- Source
- Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.59.1
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-10
The author describes the tripods with ancient "Cadmean letters" similar to Ionian ones that he personally saw in a temple at Thebes, quoting an inscription dedicated by Amphitryon.
εἶδον δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς Καδμήια γράμματα ἐν τῷ ἱρῷ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος τοῦ Ἰσμηνίου ἐν Θήβῃσι τῇσι Βοιωτῶν, ἐπὶ τρίποσι τισὶ ἐγκεκολαμμένα, τὰ πολλὰ ὅμοια ἐόντα1 τοῖσι Ἰωνικοῖσι. ὁ μὲν δὴ εἷς τῶν τριπόδων ἐπίγραμμα ἔχει "ἀμφιτρύων μʼ ἀνέθηκʼ ἐνάρων ἀπὸ Τηλεβοάων.2" ταῦτα ἡλικίην εἴη ἂν3 κατὰ Λάιον τὸν Λαβδάκου τοῦ Πολυδώρου τοῦ Κάδμου.
I myself also saw “Cadmean letters” in the temple of Ismenian Apollo at Thebes of the Boeotians, engraved upon certain tripods, which for the most part were similar to the Ionian letters. Indeed, one of the tripods has this inscription: “Amphitryon dedicated me from the spoils of the Teleboans.” These would be, in point of age, about the time of Laius, the son of Labdacus, son of Polydorus, son of Cadmus.
- 5.59.1τὰ πολλὰ ὅμοια ἐόντα
Meaning "being for the most part similar (to the Ionian letters)". The neuter plural accusative τὰ πολλά functions adverbially, meaning "for the most part" or "generally". The participle ἐόντα (Ionic form for Attic ὄντα) agrees with γράμματα.
- 5.59.1ἐνάρων ἀπὸ Τηλεβοάων
Meaning "from the spoils of the Teleboans." The preposition ἀπό denotes source or origin ("from among" / "out of"), governing the genitive phrase. It modifies ἐνάρων, the genitive plural of ἔναρα (neuter plural, "spoils" or "booty").
- 5.59.1ταῦτα ἡλικίην εἴη ἂν
Meaning "these would be, in point of age...". The neuter plural nominative ταῦτα refers to the preceding inscription or the tripods. ἡλικίην is an accusative of respect (specification), meaning "in respect of age/time". εἴη ἂν is the optative present (of εἰμί) with ἄν, expressing a potential or polite assertion ("would be" / "might be").