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Herodotus · Histories §3.56.1-3.56.2

Lacedaemonian Withdrawal and the Rumor of Bribes

Passage 460 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

As the siege of Samos lasts for forty days without progress, the Lacedaemonians withdraw. A rumor that Polycrates bribed them with counterfeit money is mentioned, along with the fact that this was the first Dorian expedition to Asia.

§3.56.1Λακεδαιμόνιοι δέ, ὥς σφι τεσσεράκοντα ἐγεγόνεσαν ἡμέραι πολιορκέουσι Σάμον ἐς τὸ πρόσω τε οὐδὲν προεκόπτετο τῶν πρηγμάτων, ἀπαλλάσσοντο ἐς Πελοπόννησον.
But the Lacedaemonians, when forty days had passed for them besieging Samos and no progress was being made in their affairs, departed for the Peloponnese.
§3.56.2ὡς δὲ ὁ ματαιότερος λόγος ὅρμηται, λέγεται Πολυκράτεα ἐπιχώριον νόμισμα κόψαντα πολλὸν μολύβδου καταχρυσώσαντα δοῦναί σφι, τοὺς δὲ δεξαμένους οὕτω δὴ ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι.
But as the sillier story has been spread, it is said that Polycrates, having minted a large quantity of local coin made of lead and gilded it, gave it to them, and they, having received it, thus indeed departed.
ταύτην πρώτην στρατηίην ἐς τὴν Ἀσίην Λακεδαιμόνιοι Δωριέες ἐποιήσαντο.
This was the first expedition into Asia made by the Lacedaemonian Dorians.

Notes

  1. 3.56.1σφι ... πολιορκέουσι — A construction indicating the lapse of time, where the present participle `πολιορκέουσι` agrees with the dative of person `σφι`, meaning 'when forty days had passed for them besieging...'.
  2. 3.56.2ὡς δὲ ὁ ματαιότερος λόγος ὅρμηται — A clause introduced by the conjunction `ὡς` ('as', 'according to'). The perfect form `ὅρμηται` (from `ὁρμάω`) describes the state of a rumor being 'set in motion' or 'currently circulating.'
  3. 3.56.2νόμισμα κόψαντα πολλὸν μολύβδου καταχρυσώσαντα — `μολύβδου` is a genitive of material (coin made of lead). The adjective `πολλὸν` (neuter singular accusative) modifies `νόμισμα`. The two participles `κόψαντα` and `καταχρυσώσαντα` both modify the subject `Πολυκράτεα`.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §3.56.1-3.56.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:3.56.1-3.56.2

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