← Herodotus

Histories

§8.78.1

The Greek Generals' Heated Debate Unaware of Encirclement

While the Greek generals at Salamis engaged in a heated debate, they were unaware that the Persian fleet was already encircling them.

View ▾
View
Translation
Typeface
AI ↗
← PrevNext →
§8.78.1

τῶν δὲ ἐν Σαλαμῖνι στρατηγῶν ἐγίνετο ὠθισμὸς λόγων πολλός· ᾔδεσαν δὲ οὔκω ὅτι σφέας1 περιεκυκλοῦντο τῇσι νηυσὶ οἱ βάρβαροι, ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ τῆς ἡμέρης2 ὥρων αὐτοὺς τεταγμένους, ἐδόκεον κατὰ χώρην3 εἶναι.

​Among the generals at Salamis there arose a great jostling of words; for they did not yet know that the barbarians were encircling them with their ships, but they thought that they were still in their position, just as they had seen them drawn up during the day.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 8.78.1σφέας

    Indirect reflexive pronoun in the plural within the ὅτι-clause, referring back to the subject of the main clause, the "generals" (στρατηγῶν).

  2. 8.78.1τῆς ἡμέρης

    Genitive of time, meaning "during the day" or "by day," indicating the daytime period in contrast to the night, rather than referring to a specific day.

  3. 8.78.1κατὰ χώρην

    Ionic form (Attic κατὰ χώραν), an idiomatic expression meaning "in their position" or "remaining in place."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.78.1