Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §2.28.1

Solar Eclipse on the Afternoon of the New Moon

Passage 174 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Records the occurrence of a solar eclipse on the afternoon of a new moon in the same summer, noting that the sun assumed a crescent shape and stars became visible.

§2.28.1τοῦ δ’ αὐτοῦ θέρους νουμηνίᾳ κατὰ σελήνην, ὥσπερ καὶ μόνον δοκεῖ εἶναι γίγνεσθαι δυνατόν, ὁ ἥλιος ἐξέλιπε μετὰ μεσημβρίαν καὶ πάλιν ἀνεπληρώθη, γενόμενος μηνοειδὴς καὶ ἀστέρων τινῶν ἐκφανέντων.
In the same summer, on the first day of the lunar month—the only time, indeed, at which it seems possible for such an event to occur—the sun was eclipsed after midday and became full again, after having assumed the shape of a crescent and some stars having appeared.

Notes

  1. §2.28.1ὥσπερ καὶ μόνον δοκεῖ εἶναι γίγνεσθαι δυνατόν — A parenthetical clause introduced by the conjunction ὥσπερ. The word μόνον functions adverbially to mean "only [at that time]" (referring back to νουμηνίᾳ, the new moon), modifying the infinitive γίγνεσθαι ("to occur"). It explains the contemporary astronomical understanding that a solar eclipse is possible only on the first day of the lunar month.
  2. §2.28.1ἀστέρων τινῶν ἐκφανέντων — A genitive absolute construction consisting of the genitive plural noun ἀστέρων (from ἀστήρ, "star") and the aorist passive participle genitive plural ἐκφανέντων (from ἐκφαίνω, "to appear"). It expresses an accompanying circumstance or result of the main action, indicating that some stars became visible during the eclipse.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §2.28.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.28.1

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