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Histories

§7.79.1

Equipment and Commanders of Mares, Colchians, and Neighbors

Describes the military equipment of the Mares, Colchians, Alarodians, and Saspires, along with their respective commanders, Pharandates and Masistius.

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§7.79.1

Μᾶρες δὲ ἐπὶ μὲν τῇσι κεφαλῇσι κράνεα ἐπιχώρια πλεκτὰ εἶχον, ἀσπίδας δὲ δερματίνας μικρὰς καὶ ἀκόντια. Κόλχοι δὲ περὶ μὲν τῇσι κεφαλῇσι κράνεα ξύλινα, ἀσπίδας δὲ ὠμοβοΐνας μικρὰς αἰχμάς τε βραχέας, πρὸς δὲ1 μαχαίρας εἶχον. Μαρῶν δὲ καὶ Κόλχων2 ἦρχε Φαρανδάτης ὁ Τεάσπιος. Ἀλαρόδιοι δὲ καὶ Σάσπειρες κατά περ Κόλχοι ὡπλισμένοι ἐστρατεύοντο. τούτων δὲ Μασίστιος ὁ Σιρομίτρεω ἦρχε.

​The Mares had on their heads plaited helmets peculiar to their country, and small shields of hide and javelins. The Colchians had wooden helmets on their heads, and small shields of raw ox-hide and short spears, and besides these, daggers. The Mares and Colchians were commanded by Pharandates, son of Teaspes. The Alarodians and Saspires went on the expedition equipped in the same manner as the Colchians. These were commanded by Masistius, son of Siromitres.

Syntax notes2 items
  1. 7.79.1πρὸς δὲ

    The preposition πρὸς is used adverbially to mean "in addition, besides." The subsequent accusative noun μαχαίρας functions as the object of the verb εἶχον.

  2. 7.79.1Μαρῶν δὲ καὶ Κόλχων

    Genitive case governed by the verb ἦρχε ("ruled, commanded"). The subsequent τούτων δὲ is also a genitive functioning as the object of ἦρχε.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.79.1