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Herodotus · Histories §3.112.1

How the Fragrant Ledanum is Gathered from Goats' Beards

Passage 516 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

The text explains the wondrous collection method of ledanum, a fragrant substance found sticking to the beards of goats.

§3.112.1τὸ δὲ δὴ λήδανον, τὸ καλέουσι Ἀράβιοι λάδανον, ἔτι τούτου θωμασιώτερον γίνεται·
Ledanum, which the Arabians call ladanum, is produced in a way still more wonderful than this.
ἐν γὰρ δυσοδμοτάτῳ γινόμενον εὐωδέστατον ἐστί· τῶν γὰρ αἰγῶν τῶν τράγων ἐν τοῖσι πώγωσι εὑρίσκεται ἐγγινόμενον οἷον γλοιὸς ἀπὸ τῆς ὕλης.
For, arising in the most foul-smelling of things, it is most sweet-smelling; it is found sticking to the beards of she-goats and he-goats like gum from the bushes.
χρήσιμον δʼ ἐς πολλὰ τῶν μύρων ἐστί, θυμιῶσί τε μάλιστα τοῦτο Ἀράβιοι.
It is useful for many of the ointments, and the Arabians burn this especially as incense.

Notes

  1. §3.112.1εὑρίσκεται ἐγγινόμενον — The passive verb εὑρίσκεται ('is found') is construed with the supplementary participle ἐγγινόμενον ('arising in / sticking to'), meaning 'it is found sticking (in the beards).' The participle agrees with the subject λήδανον in gender, number, and case (neuter singular nominative).
  2. §3.112.1τῶν γὰρ αἰγῶν τῶν τράγων — Two genitives placed side by side without a conjunction. They are the genitive plurals of αἴξ (she-goat) and τράγος (he-goat), expressing a disjunctive or collective meaning, 'of she-goats and he-goats,' both depending on πώγωσι ('beards').
  3. §3.112.1ἀπὸ τῆς ὕλης — The preposition ἀπό ('from') with the genitive of ὕλη (wood, brushwood, or plants). Here it refers to the plants or bushes through which the goats graze, from which the resin adheres to their beards, meaning 'from the bushes/plants.'

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §3.112.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.112.1

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