius was altogether uncertain what to do in the situation before him, because, on the one hand, he thought it inexpedient that a body of the enemy of such marked excellence and so numerous besides should join forces with their comrades in Ravenna, and, on the other hand, he was quite unwilling to let slip the moment of opportunity, but wished to move against Ravenna and Vittigis while the situation was still unsettled.

Greek Φράγγοι γὰρ αὐτὸν ξυνετάρασσον, Γότθοις ἐς ἐπικουρίαν ἀφίξεσθαι αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα ἐπίδοξοι ὄντες. ὧν δὴ προτερῆσαι τὴν παρουσίαν ἐν σπουδῇ ἔχων διαλύειν τὴν προσεδρείαν μήπω Αὐξίμου ἁλούσης οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν.

Dewing For the Franks were causing him great concern, since he fully expected that they would come to the assistance of the Goths almost immediately. And though he was eager to anticipate their arrival, he was unable to break up the siege with Auximus still uncaptured.

Greek οἵ τε στρατιῶται οὐκ εἴων συγχωρεῖν τοῖς βαρβάροις τὰ χρήματα, τραύματα μὲν πολλὰ ἐνδεικνύμενοι ὧνπερ ἐνταῦθα πρὸς αὐτῶν ἔτυχον, πόνους δὲ πάντας ἀπαριθμοῦντες τοὺς ἐν ταύτῃ σφίσι τῇ πολιορκίᾳ ξυμπεπτωκότας, ὧν δὴ ἆθλα εἶναι τῶν ἡσσημένων τὰ λάφυρα ἰσχυρίζοντο.

Dewing The soldiers, furthermore, would not allow him to concede their property to the barbarians, displaying many wounds which they had received at their hands before the city and recounting all the struggles which had fallen to their lot during this siege; and they declared that the rewards for these sufferings were surely the spoils of the vanquished.

Greek τέλος δὲ οἵ τε Ῥωμαῖοι καιροῦ ὀξύτητι ἀναγκασθέντες, καὶ Γότθοι τῷ λιμῷ βιαζόμενοι ξυνίασιν ἀλλήλοις, ἐφ’ ᾧ τῶν μὲν χρημάτων τὰ ἡμίσεια Ῥωμαῖοι ἐν σφίσιν αὐτοῖς διανέμωνται, τὰ δὲ λειπόμενα Γότθοι ἔχοντες βασιλέως κατήκοοι ὦσιν.

Dewing But finally, since the Romans were compelled by the pressing need of the moment, and the Goths were overcome by the famine, they came to an agreement with each other, stipulating that the Romans should divide among themselves one half of their wealth, while the Goths should keep the rest and be subjects of the emperor.

Greek ἑκάτεροι τοίνυν ὑπὲρ τούτων τὰ πιστὰ ἔδοσαν, Ῥωμαίων μὲν οἱ ἄρχοντες τὰ ξυγκείμενα κύρια εἶναι, Γότθοι δὲ τῶν χρημάτων οὐδ’ ὁτιοῦν ἀποκρύψασθαι.

Dewing Both sides accordingly gave pledges to secure this agreement, the commanders of the Romans that the agreement should be binding, and the Goths that they would conceal nothing whatever of their wealth.

Greek οὕτω τε δὴ τὰ χρήματα πάντα ἐνείμαντο καὶ Ῥωμαῖοι μὲν Αὔξιμον ἔσχον, οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι τῷ βασιλέως στρατεύματι ἀνεμίγνυντο.

Dewing Thus, then, they divided the whole of it between them, and the Romans, on their part, took possession of Auximus, while the barbarians mingled with the emperor's army. The Loeb Editor's Notes: 1 Cf. chap. xix.20. ❦ 2 Cf. Book II.ii. ❦ 3 i.e. subjects of the Emperor at Byzantium. ❦ 4 Book II.v ff. ❦ 5 Cf. Book V.vii.25. ❦ 6 A military title of the highest rank. ❦ 7 Faesulae; modern Fiesole. ❦ 8 Dertona; modern Tortona. ❦ 9 Roughly 81 English miles. Cf. Book III.i.17. Thayer's Note: Procopius' total distance here from Osimo to Ravenna is 710 stadia. It will be noticed that although at one point the text of Procopius as we have it (B. G. I.11.2) unambiguously makes a mile equal to 5.9 stadia, the translator has wisely chosen to ignore that — see my note there — and used the standard 8 stadia to a Roman mile to convert these 710 stadia to 88¾ miles, which is roughly 81 English miles. In point of fact, though, the straight-line distance from Osimo to Ravenna (measured from Osimo's town hall to the Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna, taken as approximations to the center of each city respectively) is a bit more than 89 English or 96 Roman miles, but that line is in part over water: the road distance along the flat coast is a shade more than that. ❦ 10 i.e. the calves. ❦ 11 Modern Pavia. ❦ 12 At Dorthon. ❦ 13 Procopius represents Liguria as north of the Po. Cf. Book V.xv.28, note. ❦ 14 The "Germans" in Procopius' usage and the "Franks" are the same people. ❦ 15 At Fisula. ❦ 16 i.e. lime. Thayer's Note: a The straight-line distance from Osimo, the ancient Auximum (measured from the town hall, taken as an approximation to the center of town) is 8.2 Roman miles, making Procopius' stadion here roughly 10 to the mile; but the road distance would be greater, pushing the equivalence down to something like the 8 stadia per mile found in other ancient authors. ◂ previous next ▸ Images with borders lead to more information. The thicker the border, the more information. (Details here.) UP TO: Gothic Wars Ancient Military History Military History Home Procopius Greek & Latin Texts LacusCurtius A page or image on this site is in the public domain ONLY if its URL has a total of one *asterisk. If the URL has two **asterisks, the item is copyright someone else, and used by permission or fair use. If the URL has none the item is © Bill Thayer. See my copyright page for details and contact information. Page updated: 14 Sep 20 Accessibility