Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §2.153.1

Psammetichus's Building of the Court and Gateway in Memphis

Passage 375 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes how Psammetichus, after gaining control of all Egypt, built the southern gateway for Hephaestus and a court for Apis in Memphis, detailing its architectural features.

§2.153.1κρατήσας δὲ Αἰγύπτου πάσης ὁ Ψαμμήτιχος ἐποίησε τῷ Ἡφαίστῳ προπύλαια ἐν Μέμφι τὰ πρὸς νότον ἄνεμον τετραμμένα, αὐλήν τε τῷ Ἄπι, ἐν τῇ τρέφεται ἐπεὰν φανῇ ὁ Ἆπις, οἰκοδόμησε ἐναντίον τῶν προπυλαίων, πᾶσάν τε περίστυλον ἐοῦσαν καὶ τύπων πλέην·
Having gained control of all Egypt, Psammetichus made for Hephaestus the propylaea in Memphis that face towards the south wind, and built for Apis, opposite the propylaea, a court in which Apis is kept whenever he appears; this court was entirely surrounded by colonnades and full of relief-carvings.
ἀντὶ δὲ κιόνων ὑπεστᾶσι κολοσσοὶ δυωδεκαπήχεες τῇ αὐλῇ.
Instead of pillars, colossi of twelve cubits support the court.
ὁ δὲ Ἆπις κατὰ τὴν Ἑλλήνων γλῶσσαν ἐστὶ Ἔπαφος.
Now Apis, in the language of the Greeks, is Epaphus.

Notes

  1. §2.153.1πᾶσάν τε περίστυλον ἐοῦσαν — The participle ἐοῦσαν (Ionic present participle active feminine accusative singular of εἰμί) modifies the preceding noun αὐλήν (in the accusative). It serves to describe the architectural characteristics of the court.
  2. §2.153.1ὑπεστᾶσι — The 3rd person plural perfect active form of the compound verb ὑφίστημι, here used intransitively to mean 'to stand under to support.' It takes the dative τῇ αὐλῇ, indicating that the colossi stand under and support the structure of the court in place of pillars.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §2.153.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.153.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.