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Herodotus · Histories §3.110.1

How the Arabians Gather Cassia

Passage 514 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

On how the Arabians gather cassia. They cover their entire bodies with skins and gather the cassia while fending off fierce winged creatures that nest in and around a shallow lake.

§3.110.1τὸν μὲν δὴ λιβανωτὸν τοῦτον οὕτω κτῶνται Ἀράβιοι, τὴν δὲ κασίην ὧδε.
Now, the Arabians obtain this frankincense in this way, but cassia as follows.
ἐπεὰν καταδήσωνται βύρσῃσι καὶ δέρμασι ἄλλοισι πᾶν τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον πλὴν αὐτῶν τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν, ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὴν κασίην·
When they have wrapped their whole body and face, except for their eyes themselves, in ox-hides and other skins, they go after the cassia.
ἣ δὲ ἐν λίμνῃ φύεται οὐ βαθέῃ, περὶ δὲ αὐτὴν καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ αὐλίζεταί κου θηρία πτερωτά, τῇσι νυκτερίσι προσείκελα μάλιστα, καὶ τέτριγε δεινόν, καὶ ἐς ἀλκὴν ἄλκιμα· τὰ δεῖ ἀπαμυνομένους ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν οὕτω δρέπειν τὴν κασίην.
This grows in a shallow lake, and around and in it nest certain winged creatures, very like bats, which shriek terribly and are fierce in defense; fending these off from their eyes, they must thus gather the cassia.

Notes

  1. 3.110.1τὰ δεῖ ἀπαμυνομένους — The relative pronoun τὰ (neuter plural accusative) refers to the antecedent θηρία πτερωτά and functions as the direct object of the participle ἀπαμυνομένους. The present participle ἀπαμυνομένους is masculine plural accusative, agreeing with the implied subject of the infinitive δρέπειν (the Arabians) governed by the impersonal verb δεῖ. This accusative-and-infinitive construction expresses 'they must gather [it], fending [them] off'.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §3.110.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.110.1

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