Herodotus · Histories §1.3.1-1.3.2

Abduction of Helen and Refusal of Greek Demands

Passage 3 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes Alexander's abduction of Helen and the Trojans' refusal of the Greek demands for return and satisfaction, citing the Greeks' own failure to give satisfaction for Medea.

§1.3.1δευτέρῃ δὲ λέγουσι γενεῇ μετὰ ταῦτα Ἀλέξανδρον τὸν Πριάμου, ἀκηκοότα ταῦτα, ἐθελῆσαί οἱ ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος διʼ ἁρπαγῆς γενέσθαι γυναῖκα, ἐπιστάμενον πάντως ὅτι οὐ δώσει δίκας. οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐκείνους διδόναι.

In the second generation after this, they say that Alexander, the son of Priam, having heard these things, wished to get a wife for himself from Greece by abduction, being fully assured that he would not have to pay any penalty; for neither, indeed, did those others pay.

§1.3.2οὕτω δὴ ἁρπάσαντος αὐτοῦ Ἑλένην, τοῖσι Ἕλλησι δόξαι πρῶτὸν πέμψαντας ἀγγέλους ἀπαιτέειν τε Ἑλένην καὶ δίκας τῆς ἁρπαγῆς αἰτέειν.

So when he had carried off Helen, it seemed good to the Greeks first to send messengers to demand Helen back and to ask for satisfaction for the abduction.

τοὺς δέ, προϊσχομένων ταῦτα, προφέρειν σφι Μηδείης τὴν ἁρπαγήν, ὡς οὐ δόντες αὐτοὶ δίκας οὐδὲ ἐκδόντες ἀπαιτεόντων βουλοίατό σφι παρʼ ἄλλων δίκας γίνεσθαι.

But the others, when the Greeks proposed these things, brought up against them the abduction of Medea, saying that, though they themselves had not given satisfaction nor given her up when demanded, they now wished to receive satisfaction from others.

Notes

1.3.2πέμψαντας — The participle is in the accusative (πέμψαντας) rather than agreeing with the dative subject τοῖσι Ἕλλησι, as it functions as the subject of the infinitive clause. This is a case of assimilation common in accusative with infinitive constructions.
1.3.2ἀπαιτεόντων — Genitive plural present participle of the verb meaning "to demand." It is interpreted here as a genitive absolute ("when they demanded her back"), though it could also be construed as the object of the preceding participle ἐκδόντες ("giving her up to those who demanded"). This translation adopts the genitive absolute interpretation.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §1.3.1-1.3.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.3.1-1.3.2

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