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§2.20.1-2.20.3

Refutation of the Etesian Wind Theory of Nile Floods

The author introduces the first of three Greek explanations for the flooding of the Nile—that the Etesian winds block its flow—and refutes it by pointing out that the river still floods when the winds do not blow, and that other rivers facing the same winds do not experience similar flooding.

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§2.20.1

ἀλλὰ Ἑλλήνων μὲν τινὲς ἐπίσημοι βουλόμενοι γενέσθαι σοφίην1 ἔλεξαν περὶ τοῦ ὕδατος τούτου τριφασίας ὁδούς· τῶν τὰς μὲν δύο τῶν ὁδῶν οὐδʼ ἀξιῶ μνησθῆναι εἰ μὴ ὅσον σημῆναι βουλόμενος μοῦνον·

​But certain of the Greeks, wishing to become famous for wisdom, have offered three different explanations concerning this water; of these, there are two which I do not even think worth mentioning, except so far as I wish only to point them out.

§2.20.2

τῶν ἡ ἑτέρη μὲν λέγει τοὺς ἐτησίας ἀνέμους εἶναι αἰτίους πληθύειν2 τὸν ποταμόν, κωλύοντας ἐς θάλασσαν ἐκρέειν τὸν Νεῖλον. πολλάκις δὲ ἐτησίαι μὲν οὔκων ἔπνευσαν, ὁ δὲ Νεῖλος τὠυτὸ ἐργάζεται.

​One of these says that the Etesian winds are the cause of the river’s swelling, by preventing the Nile from flowing out into the sea. But often the Etesian winds have not blown at all, yet the Nile does the very same thing.

§2.20.3

πρὸς δέ, εἰ ἐτησίαι αἴτιοι ἦσαν, χρῆν3 καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ποταμούς, ὅσοι τοῖσι ἐτησίῃσι ἀντίοι ῥέουσι, ὁμοίως πάσχειν καὶ κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ τῷ Νείλῳ, καὶ μᾶλλον ἔτι τοσούτῳ ὅσῳ4 ἐλάσσονες ἐόντες ἀσθενέστερα τὰ ῥεύματα παρέχονται. εἰσὶ δὲ πολλοὶ μὲν ἐν τῇ Συρίῃ ποταμοὶ πολλοὶ δὲ ἐν τῇ Λιβύῃ, οἳ οὐδὲν τοιοῦτο πάσχουσι οἷόν τι καὶ ὁ Νεῖλος.

​Moreover, if the Etesian winds were the cause, then all other rivers also, which flow contrary to the Etesian winds, ought to be affected in the same way and to the same degree as the Nile, and all the more so in proportion as they, being smaller, present weaker currents. Now there are many rivers in Syria and many in Libya, which are affected in no such way as the Nile is.

Syntax notes4 items
  1. 2.20.1σοφίην

    Accusative of respect (or specification) modifying the adjective ἐπίσημοι, meaning "in respect of wisdom."

  2. 2.20.2αἰτίους πληθύειν

    An epexegetical (explanatory) infinitive limiting the adjective αἰτίους, expressing the cause "for the swelling" of the river.

  3. 2.20.3χρῆν

    The imperfect of the impersonal verb χρή, used here in the apodosis of a contrary-to-fact condition (introduced by εἰ ... ἦσαν) without the particle ἄν to express a necessity or obligation that "ought to" happen under different circumstances.

  4. 2.20.3τοσούτῳ ὅσῳ

    Correlation formed by the datives of degree of difference, meaning "by so much the more... by how much..." (in proportion as).

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-grc2:2.20.1-2.20.3