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§7.78.1

Equipment and Commanders of Moschi and Allied Tribes

This chunk describes the arms and equipment of the Moschi, Tibareni, Macrones, and Mossynoeci, along with their respective commanders, Ariomardus and Artaÿctes.

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§7.78.1

μόσχοι δὲ περὶ μὲν τῇσι κεφαλῇσι κυνέας ξυλίνας εἶχον, ἀσπίδας δὲ καὶ αἰχμὰς σμικράς· λόγχαι δὲ ἐπῆσαν μεγάλαι.1 Τιβαρηνοὶ δὲ καὶ Μάκρωνες καὶ Μοσσύνοικοι κατά περ Μόσχοι ἐσκευασμένοι ἐστρατεύοντο. τούτους δὲ συνέτασσον ἄρχοντες οἵδε, Μόσχους μὲν καὶ Τιβαρηνοὺς Ἀριόμαρδος ὁ Δαρείου τε παῖς καὶ Πάρμυος τῆς Σμέρδιος τοῦ Κύρου,2 Μάκρωνας δὲ καὶ Μοσσυνοίκους Ἀρταΰκτης ὁ Χεράσμιος, ὃς Σηστὸν τὴν ἐν Ἑλλησπόντῳ ἐπετρόπευε.

​The Moschi had wooden helmets on their heads, and small shields and spears; but the spear-points on them were large. The Tibareni, Macrones, and Mossynoeci went on the expedition equipped in the same manner as the Moschi. These were marshalled by the following commanders: the Moschi and Tibareni by Ariomardus, the son of Darius and of Parmys, daughter of Smerdis the son of Cyrus; the Macrones and Mossynoeci by Artaÿctes son of Cherasmis, who was governor of Sestos on the Hellespont.

Syntax notes2 items
  1. 7.78.1λόγχαι δὲ ἐπῆσαν μεγάλαι

    'But the spear-points on them were large.' This stands in contrast with the preceding 'small spears (αἰχμὰς σμικράς)'. The verb ἐπῆσαν (imperfect of ἔπειμι, 'to be upon') indicates that large metal points were fitted onto the shafts of the otherwise small spears.

  2. 7.78.1ὁ Δαρείου τε παῖς καὶ Πάρμυος τῆς Σμέρδιος τοῦ Κύρου

    'The son of Darius and of Parmys, daughter of Smerdis the son of Cyrus.' There is an ellipsis of 'daughter' (θυγατρός) after τῆς, and 'son' (παιδός) after τοῦ. This is a double lineage description showing Ariomardus' noble descent.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.78.1