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Histories

§1.184.1

Rulers of Babylon and the Dykes of Queen Semiramis

In the history of Babylon, there were many kings who adorned the walls and temples, including two queens. The first queen, Semiramis, constructed remarkable dykes across the plain to prevent the river from flooding it.

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§1.184.1

τῆς δὲ Βαβυλῶνος ταύτης πολλοὶ μέν κου καὶ ἄλλοι ἐγένοντο βασιλέες, τῶν1 ἐν τοῖσι Ἀσσυρίοισι λόγοισι μνήμην ποιήσομαι, οἳ τὰ τείχεά τε ἐπεκόσμησαν καὶ τὰ ἱρά, ἐν δὲ2 δὴ καὶ γυναῖκες δύο. ἡ μὲν πρότερον ἄρξασα, τῆς ὕστερον3 γενεῇσι πέντε4 πρότερον γενομένη, τῇ οὔνομα ἦν Σεμίραμις, αὕτη μὲν ἀπεδέξατο5 χώματα ἀνὰ τὸ πεδίον ἐόντα ἀξιοθέητα· πρότερον δὲ ἐώθεε ὁ ποταμὸς ἀνὰ τὸ πεδίον πᾶν πελαγίζειν.

​Of this Babylon there were indeed many other kings as well, whom I shall make mention of in my Assyrian history, who adorned both the walls and the temples; and among them indeed were also two women. The one who ruled first, having lived five generations before the later queen, whose name was Semiramis, she indeed constructed dykes along the plain that are well worth seeing; whereas formerly the river was accustomed to flood the entire plain like a lake.

Syntax notes5 items
  1. 1.184.1τῶν

    The antecedent is βασιλέες (kings) in the preceding clause. The genitive is governed by μνήμην ποιήσομαι ('I shall make mention of').

  2. 1.184.1ἐν δὲ

    The preposition ἐν is used adverbially, meaning 'among them' (referring back to the kings, βασιλεῦσι).

  3. 1.184.1τῆς ὕστερον

    Refers to the later queen (Nitocris). It is the genitive feminine singular of the adjective ὕστερος, acting as a genitive of comparison with the comparative adverb πρότερον.

  4. 1.184.1γενεῇσι πέντε

    Dative of measure of difference, indicating the temporal gap of 'five generations.'

  5. 1.184.1ἀπεδέξατο

    Ionic spelling for ἀπεδείξατο (aorist middle of ἀποδείκνυμι), here used in the sense of 'constructed' or 'displayed as her own work' for posterity.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.184.1