Xerxes on Conquering Europe to Extend Persian Borders to Heaven — Herodotus, Histories Book 7 (7.8C.1–7.8C.3), Greek & English

§7.8C.1

τούτων μὲν τοίνυν εἵνεκα ἀνάρτημαι¹ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς στρατεύεσθαι, ἀγαθὰ δὲ ἐν αὐτοῖσι τοσάδε ἀνευρίσκω λογιζόμενος· εἰ τούτους τε καὶ τοὺς τούτοισι πλησιοχώρους καταστρεψόμεθα, οἳ Πέλοπος τοῦ Φρυγὸς νέμονται χώρην, γῆν τὴν Περσίδα ἀποδέξομεν² τῷ Διὸς αἰθέρι ὁμουρέουσαν.

For these reasons, then, I am prepared to campaign against them; and upon reflection, I find so many advantages in this: if we subdue both these men and those who are neighbors to them, who inhabit the land of Pelops the Phrygian, we shall make the Persian land border upon the sky of Zeus. For these reasons, then, I am prepared to campaign against them; and upon reflection, I find so many advantages in this: if we subdue both these men and those who are neighbors to them, who inhabit the land of Pelops the Phrygian, we shall make the Persian land border upon the sky of Zeus.

§7.8C.2

οὐ γὰρ δὴ χώρην γε οὐδεμίαν κατόψεται ἥλιος ὅμουρον ἐοῦσαν τῇ ἡμετέρῃ, ἀλλὰ σφέας πάσας ἐγὼ ἅμα ὑμῖν χώρην θήσω, διὰ πάσης διεξελθὼν τῆς Εὐρώπης.

For indeed, the sun will behold no land bordering upon ours, but I, together with you, shall make them all into one land, after passing through the whole of Europe. For indeed, the sun will behold no land bordering upon ours, but I, together with you, shall make them all into one land, after passing through the whole of Europe.

§7.8C.3

πυνθάνομαι γὰρ ὧδε ἔχειν, οὔτε τινὰ πόλιν ἀνδρῶν οὐδεμίαν οὔτε ἔθνος οὐδὲν ἀνθρώπων ὑπολείπεσθαι, τὸ³ ἡμῖν οἷόν τε ἔσται ἐλθεῖν ἐς μάχην, τούτων τῶν κατέλεξα ὑπεξαραιρημένων.⁴ οὕτω οἵ τε ἡμῖν αἴτιοι ἕξουσι δούλιον ζυγὸν οἵ τε ἀναίτιοι.

For I learn that this is how it stands: that no city of men nor any nation of human beings remains which will be able to come to battle with us, once these whom I have mentioned have been removed. Thus, both those who are guilty against us and those who are innocent will bear the yoke of slavery. For I learn that this is how it stands: that no city of men nor any nation of human beings remains which will be able to come to battle with us, once these whom I have mentioned have been removed. Thus, both those who are guilty against us and those who are innocent will bear the yoke of slavery.

Syntax notes4 items

7.8C.1ἀνάρτημαι
First-person singular perfect indicative passive of the verb ἀναρτάω (to hang up). In Herodotus, it is used in the special sense of 'to be prepared, to be eager' to do something, taking an infinitive (here, στρατεύεσθαι).
7.8C.1ἀποδέξομεν
Ionic dialectal form of ἀποδείξομεν (first-person plural future indicative active of ἀποδείκνυμι, 'to point out, exhibit'). Here it is used in the sense of 'to render, to make (something into a certain state).'
7.8C.3τὸ
Relative pronoun, neuter singular nominative in the Ionic dialect. It introduces a relative clause modifying the preceding antecedents ('οὔτε τινὰ πόλιν... οὔτε ἔθνος'), meaning 'such as will be able to come to battle with us.'
7.8C.3τούτων τῶν κατέλεξα ὑπεξαραιρημένων
A genitive absolute construction where the demonstrative pronoun 'τούτων' and the perfect passive participle 'ὑπεξαραιρημένων' (from 'ὑπεξαιρέω', 'to remove, take away') form the subject and predicate. Embedded between them is the relative clause 'τῶν κατέλεξα', where the relative pronoun 'τῶν' has undergone attraction to the genitive case of its antecedent 'τούτων' instead of its natural accusative case as the object of 'κατέλεξα'.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.8C.1-7.8C.3