Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §1.20.1

Periander's Warning to Thrasybulus about the Oracle

Passage 20 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The author notes that he heard the preceding story from the Delphians and introduces the Milesian addition, in which Periander warns Thrasybulus about the oracle in advance.

§1.20.1Δελφῶν οἶδα ἐγὼ οὕτω ἀκούσας γενέσθαι· Μιλήσιοι δὲ τάδε προστιθεῖσι τούτοισι, Περίανδρον τὸν Κυψέλου ἐόντα Θρασυβούλῳ τῷ τότε Μιλήτου τυραννεύοντι ξεῖνον ἐς τὰ μάλιστα, πυθόμενον τὸ χρηστήριον τὸ τῷ Ἀλυάττῃ γενόμενον, πέμψαντα ἄγγελον κατειπεῖν, ὅκως ἄν τι προειδὼς πρὸς τὸ παρεὸν βουλεύηται.
I know, having heard it thus from the Delphians, that this happened; but the Milesians add the following to this account: namely, that Periander, the son of Cypselus, who was a guest-friend in the highest degree to Thrasybulus, the then tyrant of Miletus, having learned of the oracle given to Alyattes, sent a messenger and disclosed it to him, so that having some foreknowledge he might take counsel with respect to the present situation.

Notes

  1. 1.20.1Δελφῶν — Genitive of source (origin of hearing) dependent on the participle ἀκούσας.
  2. 1.20.1κατειπεῖν — The infinitive forming the indirect discourse dependent on the main verb προστιθεῖσι ("they add"). It completes the accusative and infinitive construction beginning with the subject accusative Περίανδρον.
  3. 1.20.1ὅκως ἄν — The Ionic conjunction ὅκως (equivalent to Attic ὅπως) with ἄν and the subjunctive (βουλεύηται) introduces a purpose clause. The addition of ἄν in a purpose clause is an archaic and poetic feature typical of Epic poetry and Herodotus.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §1.20.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.20.1

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