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Herodotus · Histories §2.81.1-2.81.2

Egyptian Dress and Religious Taboos on Woollen Garments

Passage 297 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the traditional clothing of the Egyptians, specifically the linen 'calasiris' and woollen cloaks, and links their religious prohibition of wool in temples and burials to Orphic and Pythagorean mysteries.

§2.81.1ἐνδεδύκασι δὲ κιθῶνας λινέους περὶ τὰ σκέλεα θυσανωτούς, τοὺς καλέουσι καλασίρις· ἐπὶ τούτοισι δὲ εἰρίνεα εἵματα λευκὰ ἐπαναβληδὸν φορέουσι.
They wear linen tunics with fringes around their legs, which they call calasiris; and over these they wear white woollen cloaks thrown over their shoulders.
οὐ μέντοι ἔς γε τὰ ἱρὰ ἐσφέρεται εἰρίνεα οὐδὲ συγκαταθάπτεταί σφι· οὐ γὰρ ὅσιον.
However, woollen garments are not taken into the temples, nor are they buried with them; for that is not religiously lawful.
§2.81.2ὁμολογέουσι δὲ ταῦτα τοῖσι Ὀρφικοῖσι καλεομένοισι καὶ Βακχικοῖσι, ἐοῦσι δὲ Αἰγυπτίοισι καὶ Πυθαγορείοισι· οὐδὲ γὰρ τούτων τῶν ὀργίων μετέχοντα ὅσιον ἐστὶ ἐν εἰρινέοισι εἵμασι θαφθῆναι.
In this they agree with the practices called Orphic and Bacchic, which are in fact Egyptian and Pythagorean; for it is not religiously lawful for one who takes part in these rites to be buried in woollen garments.
ἔστι δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν ἱρὸς λόγος λεγόμενος.
There is a sacred story told about them.

Notes

  1. 2.81.1ἐνδεδύκασι — Perfect active of the verb ἐνδύω, representing a present state of wearing rather than a past action.
  2. 2.81.2ἐοῦσι δὲ Αἰγυπτίοισι καὶ Πυθαγορείοισι — The participle ἐοῦσι (Ionic for οὖσι, from εἰμί) with δέ agrees in the dative case with the preceding τοῖσι Ὀρφικοῖσι...καὶ Βακχικοῖσι. It functions as an explanatory insertion by the author, asserting that these rites are in fact Egyptian and Pythagorean.
  3. 2.81.2μετέχοντα — Accusative singular masculine of the present participle μετέχων. In the accusative-with-infinitive construction governed by the impersonal expression ὅσιον ἐστὶ, it functions as the subject of the passive infinitive θαφθῆναι ('for one who takes part in... to be buried').

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §2.81.1-2.81.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.81.1-2.81.2

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