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Histories

§2.34.1-2.34.2

Geographical Symmetry between the Nile and the Ister

Herodotus explains why the Nile's sources are unknown compared to the well-known Ister, and argues for a geographical symmetry between the two rivers by comparing the positions of Egypt, Cilicia, Sinope, and the mouth of the Ister.

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§2.34.1

ὁ μὲν δὴ Ἴστρος, ῥέει γὰρ διʼ οἰκεομένης, πρὸς πολλῶν γινώσκεται, περὶ δὲ τῶν τοῦ Νείλου πηγέων οὐδεὶς ἔχει λέγειν·1 ἀοίκητός τε γὰρ καὶ ἔρημος ἐστὶ ἡ Λιβύη διʼ ἧς ῥέει. περὶ δὲ τοῦ ῥεύματος αὐτοῦ, ἐπʼ ὅσον μακρότατον ἱστορεῦντα ἦν ἐξικέσθαι,2 εἴρηται· ἐκδιδοῖ δὲ ἐς Αἴγυπτον. ἡ δὲ Αἴγυπτος τῆς ὀρεινῆς Κιλικίης μάλιστά κῃ ἀντίη κέεται·

​The Ister, indeed, since it flows through inhabited land, is known by many; but concerning the sources of the Nile, no one is able to speak, for that part of Libya through which it flows is uninhabited and desert. But concerning its course, as far as it was possible to reach by inquiring to the furthest extent, has been told; and it empties into Egypt. Now Egypt lies pretty much opposite to mountainous Cilicia;

§2.34.2

ἐνθεῦτεν δὲ ἐς Σινώπην τὴν ἐν τῷ Εὐξείνῳ πόντῳ πέντε ἡμερέων ἰθέα ὁδὸς εὐζώνῳ ἀνδρί· ἡ δὲ Σινώπη τῷ Ἴστρῳ ἐκδιδόντι3 ἐς θάλασσαν ἀντίον κέεται. οὕτω τὸν Νεῖλον δοκέω διὰ πάσης τῆς Λιβύης διεξιόντα ἐξισοῦσθαι τῷ Ἴστρῳ.

​and from there to Sinope on the Euxine Sea is a straight journey of five days for an active traveler. And Sinope lies opposite to where the Ister empties into the sea. Thus I think that the Nile, passing through the whole of Libya, is equal in course to the Ister.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 2.34.1οὐδεὶς ἔχει λέγειν

    The verb ἔχει followed by an infinitive (λέγειν in this case) expresses capability, meaning "is able to" or "can" (synonymous with δύναται).

  2. 2.34.1ἐπʼ ὅσον μακρότατον ἱστορεῦντα ἦν ἐξικέσθαι

    The accusative participle ἱστορεῦντα ("one who inquires") serves as the subject of the infinitive ἐξικέσθαι, which depends on the impersonal ἦν ("it was possible"). Literally: "as far as it was possible for one inquiring to reach the furthest."

  3. 2.34.2τῷ Ἴστρῳ ἐκδιδόντι

    Dependent on the adjective ἀντίον ("opposite"), which governs the dative case. The present participle ἐκδιδόντι agrees with τῷ Ἴστρῳ, referring to "the Ister as it empties (its mouth) into the sea."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.34.1-2.34.2