← Herodotus

Histories

§1.85.1-1.85.4

Croesus's Mute Son Speaks and Fulfills the Oracle

During the capture of Sardis, Croesus's mute son speaks for the first time to save his father from a Persian soldier, fulfilling the oracle's prophecy.

View ▾
View
Translation
Typeface
AI ↗
← PrevNext →
§1.85.1

κατʼ αὐτὸν δὲ Κροῖσον τάδε ἐγίνετο. ἦν οἱ1 παῖς, τοῦ καὶ πρότερον ἐπεμνήσθην, τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἐπιεικής, ἄφωνος δέ. ἐν τῇ ὦν παρελθούσῃ εὐεστοῖ ὁ Κροῖσος τὸ πᾶν ἐς αὐτὸν ἐπεποιήκεε, ἄλλα τε ἐπιφραζόμενος, καὶ δὴ καὶ ἐς Δελφοὺς περὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπεπόμφεε χρησομένους.2

​As for Croesus himself, the following happened. He had a son, whom I have mentioned before, who was in other respects capable, but mute. Therefore, in his past prosperity, Croesus had done everything possible for him, not only devising other measures, but in particular, he had sent messengers to Delphi to consult the oracle about him.

§1.85.2

ἡ δὲ Πυθίη οἱ εἶπε τάδε. "Λυδὲ γένος, πολλῶν βασιλεῦ, μέγα νήπιε Κροῖσε, μὴ βούλου πολύευκτον ἰὴν ἀνὰ δώματʼ ἀκούειν παιδὸς φθεγγομένου. τὸ δέ σοι πολὺ λώιον ἀμφὶς ἔμμεναι·3 αὐδήσει γὰρ ἐν ἤματι πρῶτον ἀνόλβῳ."

​And the Pythia spoke to him as follows: “Lydian by race, king of many, great fool Croesus, do not wish to hear within your halls the much-prayed-for voice of your son speaking. It is much better for you that this remain far off; for he will speak first on an unhappy day.”

§1.85.3

ἁλισκομένου δὴ τοῦ τείχεος, ἤιε γὰρ τῶν τις Περσέων ἀλλογνώσας Κροῖσον ὡς ἀποκτενέων,4 Κροῖσος μέν νυν ὁρέων ἐπιόντα ὑπὸ τῆς παρεούσης συμφορῆς παρημελήκεε, οὐδὲ τί οἱ διέφερε πληγέντι5 ἀποθανεῖν·

​Indeed, while the wall was being taken, a certain Persian came toward him, not recognizing Croesus, intending to kill him. Now Croesus, seeing him approach, was heedless of him because of the present misfortune, and it made no difference to him if he should be struck and die;

§1.85.4

ὁ δὲ παῖς οὗτος ὁ ἄφωνος ὡς εἶδε ἐπιόντα τὸν Πέρσην, ὑπὸ δέους τε καὶ κακοῦ ἔρρηξε φωνήν, εἶπε δὲ ὤνθρώπε, μὴ κτεῖνε Κροῖσον. οὗτος μὲν δὴ τοῦτο πρῶτον ἐφθέγξατο, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἤδη ἐφώνεε τὸν πάντα χρόνον τῆς ζόης.

​but this mute boy, when he saw the Persian coming on, broke into speech through fear and distress, and said: “Man, do not kill Croesus!” This was the first word he ever spoke, and after this he continued to speak for the rest of his life.

Syntax notes5 items
  1. 1.85.1οἱ

    The third-person singular dative pronoun (equivalent to Attic αὐτῷ). It functions here as a dative of possession with ἦν, meaning 'he (Croesus) had a son.'

  2. 1.85.1χρησομένους

    Future participle masculine plural accusative of the verb χράομαι (to consult an oracle). Used after a verb of sending (ἐπεπόμφεε) to express purpose: '(messengers) to consult the oracle.'

  3. 1.85.2ἀμφὶς ἔμμεναι

    ἔμμεναι is the Epic/Ionic form of the infinitive εἶναι. Combined with the adverb ἀμφίς (apart, aloof), it means 'to be apart (from the son's speaking),' i.e., 'that he remains mute.' It functions as the subject of the comparative phrase 'it is much better for you.'

  4. 1.85.3ὡς ἀποκτενέων

    The conjunction ὡς combined with the future participle (ἀποκτενέων, Ionic future participle of ἀποκτείνω) expresses the subject's subjective intention or purpose: 'intending to kill,' 'with the intention of killing.'

  5. 1.85.3πληγέντι

    Aorist passive participle masculine singular dative of πλήσσω (to strike). Agreeing with the dative pronoun οἱ (for him), it modifies the infinitive ἀποθανεῖν (to die), meaning 'to die by being struck' or 'to be struck and die.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.85.1-1.85.4