Humanitext Reader

Herodotus · Histories §2.72.1

Sacred Veneration of Otters, Fish, and Fox-Geese

Passage 288 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The author explains that otters, certain fish (lepidotos and eel), and fox-geese living in the Nile are regarded as sacred animals.

§2.72.1γίνονται δὲ καὶ ἐνύδριες ἐν τῷ ποταμῷ, τὰς ἱρὰς ἥγηνται εἶναι.
There are also otters in the river, which they consider to be sacred.
νομίζουσι δὲ καὶ τῶν ἰχθύων τὸν καλεύμενον λεπιδωτὸν ἱρὸν εἶναι καὶ τὴν ἔγχελυν, ἱροὺς δὲ τούτους τοῦ Νείλου φασὶ εἶναι, καὶ τῶν ὀρνίθων τοὺς χηναλώπεκας.
They also hold that among the fish, the one called lepidotos is sacred, as well as the eel, and they say that these are sacred to the Nile, and among the birds, the fox-geese as well.

Notes

  1. §2.72.1τὰς — A relative pronoun referring back to the antecedent `ενύδριες`. This usage of the article as a relative pronoun is characteristic of the Ionic dialect used by Herodotus.
  2. §2.72.1τοῦ Νείλου — Genitive of possession or dedication, meaning "belonging to the Nile" or "sacred to the Nile."
  3. §2.72.1καὶ τῶν ὀρνίθων τοὺς χηναλώπεκας — The construction from the preceding clauses (`νομίζουσι... ἱροὺς εἶναι` or `φασὶ εἶναι`) is understood here by ellipsis, meaning "and (they consider/say) among the birds, the fox-geese (are also sacred)."

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §2.72.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.72.1

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.