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Herodotus · Histories §4.106.1

Savage Customs and Cannibalism of the Androphagi

Passage 670 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the savage customs of the Androphagi, their lawless lifestyle, clothing, unique language, and the fact that they are the only ones among these peoples who practice cannibalism.

§4.106.1ἀνδροφάγοι δὲ ἀγριώτατα πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἔχουσι ἤθεα, οὔτε δίκην νομίζοντες οὔτε νόμῳ οὐδενὶ χρεώμενοι·
The Androphagi have the most savage customs of all men, neither recognizing justice nor using any law.
νομάδες δὲ εἰσι, ἐσθῆτά τε φορέουσι τῇ Σκυθικῇ ὁμοίην, γλῶσσαν δὲ ἰδίην, ἀνδροφαγέουσι δὲ μοῦνοι τούτων.
They are nomads, and they wear clothing similar to the Scythian, and have a language of their own, and are the only ones of these who eat human flesh.

Notes

  1. §4.106.1ἀγριώτατα — Accusative neuter plural of the superlative adjective `ἀγριώτατος` (most savage), directly modifying the following noun `ἤθεα` (customs, manners; accusative neuter plural). Although it could grammatically be taken adverbially ("they have in the most savage manner"), it is more natural to construe it as an attributive adjective modifying the noun.
  2. §4.106.1τῇ Σκυθικῇ — Feminine dative singular adjective with the definite article. The noun `ἐσθῆτι` (clothing; dative) is omitted, corresponding to the preceding `ἐσθῆτα` (clothing; feminine accusative), meaning "to the Scythian clothing." It is in the dative case because the adjective `ὁμοίην` (similar) governs the dative.
  3. §4.106.1γλῶσσαν δὲ ἰδίην — An accusative phrase acting as the direct object of the verb `ἔχουσι` (they have) which is omitted here from the first clause of the sentence. It means "and (they have) a language of their own."

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §4.106.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.106.1

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