Herodotus · Histories §2.165.1

The Nomes and Military Duties of the Hermotybies

Passage 387 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

This section describes the nomes belonging to the Hermotybies, their peak population of 160,000, and their dedication to military service without learning any handicraft.

§2.165.1Ἑρμοτυβίων μὲν οἵδε εἰσὶ νομοί, Βουσιρίτης, Σαΐτης, Χεμμίτης, Παπρημίτης, νῆσος ἡ Προσωπῖτις καλεομένη, Ναθῶ τὸ ἥμισυ.

The following are the nomes of the Hermotybies: the Busirite, the Saite, the Chemmite, the Papremite, the island called Prosopitis, and half of Natho.

ἐκ μὲν τούτων τῶν νομῶν Ἑρμοτύβιες εἰσί, γενόμενοι, ὅτε ἐπὶ πλείστους ἐγένοντο, ἑκκαίδεκα μυριάδες.

From these nomes come the Hermotybies, numbering sixteen ten-thousands when they were at their greatest number.

καὶ τούτων βαναυσίης οὐδεὶς δεδάηκε οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἀνέωνται ἐς τὸ μάχιμον.

And of these, no one has learned anything of any handicraft, but they are dedicated to military service.

Notes

2.165.1Ἑρμοτυβίων — A genitive of possession/belonging, modifying the following 'οἵδε εἰσὶ νομοί' (these are the nomes), meaning 'the nomes belonging to the Hermotybies'.
2.165.1ὅτε ἐπὶ πλείστους ἐγένοντο — A temporal clause introduced by ὅτε, modifying the participle γενόμενοι which agrees with Ἑρμοτύβιες, meaning 'when they reached their greatest number'.
2.165.1βαναυσίης — Genitive of object/topic dependent on the verb δεδάηκε (perfect of δαίω, 'has learned/knows'), indicating the field of knowledge ('anything of handicraft').
2.165.1ἀνέωνται — The Ionic 3rd person plural perfect passive form of ἀνίημι (equivalent to Attic ἀνεῖνται), meaning 'they have been let go/given up to' or 'they are dedicated to' (ἐς τὸ μάχιμον).

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §2.165.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.165.1

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