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§1.128.1-1.128.3

Defeat and Capture of Astyages

Upon learning of the Medes' defeat, Astyages impals the dream-interpreters who had advised releasing Cyrus, mobilizes all remaining Medes in the city for a final battle, but is defeated and captured.

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§1.128.1

διαλυθέντος δὲ τοῦ Μηδικοῦ στρατεύματος αἰσχρῶς, ὡς ἐπύθετο τάχιστα1 ὁ Ἀστυάγης, ἔφη ἀπειλέων τῷ Κύρῳ ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὣς2 Κῦρός γε χαιρήσει.

​As soon as Astyages learned that the Median army had been disgracefully scattered, he said, threatening Cyrus: “But even so, Cyrus at least shall not rejoice.”

§1.128.2

τοσαῦτα εἶπας πρῶτον μὲν τῶν Μάγων τοὺς ὀνειροπόλους, οἵ μιν ἀνέγνωσαν3 μετεῖναι4 τὸν Κῦρον, τούτους5 ἀνεσκολόπισε, μετὰ δὲ ὥπλισε τοὺς ὑπολειφθέντας ἐν τῷ ἄστεϊ τῶν Μήδων, νέους τε καὶ πρεσβύτας ἄνδρας.

​Having said this, first of all he impaled those of the Magi who were dream-interpreters and had persuaded him to let Cyrus go; next, he armed the Medes who had been left behind in the city, both young and old men.

§1.128.3

ἐξαγαγὼν δὲ τούτους καὶ συμβαλὼν τοῖσι Πέρσῃσι ἑσσώθη, καὶ αὐτός τε Ἀστυάγης ἐζωγρήθη καὶ τοὺς ἐξήγαγε6 τῶν Μήδων ἀπέβαλε.

​Leading these out and engaging with the Persians, he was defeated; Astyages himself was taken alive, and he lost the Medes whom he had led out.

Syntax notes6 items
  1. 1.128.1ὡς ἐπύθετο τάχιστα

    The conjunction ὡς combined with the superlative adverb τάχιστα forms a temporal construction meaning "as soon as."

  2. 1.128.1οὐδʼ ὣς

    The accented ὣς is a demonstrative adverb equivalent to οὕτως ("so, thus"). Combined with the negative οὐδέ, it means "not even so" or "not even under these circumstances," expressing a strong concession.

  3. 1.128.2ἀνέγνωσαν

    The verb ἀναγινώσκω (which in Attic Greek chiefly means "to read" or "to recognize") is used here in its Ionic sense "to persuade," taking an infinitive (here μετεῖναι).

  4. 1.128.2μετεῖναι

    The second aorist active infinitive of μεθίημι ("to let go, release"). Contextually, the logical subject of this infinitive is the object of the main verb, namely Astyages (represented by the accusative pronoun μιν).

  5. 1.128.2τούτους

    A resumptive use of the demonstrative pronoun τούτους (accusative), which picks up the phrase placed at the beginning of the sentence (τῶν Μάγων τοὺς ὀνειροπόλους) after the intervening relative clause (οἵ μιν ...), serving to clarify the syntax of a long sentence.

  6. 1.128.3τοὺς ἐξήγαγε

    Here τοὺς is used not as a definite article but as a relative pronoun (equivalent to the Attic οὓς), a common feature in Ionic Greek, introducing the clause "whom he had led out."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
  • 2026-09-21 AI review — source 1
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.128.1-1.128.3