Herodotus – Histories

Original: μετὰ δὲ ἡ Ἀστυάγεος τοῦ Κυαξάρεω ἡγεμονίη καταιρεθεῖσα ὑπὸ Κύρου τοῦ Καμβύσεω καὶ τὰ τῶν Περσέων πρήγματα αὐξανόμενα πένθεος μὲν Κροῖσον ἀπέπαυσε , ἐνέβησε δὲ ἐς φροντίδα , εἴ κως δύναιτο , πρὶν μεγάλους γενέσθαι τοὺς Πέρσας , καταλαβεῖν αὐτῶν αὐξανομένην τὴν δύναμιν .

Translation: After these things , Kyaxares , having reigned for forty years , began to rule together with the Scythians ; but finally , Astyages , the son of Kyaxares , received the kingdom .

Note

The sentence employs the correlative particles μέν and δέ to structure a contrast between the reign of Kyaxares and that of his son. The first clause uses a temporal participle (βασιλεύσας) to indicate duration ('having reigned for forty years') before the main verb. The phrase σύν τοῖς Σκύθαι ('with the Scythians') refers to a specific historical period where Median rule was shared with Scythian chieftains, a well-documented phenomenon in the region. The syntax shifts with the adversative δέ to introduce the second subject, Astyages. The verb ἐκδέκεται is a middle voice form of ἐκδέχομαι, meaning 'to receive' or 'to take over,' often used in contexts of succession or inheritance. The construction highlights the transition of power from a joint rule back to a single, hereditary monarch.

Original: μετὰ ὦν τὴν διάνοιαν ταύτην αὐτίκα ἀπεπειρᾶτο τῶν μαντηίων τῶν τε ἐν Ἕλλησι καὶ τοῦ ἐν Λιβύῃ , διαπέμψας ἄλλους ἄλλῃ , τοὺς μὲν ἐς Δελφοὺς ἰέναι , τοὺς δὲ ἐς Ἄβας τὰς Φωκέων , τοὺς δὲ ἐς Δωδώνην ·

Translation: And a daughter was born to her ; she gave her the name Mandane .

Note

The sentence employs a paratactic structure typical of narrative prose, linking two events with the copulative conjunction 'καί' (and) to indicate sequential action. The first clause uses the imperfect middle/passive 'ἐγένετο' (was born/became) with the dative of possession 'τῇ' (to her), implying a specific female antecedent from the preceding context. The second clause features a double accusative construction: 'ὄνομα' (name) serves as the direct object, while 'Μανδάνην' (Mandane) functions as an object complement (OCOMP) describing the name given. The use of the aorist 'ἔθετο' (gave/set) marks the specific act of naming as a completed action. The name 'Mandane' is culturally significant, historically associated with the mother of Cyrus the Great, and often carries connotations of Persian nobility in Herodotean narrative.

Original: οἳ δὲ τινὲς ἐπέμποντο παρὰ τε Ἀμφιάρεων καὶ παρὰ Τροφώνιον , οἳ δὲ τῆς Μιλησίης ἐς Βραγχίδας .

Translation: Astyages thought that he had urinated in a dream so much that it filled his city and even inundated all of Asia .

Note

The sentence employs a classic 'dream omen' motif common in Near Eastern and Greek historiography, where bodily fluids in dreams symbolize vast quantities of power or territory. The syntax features a result clause introduced by τοσούτον ... ὥστε ('so much that'), which connects the action of the infinitive οὐρήσαι (to urinate) to its two consequences: filling the city and inundating Asia. The construction uses a correlative pair μέν ... δέ ('on the one hand ... on the other') to coordinate the two infinitives πλησᾶν and ἐπικατακλῦσαι, creating a balanced, escalating structure. The verb ἐπικατακλῦσαι is a compound form meaning 'to flood over' or 'to drown,' emphasizing the overwhelming scale of the second consequence compared to the first. The shift from the domestic sphere (the city) to the continental scale (all of Asia) illustrates the prophetic nature of the dream, suggesting the overthrow of the Persian Empire (Asia) by the infant Cyrus, who was the subject of this specific prophecy in Herodotus.

Original: ταῦτα μέν νυν τὰ Ἑλληνικὰ μαντήια ἐς τὰ ἀπέπεμψε μαντευσόμενος Κροῖσος ·

Translation: Having concealed the dream from the Magi , he went to the dream-interpreters and , learning everything from them , was terrified .

Note

The sentence features a prominent aorist participle (ὑπεθέμενος) in the nominative masculine singular, which functions adverbially to indicate the temporal sequence of actions preceding the main verb (ἐφοβήθη). The preposition παρά with the genitive (παρ’ αὐτῶν) is used here to denote the source from which knowledge is acquired ('from them'), rather than the more common dative of the person from whom something is learned. The use of αὐτὰ ἕκαστα ('each thing individually' or 'all the details') emphasizes the completeness of the information obtained. The narrative structure highlights a dramatic irony: the protagonist attempts to bypass the Magi, only to find that the very group he avoids (the Magi) was not the source of the fear, but the 'dream-interpreters' (ὀνειροπόλοι) provided the terrifying details. The term ὀνειροπόλος refers specifically to those who interpret dreams, a profession of significant cultural importance in the ancient Near East and Greece, often associated with wisdom but also with delivering unsettling prophecies.

Original: Λιβύης δὲ παρὰ Ἄμμωνα ἀπέστελλε ἄλλους χρησομένους .

Translation: But after this Mandane was already the wife of a handsome Mede , he gave no woman to any of his own people who were worthy , fearing the sight .

Note

The sentence employs a participle of cause or attendant circumstance, 'fearing the sight' (δεδοικώς), to explain the motivation behind the main verb's action. The phrase 'worthy of his own people' (τῶν ἐωυτοῦ ἀξίων) uses the genitive plural to denote the group from which the men are drawn. The construction 'gave no woman to anyone' (οὐδενὶ διδοί) utilizes the dative of the indirect object combined with a negative pronoun. The term 'sight' (ὄψιν) here refers to the physical appearance or presence of the woman, implying that her beauty was so striking it warranted protection or separation from the general populace. The sentence structure features a temporal clause introduced by 'after' (μετά) followed by the main clause, with the participle providing the causal link at the end.

Original: διέπεμπε δὲ πειρώμενος τῶν μαντηίων ὅ τι φρονέοιεν , ὡς εἰ φρονέοντα τὴν ἀληθείην εὑρεθείη , ἐπείρηται σφέα δεύτερα πέμπων εἰ ἐπιχειρέοι ἐπὶ Πέρσας στρατεύεσθαι .

Translation: The Persian , however , had the name Cambyses ; whom he found to be of a good household but of a quiet disposition , leading him beneath the middle of a Median man .

Note

The sentence utilizes a chiastic structure in the description of Cambyses's origins: 'οἰκίης... ἀγαθῆς' (of a good house) is contrasted with 'τρόπου... ἡσυχίου' (of a quiet manner), linked by the correlating particles 'μέν' and 'δέ'. The phrase 'ἡσυχίου' (quiet) is particularly significant in Persian and Median contexts, often denoting a lack of ambition or a preference for domestic life over martial or political agitation, traits that would later be scrutinized in the historical narrative. The syntax features a genitive absolute-like construction embedded within the relative clause ('τοῦν εὗρε... ὄντα'), where the participle 'ὄντα' governs two genitive nouns ('οἰκίης' and 'τρόπου') modified by adjectives. The final phrase 'πολλῷ ἔνερθε ἄγων αὐτὸν μέσου ἀνδρὸς Μήδου' is a vivid, albeit somewhat enigmatic, description of physical stature or social positioning. 'ἔνερθε' (beneath/under) combined with 'μέσου' (middle) suggests he was physically smaller or of lower status than a typical Median man, or perhaps metaphorically 'under' the influence of a Median man, though the text implies a literal physical comparison regarding his height or build relative to the Median average.

Original: ἐντειλάμενος δὲ τοῖσι Λυδοῖσι τάδε ἀπέπεμπε ἐς τὴν διάπειραν τῶν χρηστηρίων , ἀπ’ ἧς ἂν ἡμέρης ὁρμηθέωσι ἐκ Σαρδίων , ἀπὸ ταύτης ἡμερολογέοντας τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον ἑκατοστῇ ἡμέρῃ χρᾶσθαι τοῖσι χρηστηρίοισι , ἐπειρωτῶντας ὅ τι ποιέων τυγχάνοι ὁ Λυδῶν βασιλεὺς Κροῖσος ὁ Ἀλυάττεω ·

Translation: While Cyrus was cohabiting with Mandane , Astyages , in the first year , saw another vision : it seemed to him that a vine grew from the genitals of this daughter , and that the vine covered all of Asia .

Note

This sentence employs a participial phrase (συνοικεούσης ... Μανδάνης) to establish the temporal and causal background for the main action. The narrative structure shifts from a historical event to a prophetic dream, utilizing the verb ὁράω (to see) in the aorist to denote the sudden appearance of the vision, followed by δοκέω (to seem/think) to introduce the content of the dream. The syntax features a classic example of anaphora and parallelism in the final clause: the repetition of the noun αμπέλον (vine) with the conjunction δέ connecting two infinitival phrases (φυῦναι αμπέλον ... καὶ ἐπισχεῖν τὴν Ἀσίην), creating a rhythmic emphasis on the scope of the omen. The phrase ἐκ τῶν αἰδοίων (from the genitals) is a euphemistic yet direct reference to the daughter's lineage, highlighting the theme of dynastic succession and the transition of power from the Median to the Persian empire. The imagery of a vine covering the entire continent serves as a metaphor for imperial expansion, a common motif in ancient Near Eastern and Greek political prophecy.

Original: ἅσσα δ’ ἂν ἕκαστα τῶν χρηστηρίων θεσπίσῃ , συγγραψαμένους ἀναφέρειν παρ’ ἑωυτόν .

Translation: Having seen this and having set it aside from the dream-interpreters , he summoned his daughter , Epitaca , who was still with him , from among the Persians ; and when she had arrived , he kept her under guard , wishing to destroy the event that had come to pass through her .

Note

The sentence employs a sequence of aorist and imperfect participles (ἰδὼν, ὑπερθέμενος, ἀπικομένην, βουλόμενος) to create a dense narrative flow, where the main finite verbs (μετεπέμψατο, ἐφύλασσε) anchor the chronological progression. The phrase ὑπερθέμενος τοῖσι ὀνειροπόλοισι uses the dative plural to indicate the group from whom the matter is removed or set aside, reflecting a specific idiomatic usage of 'putting away' a concern. The name ἐπίτεκα (Epitaca) appears here in apposition to θυγατέρα, clarified by the participle ἐοῦσαν (being/still with him), which functions adjectivally to specify her status at the time of summoning. The construction βουλόμενος... διαφθεῖραι (wishing to destroy) takes a verbal noun (γενόμενον, 'the thing that happened') as its object, demonstrating the use of the future infinitive to express purpose or intended action following a verb of wishing. The use of ἐξ αὐτῆς (through her) highlights the causal agency of the daughter in the realization of the dream's fulfillment, a common thematic element in Herodotean narratives where human action fulfills divine or prophetic portents. The sentence structure features a paratactic connection via δὲ (and) between the two main clauses, typical of Herodotus's narrative style, which favors a cumulative, episodic rhythm over complex subordination.

Original: ὅ τι μέν νυν τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν χρηστηρίων ἐθέσπισε , οὐ λέγεται πρὸς οὐδαμῶν ·

Translation: For the Magi , who interpret dreams from the evening 's vision , declared that the son of his daughter would reign in his place .

Note

The sentence opens with the causal conjunction γάρ ('for'), which connects this statement to a preceding context, indicating an explanation or justification. The subject οἱ τῶν Μάγων ονειροπόλοι ('the dream-interpreters of the Magi') is modified by the prepositional phrase ἐκ τῆς ὄψιος ('from the evening's vision'), where ὄψις refers to a sight or vision, likely occurring at night or in a dream state. The verb ἐσήμαινον ('they declared/signaled') is in the imperfect indicative, suggesting a repeated or ongoing action in the past. The clause introduced by ὅτι ('that') contains a future periphrastic construction μελλοῖ βασιλεύσειν ('would reign'), indicating a future event relative to the past time of the narrative. The phrase ὁ τῆς θυγατρὸς αὐτοῦ γόνος ('the son of his daughter') specifies the heir, while ἀντὶ ἐκείνου ('in his place') clarifies the succession, replacing the current ruler. The use of γόνος ('offspring/son') instead of a more specific term like υἱός adds a formal tone, emphasizing lineage. The sentence structure reflects Herodotean style, combining prophecy, political intrigue, and precise familial relationships.

Original: ἐν δὲ Δελφοῖσι ὡς ἐσῆλθον τάχιστα ἐς τὸ μέγαρον οἱ Λυδοὶ χρησόμενοι τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐπειρώτων τὸ ἐντεταλμένον , ἡ Πυθίη ἐν ἑξαμέτρῳ τόνῳ λέγει τάδε .

Translation: Astyages , keeping these things in mind , when Cyrus had come of age , summoned Harpagus , a man who was a kinsman and the most trustworthy of the Medes and the overseer of all his own affairs , and said these things to him .

Note

The sentence employs a complex participial construction to layer information. The aorist participle φυλασσόμενος (keeping in mind) sets the temporal and mental state for the main verb, while the causal/temporal clause introduced by ὡς (when/as) with the aorist εἰγένετο (had come to be/grown up) provides the specific chronological trigger for the action. The name ὁ Κύρος (Cyrus) uses the article, emphasizing his identity as a specific historical figure coming into maturity. The description of Harpagus utilizes an appositive phrase (αἵρετον... ἄνδρα) that employs a superlative (πιστοτάτον, 'most trustworthy') combined with a genitive of comparison (τῶν Μήδων, 'of the Medes') to establish his high status. The phrase ἑωυτοῦ (his own) is a reflexive possessive referring back to the subject Astyages, highlighting the personal nature of the trust placed in Harpagus. The sentence concludes with the periphrastic expression ἐλεγέ οἱ τοιαῦδε (said these things to him), a standard Herodotean formula introducing direct speech, where τοιαῦδε acts as a neuter plural accusative pronoun meaning 'such things' or 'these things', serving as a pointer to the imminent dialogue.