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§6.47.1-6.47.2

The Phoenician Mines in Thasos and Compliance

The author describes his own observation of the impressive Phoenician mines in Thasos and their location, and reports that the Thasians complied with the Persian king's order to demolish their walls and move their ships.

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§6.47.1

εἶδον δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς τὰ μέταλλα ταῦτα, καὶ μακρῷ1 ἦν αὐτῶν θωμασιώτατα τὰ οἱ Φοίνικες ἀνεῦρον οἱ μετὰ Θάσου κτίσαντες τὴν νῆσον ταύτην, ἥτις νῦν ἀπὸ τοῦ Θάσου τούτου τοῦ Φοίνικος τὸ οὔνομα ἔσχε.

​I myself have also seen these mines, and by far the most wonderful of them were those which the Phoenicians discovered, who with Thasus founded this island, which now has its name from this Thasus the Phoenician.

§6.47.2

τὰ δὲ μέταλλα τὰ Φοινικικὰ ταῦτα ἐστὶ τῆς Θάσου μεταξὺ Αἰνύρων τε χώρου καλεομένου καὶ Κοινύρων, ἀντίον δὲ Σαμοθρηίκης, ὄρος μέγα ἀνεστραμμένον2 ἐν τῇ ζητήσι. τοῦτο μέν νυν ἐστὶ τοιοῦτον. οἱ δὲ Θάσιοι τῷ βασιλέι κελεύσαντι3 καὶ τὸ τεῖχος τὸ σφέτερον κατεῖλον καὶ τὰς νέας τὰς πάσας ἐκόμισαν ἐς Ἄβδηρα.

​These Phoenician mines of Thasos are situated between a place called Aenyra and Coenyra, opposite Samothrace, where a great mountain has been turned upside down in the search. Now this matter is as I have said. But the Thasians, in obedience to the king’s command, both pulled down their own wall and brought all their ships to Abdera.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 6.47.1μακρῷ

    Dative of degree of difference, meaning "by far," modifying the superlative θωμασιώτατα.

  2. 6.47.2ὄρος μέγα ἀνεστραμμένον

    An independent nominative phrase (or a kind of appositive) describing the mining landscape, visually illustrating the dramatic physical impact of the excavation.

  3. 6.47.2τῷ βασιλέι κελεύσαντι

    Dative of obedience or reference, depending on the actions of the main verbs, meaning "in obedience to the king who commanded."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.47.1-6.47.2