Γεωγραφικα 15.1.52

15.1.52

μετὰ δὲ τοὺς ἀστυνόμους τρίτη ἐστὶ συναρχία ἡ περὶ τὰ στρατιωτικά, καὶ αὕτη ταῖς πεντάσιν ἑξαχῇ διωρισμένη· ὧν τὴν μὲν μετὰ τοῦ ναυάρχου τάττουσι τὴν δὲ μετὰ τοῦ ἐπὶ τῶν βοϊκῶν ζευγῶν, διʼ ὧν ὄργανα κομίζεται καὶ τροφὴ αὐτοῖς τε καὶ κτήνεσι καὶ τὰ ἄλλα τὰ χρήσιμα τῇ στρατιᾷ. οὗτοι δὲ καὶ τοὺς διακόνους παρέχουσι, τυμπανιστάς, κωδωνοφόρους, ἔτι δὲ καὶ ἱπποκόμους καὶ μηχανοποιοὺς καὶ τοὺς τούτων ὑπηρέτας· ἐκπέμπουσί τε πρὸς κώδωνα τοὺς χορτολόγους, τιμῇ καὶ κολάσει τὸ τάχος κατασκευαζόμενοι καὶ τὴν ἀσφάλειαν. τρίτοι δέ εἰσιν οἱ τῶν πεζῶν ἐπιμελούμενοι· τέταρτοι δʼ οἱ τῶν ἵππων· πέμπτοι δʼ ἁρμάτων· ἕκτοι δὲ ἐλεφάντων· βασιλικοί τε σταθμοὶ καὶ ἵπποις καὶ θηρίοις, βασιλικὸν δὲ καὶ ὁπλοφυλάκιον· παραδίδωσι γὰρ ὁ στρατιώτης τήν τε σκευὴν εἰς τὸ ὁπλοφυλάκιον καὶ τὸν ἵππον εἰς τὸν ἱππῶνα καὶ τὸ θηρίον ὁμοίως· χρῶνται δʼ ἀχαλινώτοις· τὰ δʼ ἅρματα ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς βόες ἕλκουσιν, οἱ δὲ ἵπποι ἀπὸ φορβειᾶς ἄγονται τοῦ μὴ παρεμπίπρασθαι τὰ σκέλη, μηδὲ τὸ πρόθυμον αὐτῶν τὸ ὑπὸ τοῖς ἅρμασιν ἀμβλύνεσθαι. δύο δʼ εἰσὶν ἐπὶ τῷ ἅρματι παραβάται πρὸς τῷ ἡνιόχῳ· ὁ δὲ τοῦ ἐλέφαντος ἡνίοχος τέταρτος, τρεῖς δʼ οἱ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ τοξεύοντες.

Next to the magistrates of the city is a third body of governors, who have the care of military affairs. This class also consists of six divisions, each composed of five persons. One division is associated with the chief naval superintendent, another with the person who has the charge of the bullock-teams, by which military engines are transported, of provisions both for the men and beasts, and other requisites for the army. They furnish attendants, who beat a drum, and carry gongs; and besides these, grooms, mechanists, and their assistants. They despatch by the sound of the gong the foragers for grass, and insure expedition and security by rewards and punishments. The third division has the care of the infantry; the fourth, of the horses; the fifth, of the chariots; the sixth, of the elephants. There are royal stables for the horses and elephants. There is also a royal magazine of arms; for the soldier returns his arms to the armoury, and the horse and elephant to the stables. They use the elephants without bridles. The chariots are drawn on the march by oxen. The horses are led by a halter, in order that their legs may not be chafed and inflamed, nor their spirit damped, by drawing chariots. Besides the charioteer, there are two persons who fight by his side in the chariot. With the elephant are four persons, the driver and three bowmen, who discharge arrows from his back.